Beautifully Damned

She gave him a little smile in a show that she appreciated his effort to shoo her doubt. Of course, Annie didn’t need it. She knew how crazy Central City was in this time. It was only going to get worse.

“I heard it was the speed of light,” Annie commented out of interest.  To know that the Flash hadn’t reached his top speed yet, could play an intriguing role in the events she knew were to come in the future. “Or is that like, media exaggeration or something?”

“Sorry. I knew what I was getting into moving to Central City. I just didn’t think I’d witness a meta attack on my third day here. It’s kind of exciting, actually.”

‘Have I reached the speed of light yet?’

Barry pondered the thought for a moment before shaking off his own curiosity. “I don’t really follow the Flash like that. It’s possible,” he shrugged with a feigned indifference. Her excitement fired off a small bit of worry in him. This had to be shock, right? No one ever really enjoyed this kind of chaos; at least not good people. 

Barry felt a pang in his chest. He may not know, firsthand, the negative side of the foster system but he did understand the confusion that came with displacement. He lost his mother that night in a flurry of lightening; and not soon after he also his father to the deception of Eobard Thawne. If it weren’t for Joe, he could have been where she was. He lowered himself down to level with her. 

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m sorry that you had to deal with that but look at where you are now. You’re opinionated but talented. Your past doesn’t have to defend you, Allie.” 

"I get that. Sometimes it’s hard to outlive ones surname. You’re going to do great things, Thea. I know Roy and Oliver are so proud of you.”

"I don’t like when we’re off kilter, Iris. You are my home. I am not my best when we’re not at our best. Which I realize is partly my fault. I run into things without thinking and sometimes that haste hurts you. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to make you happy and feel safe. I am sorry I haven’t been the best partner.” Barry made taken some time to reflect on his actions as of late. Iris was the agent that kept him balanced. It wasn’t fair if he didn’t provide that same kind of effect. “I wouldn’t say that the sex part isn’t a plus but I want everything with you, Iris. I love Nora and I am not going to accept not being in her life. We deserve to have it all. I won’t accept anything less,” he lifted her up into his arms. “I believe we are in agreement on the baby making front. Shall we begin,” he wiggled his brows suggestively. 

The levity of their conversation lifted some of the tension that barreled down on his chest. It was nice to talk about somewhat normal things. “How are things going between you two, Oliver? Felicity mentioned to me that he’s currently in Central City. I may have checked in on him once or twice. His Grandparents really love woodland ceramics..” he trailed off. He sighed at the sage wisdom that he had been bestowed. “I know she’s not the biggest fan of the teams because of trust. I don’t know how to get her to trust me.” 

In all her studies of the past, Annie had never come across such a meta. Dr. Light had the same powers but all indication pointed to her being a woman. Had she accidentally stumbled on a displaced meta from another Earth? That could be problematic.

“I know… I know. It’s sounds crazy.”

Barry curbed the confused curl of his brows at her description. The only light based metas that he had come into contact with was Dr. Light. Not even in DeVeo’s patch of metas, there was no one with that skill set. Had the breeches between the worlds split wide open? His heart quickened at the grim consequence if it had. 

As the questions about Frost and Caitlin continued, Lisa sighed softly and looked away for a moment as she collected her thoughts on how to answer Barry. “I can only make a guess why Frost hasn’t come to you.” Lisa looked back to Barry, her reply completely honest. “I think it’s her way of protecting you. The less you know, the less chance you have of getting hurt from being dragged into it.”

"I guess not but I wish that they didn’t feel like they had to go dark, you know? I believe everyone has good in them.” Barry shrugged. Lisa’s compliment warmed his cheeks. Sometimes he wondered if he was all that great to be around. Constant sunshine and positivity was a lot; it even posed too great for his own sanity because the darkness loomed inside of him. Barry just didn’t want to submit to that bleak reality.

“This isn’t as bad ass everyone says!” Kara blustered with a feigned confidence. Cisco promised that compound cocktail would help give her a rounded buzz. Due to her composition of her body and the luscious radiation of this Earth’s yellow sun, Kara never really had one. She didn’t count that one time with Mon el because she felt as though she may have also been drunk off his aura; love made people do and say dumb things. 

“Cheers to tomorrow..um today..yesterday? Some day!”

"Kar, can I see that?” Barry motioned towards her glass with a wary smile. If he were right about his hunch, this was the potent stuff. 

Clark giggled at the person sitting across from him. Wow, whatever Lois brought home from her space bar crawl back on their Earth was extremely potent! He wasn’t usually one to drink, but given the circumstances, celebrations were in order. He just found out he was a father, and if that wasn’t something to celebrate, he wasn’t sure what was. As he laughed, his nose scrunched up and his eyes closed as the quiet giggles continued to bubble forth.

“Does it always feel like this? Floaty and fuzzy?”

"I mean I, sometimes, feel fuzzy when I vibrate through concrete. I feel like a jackhammer. Not now, I’m a little limp.” Barry held out his with a forced gaze as it would kickstart his speed. The point was moot. Alcohol or heavy doses of whatever that was depressed his connection to the speed force. 

Barry moved closer and placed the pity pizza down on the coffee table before her. It was evident that her shoulders were heavy from the trauma and possible side effects of the life they lived. He expected her to feel distant and even distraught; what he didn’t expect was that she would admit to killing someone. “Was it the only option, Rory? Was he going to kill you? Was there no other way for you to survive that evening without fatally harming him.” Her lack of remorse alarmed him but the nature of her relationship with that man was very much an abusive and emotionally damning ordeal. He needed to know that she felt there was no other way because maybe he could look past it. 

Everyone made mistakes. Even when they thought those mistakes weren’t mistakes at all.