38
I Think
Four Years Ago
"Effects of Taoism…" Clifford DeVoe murmured to himself as he worked his piece of chalk across the blackboard in front of him. He looked down at the notes in his hand, squinted, then turned back to the board, all the while doing his best to ignore the beeping and warbling of his student's computers and phones.
That incessant, annoying beeping and warbling. If he were able to ban those God forsaken devices from class he would. He'd tried. But there had been enough of an uproar from the students of how needed they were to study that he hadn't tried again. Simply backed down and shook his head at the mindless drivel that continued to rot their brains.
It wasn't that he had to work hard to get their attention when it was something they cared about…but when it came to his class. Well, he always wondered why people even bothered to sign up. It wasn't as if his class was a pre-requisite for any of their majors. And, even if it was, the amount of disrespect shown towards them was infuriating. Still, DeVoe enjoyed his material and wanted to better the bright minds of the day when he could…if they paid attention.
Finally, taking a deep breath, DeVoe turned his attention back to his hall of students. "Alright class, write your essays on this list of topics," he said, gesturing towards the sheet in his hand. Of which he had written on the board behind him. "You have two weeks to complete them." He stared at each of his students, would've been able to look them in the eye if their eyes were able to be taken away from the phones and laptops that sat before them. All he saw was flashing lights coming from the screens in front of them. Those stupid, stupid screens. DeVoe pursed his lips, seconds away from calling them all out, bust stopped when the bell rang. "Class dismissed," he said instead and turned back to the blackboard, dejectedly.
DeVoe planted his hands on his hips before sighing heavily, bringing up one hand to run through his hair. The sounds of his students getting up and practically running away made him shake his head. Wasted. All of it. Wasted. Wasted time. Wasted youth. Wasted knowledge. And yet, he as being paid to do it as his life's work.
Hearing clacking heels behind him, DeVoe turned and found his wife, Marlize, walking his way with an effervescent smile on her face. DeVoe managed a small smile and waited for her to approach. If there was anything that'd turn his day around, it was Marlize. Oh, how the sight of his wife could turn even the toughest of his days around.
"Ah, I know that look," Marlize said, turning her smile into a coy one. She made her way up the steps of his teaching platform and walked over to his desk. "I felt the same after my 11:00am Introduction to Fluid Mechanics and Physical Thermodynamics class. I was trying to explain the turbulent flow rates and ten minutes in…" she shook her head, perching herself on his desk and started to unpack the lunch she brought the two. "I wanted to pull my hair out."
"Well, it's a good thing I know water flowing to the axis of a tube is called…" DeVoe thought for a moment.
Marlize swatted him on the leg. "you better get this right."
"Laminar?"
Marlize smiled and nodded. "Ah, so you do listen!"
At that, DeVoe smiled. Always did whenever he was around his wife. The only bright spot in everything that he did. His biggest cheerleader and biggest fan, always know what to do or say to make him feel better. "Always," he agreed. Then he sighed a little, shaking his head in indication towards the now empty seats that had been hastily vacated. "Nothing matters to them if it's not digestible in YouTube videos of talking babies and inane pet tricks."
Affronted, Marlize's eyes widened. She placed her hands in her lap, seriously. "Have you not seen the video of the husky singing "Like a Virgin?"
At that, the corners of DeVoe's lips twitched. It was a silly thought, a more silly video when he thought about it. Something that ended up tickling his funny bone when he was in the throws of frustration. It was a good video.
"I made you smile." Marlize giggled.
DeVoe smiled his acknowledgement. Then he turned away, shaking his head. His eyes swept over the rows and rows of seats. That had been mostly full—except for those with flimsy excuses to not show up for that day—and sighed. He'd had numerous classes over the years, and it was only in the last few that he found people becoming more and more preoccupied with things on their screens rather than what was in front of them. DeVoe always thought the invention of social media was a stupid idea. "How can we enlighten them if their minds are too small to handle the gift of knowledge anymore?"
"For starters we could probably tell most of them the amount of time they're going to spend at the doctor's working to fix the permanent bend in their necks," Marlize teased. DeVoe managed another small smile. "Your plan is going to work, Clifford. We just need to refashion the delivery system."
"It's not the plan that's at fault, its my ability to execute it." He turned away from her. Reached for his bag and, with shaking hands, pulled out sketches he'd been working on. "I'm simply not smart enough."
"You are the most brilliant mind I know," Marlize reassured him.
He continued to ruffle through his bag. "That's not enough." Finally, he found a sketchbook and turned back to his wife, revealing the pages to her. He watched as she took it and started to study his drawings and words. What he'd slaved over as soon as the thought had come to mind. The brilliant thought that would change the world. If he did say so himself. "Not yet."
