#barlicity

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Barry sipped his coffee and contemplated the park.  Well, he pretended to contemplate the park.  Instead he was really thinking about his conversation with Iris, and how he had smiled and wished her the best in her future with Eddie.

               Ironic – the fastest man alive, and never on time for the most important things.

               He was really here to wait for a contact from The Arrow, a vigilante in Starling City that he had worked with a few times, but he was overly distracted by thoughts of Iris and Eddie and Iris and Eddie, couple.

               He was to the dregs of his coffee when a cat darted down the walkway in front of him.  Barry blinked, and then turned his head to watch it run, because he could have sworn…

               It had been carrying something pink.  That had definitely been something pink.

               “Quick, catch that cat!” a blonde in teetering heels and a dress that showcased gorgeous legs ran from the direction the cat had come.  Her hair was pulled back in a long ponytail, and she wore thick rimmed glasses that framed a beautiful set of eyes, and Barry felt his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth when she came to a halt next to his bench, panting and leaning forward to rest her arms on her knees.  “It stole… my wallet.”

               Barry just stared at her, and not just because the woman was beautiful and looking directly at him – she had bright pink lips, he noticed.  They matched the color of the pink object the cat had been carrying.

               Her wallet, his mind supplied helpfully, reminding him that he should probably do something to help her.  He was supposed to be a hero after all.

               Or, at least The Flash was supposed to be a hero. And while this woman might not know he was The Flash, he should still at least help.

               “Sit down,” Barry told her, getting to his feet. “I’ll get it for you.”

               “I’m pretty sure it’s long gone by now,” the woman replied, sinking to the bench and taking deep breaths.  “I really need to work out.”

               Barry didn’t think she did – he thought she looked just about perfect, in her dress with that ponytail… and he was staring. It was likely creepy.

               “Don’t worry,” he said looking away, down the path the cat had fled.  “I know shortcuts.”

               He took off, waiting until he knew he would be out of sight of the blonde, and then he took off.  He nearly ran right over the cat, and had to double back, only to find it had climbed a tree.  Looking around, only to see they were alone, Barry reached up and pulled himself up, making his way at a normal pace so he wouldn’t scare the cat that still had the wallet in its mouth.

               It had a yellow daisy on it, he could see.  It was bright and happy, and it fit the woman it belonged to.  He would have to get her name.

               Right after Iris?

               Well, yeah.  Iris made her choice – Eddie – and why shouldn’t he get the number of the pretty blonde?  

               His thoughts distracted him, and when he reached for the cat it hissed, dropping the wallet so it hit his head, and then scratched along his hand, making Barry curse and lose his grip and go tumbling from the tree. He landed on the ground with a groan and a thud, and one hell of a hurt ego.

               “Oh no.  Are you okay?”

               And that was even worse, because apparently the woman had followed him, and chose the best time to catch up.

               “I got your wallet?” he said lamely, holding it out to her.  

               “Thanks, I really owe you for that,” the woman replied. She accepted the wallet and then offered him a hand.  He took it and she shook her head when she saw the scratch.  “That looks painful.  We should go get it cleaned up.”

               “It’s fine.  I have a friend that can do that,” Barry knew his cheeks were flushed, and wished he could sink into the ground.  “I hope your wallet isn’t hurt.”

               “Oh, not at all,” she replied, opening the wallet and digging around.  She finally pulled something out – a microchip he realized with surprise when she held it out to him with a smile.

               “Uh… what’s this?”

               “Uh, your package?  The one The Arrow promised?” The woman blinked at him innocently, and Barry blinked back.  “Crap… are you the wrong person?  You are Barry Allen, right?  The Flash?”

               Hearing his vigilante name fall so easily from her lips made him step back, because this was the Arrow’s contact?  This pretty blonde with the big blue eyes and glasses?

               “Because, I know we haven’t met, but I looked you up online so I could be sure.  And I am, because that’s what I do – computer stuff, I mean – and I’m really good at it.  So I know you’re Barry.  And I’m babbling.  I’ll stop in 3-2-1.”

               And then she did, and Barry had to admire that ability.  He reached out and accepted the chip from her and she smiled and then they just stood in awkward silence.

               “So…” she said, and when Barry said nothing, she gave a tiny shrug. “I guess I’ll be going.”

               She had taken two steps when Barry realized he was about to just let her walk away, and wouldn’t that be stupid?

               “Wait,” he said, flashing in front of her and making her come up short.

               “Wow.  That is cool.”

               “Yeah, well… fastest man alive.  And I was kind of hoping you’d like to go for lunch.  With me.”

               The woman quirked her head and considered him for a moment, before  a slow smile crossed her pink lips.

               “I think I’d like that.”

               “Me too… uh, I’m Barry.  But you already knew that.”

               He offered her his hand awkwardly, and her smile just grew even more as she accepted it.