As Marlize studied it in front of her, her eyes light up. Her effervescent smile was back. Finally, she lifted her gaze and gazed at her husband. "When?"
"At this point, it's just a concept," DeVoe said, holding up his hands, working to keep her excitement at bay. But he knew it was more than excitement. It was dedication, knowing it was going to be a reality. "I call it my Thinking Cap. And just like their minds have gotten too small to handle full capacity, mine is too small to deliver it. This, my Thinking Cap, can change all that. If you build it, of course."
Marlize smiled and nodded. "Your dream is my dream." She looped her arms around his neck and leaned in, nuzzling his cheek with hers. "And your passion is my passion. This Thinking Cap is brilliant and everyone is going to think so."
DeVoe nodded back and smiled at her. He scanned her face, taking in every inch of it as she smiled back at him. The woman who understood everything about him, especially how his brain worked and the ideas he came up with, could make even the smaller of them realities. She'd been nothing but supportive of him since they met, and he knew she'd always be there for him. His worries were just that, worries, and she was there to soothe them.
Just like she'd be by his side when they successfully made the Thinking Cap. "I'm nothing without you." He pressed a kiss to her lips, which she responded in kind. Then stepped back, squeezing his arms. "I'm sure that the university isn't going to matter that a couple of our stature is allowing a brief moment of affection," he teased.
Marlize rolled her eyes, squeezed his arms once more. "I was thinking more of our lunch going to waste," she replied with a light jostle to his arm. "I spent a lot of time making it for you today and I want to ensure you enjoy it."
"Your cooking I always enjoy."
"I know."
The two smiled and enjoyed their lunch in peaceful quiet for a few moments. Then Clifford noticed the almost vacant expression on his wife's face. "Penny for them?"
"I'm just thinking about Harrison," she explained. "And all that he's doing at STAR Labs," she explained. DeVoe nodded. "He's really thrown himself into his work since Tess's accident." DeVoe nodded. "Maybe there's something we can do to help him?"
DeVoe almost snorted, merely smiled in response. Snorting was undignified. It wasn't anything he did. He didn't think he was better than anyone else, especially when there were many of his colleagues who had as bright of a mind as he did if not brighter. "I don't believe there's anything that the mind that Harrison Wells has that he can't figure out on his own."
Marlize rolled her eyes then reached out, ruffling DeVoe's hair. "Silly man, I meant a sort of trade. If there was anything he could help us with, then there may be things he could help us with."
At that, DeVoe blinked a few times, thinking. "You don't think it's anything we can figure out on our own."
"Well, this Thinking Cap idea you have is very revolutionary, but I can't say it's going to be easy to get many of the supplies that will be needed for it." Marlize shrugged. "I'm sure Harrison has the ability and the connections for a wider reach of supplies in the name of science." She brushed her hair from her face. "I'm just thinking ahead."
DeVoe thought for a moment, tilted his head back and forth. Nodded. "You may have a point."
"May?" Her eyebrows rose.
DeVoe smiled.
Present
The second she noticed the front door opening, Cadence held out her hand and waited as, seconds later, a hot chocolate appeared in her hand. She waited until the massive gust of wind finished moving through the room before calmly brushing her skewed hair back from her face. "Thanks, Tholly."
"Thanks, Barry," Brady echoed, taking a bite of his blueberry muffin, pushing his school papers back into a pile where they'd been ruffled. Being used to Barry's speed as well, he'd quickly put his arms out to cover the table before they could be blown away. Connor, on the other hand, had chosen simply to hug his laptop to his chest before putting it back on the counter. "It took you a little bit longer to come back this time?"
"What? Do you time me all the time?" Barry leaned against the counter, crossing his legs before taking a sip of his coffee.
"We don't," Cadence replied and smiled sweetly when Barry lifted his eyebrows.
"Okay, so, maybe I like to test myself sometimes. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing! It just ends up becoming a bit of a nuisance when I'm trying to watch something with you and the next thing I know, the movie is flashing across my eyes." Cadence paused, taking her hot chocolate to her lips once more. "Like my life." She smiled when Brady and Connor laughed.
"Oh come on, even you think Zodiac moved too slowly."
"Yes, when I could see it."
"I guess that's one movie we shouldn't suggest for Film Club then," Connor remarked with Brady nodding in agreement.
Cadence and Barry looked over to the boys with different points of interest. "You're joining movie club?" Barry asked.
"Well, joining something hopefully," Brady replied. He rested his chin in his hands and looked his mother in the eye. "Because someone thinks we should be doing some extra curriculars so we don't bring too much attention to ourselves." He pretended to snap his fingers. "Oh yeah, and because we were benched."
"You know, I'm really starting to question why I taught you sarcasm when you were young," Cadence replied. She looked toward Barry. "I was telling them, while you were out, that it might be a good idea to look into it with everything you've told us about Hitman and the bounties on our heads. I figured, what are the chances that a mad man would try to kill a bunch of meta kids?"
"In this city?" Connor pointed out.
"He's got a point," Barry agreed after a second of silence. Cadence nodded. Barry leaned in towards Cadence and lowered his voice. "Speaking of, have you got in touch with Oliver? You know…about the whole thing with…?" He waited for Cadence to take in a deep breath through her nose before reacting even slightly. And conversation that had to do with Oliver and Connor was a hard one, especially since the two, as parents, tended to have differing thoughts on how they raised their children. "No good?"
"Still thinks it's a good idea to keep him here," Cadence said. "And I love him, don't get me wrong. And I agree that things are more dangerous in Star City right now than here, but…" She shook her head, vaguely gestured with her hand. "How much safer?"
"Yeah…I get you."
"He wants us to send him to be with his grandparents. Now that Hitman confirmed he knows who we are…." Cadence waved her hand. "Honestly, I'm wondering if it's even a good idea to keep Brady here. It's obviously not best to have him stay with Ryder and I was even thinking of sending him to my mom."
Barry looked at her, eyebrows rising in surprise. Knowing how she grew up, with nothing but money and experiences at her fingertips, having to play the role of the perfect daughter—until she became pregnant—was something that still caused a little bit of bitterness in the Firestarter. It had to have been hard for her to come to terms with if she was saying it with ease. Barry looked over at Brady and Connor, who continued to look through whatever they were looking at on their computer, laughing to themselves every few minutes.
"I mean…if the judges didn't send me to Joe after what happened with my mom, I don't know what I would've done," Barry reminded her. "And Brady loves your mom."
She lifted a finger and wiggled it. "No, he loves the things he can get from my mom because she spoils him so much. Which is why I think joining an extracurricular can be a good idea. I mean, it's not like he can make his own underground meta-human fight club team at school, right?" Barry opened his mouth to respond then stopped when she continued with, "Don't answer that."
With a light chuckle, Barry turned his attention back to the boys, glancing at his watch. He had plenty of time before he'd be late for work. "So, what other teams are you guys thinking of joining?"
"We're already on our soccer team," Connor pointed out. His shoulders rose and fell in a sharp shrug. "So, maybe another sport since that's ending soon?"
Brady's eyes widened in excitement. He whipped around to his mom. "Yeah! And I can drive the ShadowCycle to get there so you don't have to worry about taking me!" At Cadence's incredulous frown he said, "Or…maybe Barry can run us? No?"
"I don't think that's the best idea if you're trying to keep people from thinking you and Shadowhunter are two different people," Barry said. "It wouldn't be very helpful if The Flash was showing up around you so much…" he paused, immediately thinking of all the times in the past it had happened before. "Again…" He cleared his throat and said. "Well, what about the debate team?"
"The debate team?" Brady replied. "Are you serious?"
"I mean, you do have a mouth on you," Cadence said with a smirk that made Brady roll his eyes. "It'd put it to good use against other people but me for a change." Brady laughed sarcastically and rolled his eyes once more while Connor laughed politely. "What's wrong with the debate team?"
"Only nerds join the debate team," Brady replied.
"I mean…I was the captain of the debate team," Barry said with a proud smile. His chest swelled with pride. "And that's not up for debate."
Cadence and Brady blinked at him for a full moment before Cadence snapped back to attention with Brady making a gesture to say 'my point was proven'. "Okay, Brady, why don't you get to school so you don't have to watch your future step-dad get even nerdier."
"Is that even possible?" Connor teased.
Finally, it was Barry's turn to roll his eyes. "Why do you have to make fun of me so much?"
"Because it's fun," Cadence and Brady replied in unison.
Then Brady turned his attention back to his mother, nose wrinkling. "But…debate team?"
"You have to spend your time doing something while you're grounded."
"You already benched me from being a meta, what do I need to be grounded for?"
"Let's see…" Cadence put her hot chocolate down and held up her hand. Above her palm, flames in the shape of a hand formed and started to count off for her for each point she made. "Defying me when you were benched, running around the city at night unsupervised, and, oh yeah, using my credit card to bail people out of jail."
Brady gestured towards Barry, eyes growing wide. "Did you want your future husband to rot in there? Did you want him to have a record?"
Cadence closed her palm, the flame immediately snuffing out. "Go to school."
"Yes, ma'am."
With that, Brady and Connor hopped down from their stools and gathered their school supplies, going to the door to take the bus. Their day was broken even further when Brady flung open the door and paused, seconds before a bright smile came across his face.
"Grandma!"
"Oh God."
Barry immediately moved in front of Cadence before Maya could hear her daughter's remark. Maya brought Brady and Connor to her in a tight hug, kissing the two of them on top of the head before sweeping into the apartment. Brady closed the door behind her, eagerly following her across the floor of the apartment where she wrapped Barry and Cadence in hugs as well.
"Hi, Maya, what are you doing here?" Barry asked. He stepped back to Cadence and put his arm around her. Partly to ensure she felt comfortable with the impromptu visit from her mother, but also so that he could move fast enough if he needed to calm his fiancé down at a moment's notice. "We were just headed out the door."
"Yeah, it's not really a good time, mom," Cadence added.
Maya waved her hand. "Oh, I don't mind staying a few hours in here. I can entertain myself. And besides, it's been a little while since I came to visit my favorite daughter." She thought for a minute. "Is my other daughter still here? The other Earth one?"
"Jesse and Harry went back to their Earths as few days ago," Barry explained. "After the bachelorette and bachelor parties. They needed to ensure things were going smoothly over there. But they'll be back for the wedding."
"Oh." Maya pouted for a second. Then her sunny demeanor was back. "Well, we can always visit later. And I want to hear about how your parties went when you get the chance. But I'm also here in Central City on official wedding business."
Cadence stared at her blankly. "What business."
Maya mimicked her look, blinking back at her daughter. "Your wedding dress? I got the message that it came in."
"What do you mean? My dress isn't due to be in for another week."
"Oh, I mean the dress I chose!"
Barry felt Cadence tense up under his arm. He felt her muscles tense and, all at once, a rush of heat radiated off her body that made beads of sweat appear on his forehead. Reaching over, Barry grabbed a nearby dish towel and wiped the sweat away. He exchanged glances with Brady, whose eyes shifted back and forth between his mother and grandmother.
"I already have a dress, mom," Cadence said. "Remember, you and the girls are going to come see my do my reveal in it soon."
"Oh, I know." Maya carefully placed her purse on the counter, after brushing muffing crumbs off the countertop. She glanced at her hand, running her fingers over her palm, then turned her attention back to her daughter and future-son-in-law. "This is just a favor for a friend. We'll go and look at some dresses and then tell her that you were thinking of one from another store. Honey, you remember Erika, don't you? Erika Van Horn?"
"Vaguely." Cadence's nose wrinkled.
"She'd be crushed if you didn't at least try on some of her dresses."
"I have to go to work—"
"—Everyone knows that the dress is the most important part of the wedding." Maya turned her attention to Barry and added, "No offense, Barry. But all you have to do is show up. Cadey-Cat needs to pick out the dress that's a showstopper; that'll make every woman jealous, and you cry when you see her walking down the aisle."
"Wait—" Barry started to protest but Brady cut him off with, "He's probably going to cry, anyway."
"And the wedding dress is all everyone is going to be talking about. Your want your bride to look amazing. Because, most importantly, you two need to give me a grandchild."
"I am your grandchild!" Brady cried, affronted at the same time Cadence said, "Mom," in warning. Barry's jaw dropped as he tried to figure out what to say to calm the storm that was seconds away from blowing up in his face. He could feel it. Connor must have been able to as well, for he started to back towards the front door, as if trying to make a hasty exit.
Maya smiled at Brady. "Of course! But I mean another grandchild. And it's not like you can't do it quickly, honey," she said to Cadence. "You are getting married to a speedster." She paused. "Is that how it works?" Barry nearly choked, his eyes almost bugging out of his head.
Cadence rubbed at her eyebrow, letting out a startled laugh. "Mom, I'm not talking to you about my sex life. Which is very healthy, thank you very much."
"But…" Maya looked back and forth between Barry—who looked like he wanted to die—and Cadence—who looked like she wanted to bury her mother. "Oh! So you would have to be doing it a lot then, right?"
"I'm going to school," Brady declared.
"I'm going to work," Barry added.
"And I'm going to be arrested for murder," Cadence said. She went to Maya and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad you're here, mom. But I really do have to get to work. Jordan has always texted me a few times, panicking about the fax machine and Captain Singh, apparently, looking at her funny. Why don't we meet up for lunch?"
"Okay, I'll just do some tidying up around here."
Barry was about to point out that the place was already immaculate but caught Cadence's warning look and decided not to. Instead, he bid his future mother-in-law goodbye and the quartet left the apartment at a normal speed—using the elevator. Barry wasn't sure exactly if Cadence would accidentally set something on fire, and figured it'd probably be better if he ensured she was at least fine to get to work.
Cadence lifted Ralph off the ground, glaring up at him. "Did you or did you not tell my twelve-year-old son that you wanted to take him to a strip club?" Ralph's gaze shifted toward Brady, who simply stood aside, smiling smugly.
"I simply wanted to let him know there are better things in life," Ralph said, trying to keep his tone as soothing as possible.
"Such as half naked women dancing for money?" Cadence tightened her grasp along Ralph's windpipe.
"Such as becoming a man." Ralph stretched his neck so his Adam's apple wasn't being directly crushed by the firestarter's hand. "Geez, the force is strong in this mama bear."
"I'll show you some force." Ralph oozed out of her grasp, making Cadence drop her hands and glare at him. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose. "What makes you think you're not going to die today?"
Ralph held up his hands, taking a step back. "You wouldn't kill a man just for saying the wrong thing would you?"
"I've done it for less."
At that, Ralph leapt behind Barry and pushed him forward. "Kiss your wife goodbye and let's go before she decides to do something she regrets later."
Barry chuckled to himself, seeing Cadence still glare at Ralph over his shoulder, and kissed her goodbye. "Don't kill him today, I still need his help." At that, Cadence's gaze softened into one of understanding. He'd already told her their plan moving forward. "I'll fill all of Team Flash in later."
She nodded, gave him another kiss, then teleported away from the group seconds before the bus pulled up and Brady and Conner climbed on, greeting Leah as they bounded up the bus steps. Then Barry turned to Ralph, who was staring at him.
"What?" Barry asked.
Ralph hesitated for a fraction of a second. "At the risk of sounding crude…if her grip is that strong…" Ralph's gaze darted downward for a second. "I hate to know what happens when you two are getting kinda…grabby."
Barry's teeth clenched together as his upper lip curled into a snarl. "Let's just go."
DeVoe smiled appreciatively toward Marlize as he took a long gulp of his freshly made lemonade. If there was anything his wife couldn't do there weren't many of them. Not only was she one of the brightest minds he'd ever met, but she was also an excellent cook and homemaker. The odds of having met someone like that was, probably, one in one million.
A fond smile came across his face. He probably could have calculated it down to the exact decimal point. But it was something of a inside joke between the two of them that they didn't have to. That they knew their relationship, that the chances of them taking all of the steps in their lives to bring them together was a one in a million chance.
Something that was engraved on their wedding rings. Of which he fondly spun around his finger when he was deep in thought, or suffering through a more difficult time with his students. So long as she was there for him, with him, he was fine. He was nothing without Marlize and knew it, was appreciative of it, reminded her of how much he loved her for it.
Especially now.
Marlize pressed her hand to DeVoe's, gently rubbing his wrist. DeVoe looked at her and smiled. A smile she gave back.
"We're about to have guests," Marlize said.
"Then let's get ready to meet them," DeVoe replied. The doorbell rang. His smile widened.
Marlize smoothed down her dress and hair and walked from the dining room to the front door. DeVoe watched her back, listened as she swung the door open and greeted those on the other side of the door. "Hi. Can I help you?"
"Yes, Ma'am, I'm Barry Allen with the CCPD. And this is my associate, Ralph Dibny."
"Is everything alright?" Marlize asked, voice lowering an octave.
"Yes, uh, we were just hoping to talk with Clifford DeVoe. Is he here?"
"Yes, he is, may I ask what this is about?"
"We just need to ask him some questions."
DeVoe made his way toward the door, moving slowly.
"Is something wrong?" He could see Marlize tense. "Is my husband in trouble?"
The voices at the door changed, Ralph was then speaking. "Your husband?"
A shushing sound. Barry speaking again. "No, ma'am, we just want to see if he can help us with something."
"Clifford!" Marlize turned and caught his eye. "The police are here. They'd like a word."
DeVoe smiled and pressed forward with his electrified wheelchair. It silently rolled around the corner and into the space that Marlize made at the door when she stepped aside to let him by. He smirked seeing the stunned expressions on Barry's and Ralph's faces. "Thank you, dear," DeVoe said towards his wife. Then laser beamed his gaze onto the metahumans' faces. "Good afternoon gentleman. I'm Clifford DeVoe." He continued to take in the The Flash and the Elongated Man. "How might I be of help?"
A/N: Writing the interaction from DeVoe's POV is actually really fun and very interesting. I can't wait to do more of it going forward! Also, I didn't get the chance to edit this before I posted so I apologize for any mistakes that are more than likely there.
Cheers,
-Riles
