#dark flash

"Here's your hot chocolate." You said as you gave his drink to Barry. He was a loyal customer, coming to the shop every single day. Often he would look at you strangely and stutter while ordering. But when he got to the shop today, he ran to you and almost shouted his name. 'I'm Barry Allen.' You went back, a little scared, not knowing how to react and smiled nervously. 'Uh, um... And also I want a hot chocolate, please. The hottest chocolate you have, because you-' Your stunned expression seemed to silence him, running his hand nervously through his hair and saying so many incoherent sentences. To save him and yourself from this awkward situation, you told him to sit down and went to prepare his drink.

"Thank you." He smiled, showing all his teeth. He watched you as you go back to your work. In fact, he would always sit at the table right in front of you and stare at you all the time. At first you thought it was a simple crush and as the time passed, you convinced that he was a shy person who couldn't ask you on a date, but lately you decided he was a little creepy. But you didn't think much of it.

You couldn't risk having a lover anyway, you hardly even had the time to earn money while the villains of the city put fear on everyone's heart. Trying to protect them and keeping your existence a secret was hard. Batman, The Flash, and the others... All your supposed heroes were villains, and you were horrified to learn that. Especially when you found out that they were hunting people with superpowers. They had dangerous plans to reveal them that would endanger the lives of hundreds. You didn't know what they did to the superhumans they captured, and it terrified you. You could stay out of everything to protect yourself, but you didn't.

In the most recent incident, it was reported in the news a mysterious super-fast person threw the bomb placed on a passenger plane into the sky and saved lives. Now finding that 'super-fast person' became their priority. That's why you were sure the Flash was hanging around. To capture you. You had to be very, very careful.

You entered the kitchen to prepare the next customer's drink and finally you were out of Barry's intense gaze. When you tried to make strategic plans about how to protect yourself, a powerful rumble ran all around. You thought it was an earthquake, everything shook and things were blown up. You watched as the drink in your hand slowly spilled into the air. Then you turned your head and saw the girl next to you being thrown backwards, the spoons in her hand circling in the air. You had to save everyone, you had to do something. When you turned around and looked through the round glass of the door, you could see Barry, lightning all around him and running towards there. He was... fast. Maybe he was one of the special people, or maybe... You couldn't risk it, so you blocked your powers and were swept away with the others.

In seconds you were in Barry's arms and outside. He asked you a hundred times if you were okay and apologized constantly. You didn't understand why he apologized but all you cared about at that moment was the people inside. "Barry, save them. You have to save them, please." He looked at you unwillingly for a moment, but softened when he saw the worried expression on your face. After carefully placing you on the ground, lightning flashed around him. "For you." Then he disappeared.

Tears filled your eyes as you watched everyone come out one by one. What was gonna happen now? The Flash might even be right under your nose, how would you use your powers undetected? The attacks were multiplying, revealing 'the heroes' one by one. Maybe you were their new hero.

Only a few seconds passed when he took out the last person. At least you hoped no one else was left inside. Barry quickly picked you up again and looked you as people looked around in surprise and fear. "I saved everyone, just for you. There is no one left." You were overwhelmed by his deep voice and intense gaze. For you? Just for you? It scared you when he said it like he didn't normally save people.

"But- uh, but you save people, right?" You couldn't keep your voice from cracking. Why did he give you a creepy vibe? You had to get away from Barry. All your senses could hear the alarm bells.

He forced a smile and nodded, his voice wasn't convincing at all. "Yeah, of course. Of course..."

You tried to get rid of his arms. "I have to go, thanks for saving me and everyone else. People with superpowers aren't safe at all these days and you risked your own safety."

"Why aren't they safe?" He asked, ignoring your effort to leave. It was as if he was questioning you, as if he wanted to know how you perceived what was going on.

"Why? Haven't you heard the Batman and the others are actually evil villains? They risked and killed the lives of thousands of innocents to capture superhumans, and who knows what happened to those they capture. "

"What about Flash?" He frowned slightly and tilted his head to the side. "Do you think he's evil too?"

Was that a trick question? You hesitated to answer, but you weren't a coward to hide your true thoughts about them. "Yes, in fact, he scares me the most. Who can stop such a fast and evil person? He can do terrible things and no one can stop him."

"Evil... Maybe people are so annoying, maybe he only cares about one person." he murmured.

You couldn't hear what he said. It was very noisy outside, people were screaming and running. "Sorry, I couldn't hear."

"It's okay." He smiled, his eyes scanned all over your face. Then he put you down and hugged you. As you opened your eyes in surprise, you felt a sudden pain in your neck. You tried to push him away from you, but your body was already numb. He pressed your body, which was about to fall to the ground, to himself and whispered in your ear, caressing your hair gently. "I am so sorry."

-

When you wake up, you got sitting position and rubbed your eyes because the light bothered you. You didn't know why you felt so numb and dizzy, but you definitely sensed something wrong was going on. You held your head and frowned to focus and remember. You were in the shop. Barry was there. Hot chocolate, explosion, speed, lightning, hugging, drugging... Memories flashed in your mind, and your eyes widened as you remembered what happened. Barry drugged you.

You looked around in panic and realised you were in a cell, a glass cell. Then you saw him. Right in front of the cell. The Flash. He was standing and staring at you. His posture was fixed, like a statue. Ironically, he seemed to forgot how to move. And he didn't say anything. He was quiet as you ran through the cell and punched on the glass so you could find a way out.

His gaze and your efforts continued for a while. You refused to talk to him and tried to run desperately, often staring at him and waiting for him to say or do something. But apparently he wanted you to talk first. And it didn't last long. "What do you want from me?" You tried to be strong but you were so scared and your voice trembled.

Flash looked at you for a few seconds before answering your question, and then slowly approached the glass. You took a step backwards at the same time and your reaction stopped him. "We're looking for a speedster and we detected superspeed around your shop after the plane incident. No need to be afraid, just a check."

There were so many things you wanted to say, so many things that were staying inside and needing to come out. But you didn't speak and he disappeared, leaving lightnings behind him.

You stayed in the cell for what seemed like hours. At least you had plenty of time to think. It was suspicious that the Flash stared at you like a statue for a long time. And who knows how long he watched you. Maybe that's how he treated the others, too, so the speedster would reveal. But that was a ridiculous possibility. No, could the Flash's behavior be personal? Maybe he somehow sensed and knew your secret. So what would you do now, how would you escape? The moment you use your speed, you were going to reveal and now you were completely trapped. Your eyes filled with fear and you cried, felt like there was a weight on your chest. You didn't know how to fight, you just ran away and that wasn't enough for you to survive.

"Please don't cry." You flinced his sudden voice. When you lifted your head buried in your knees and looked at him, you saw he put his hand on the glass. You could swear he looked worried, or sad. "I'm so sorry for leaving you alone for so long. You don't have to be afraid, nothing will happen to you. I promise."

The way he looked at you, the softness of his voice, the way he put his hand on the glass as if he wanted to touch you... He looked like he was in pain. You couldn't help thinking maybe they were forcing him to be a villian.

His other hand went to his mask for a moment, but then he changed his mind. "Don't worry, once we find the speedster you'll be free to go. You're perfectly safe." He smiled. Why did he smile?

"What will happen to the speedster?" Despair filled all over you, suffocating.

"You don't have to worry about him. Actually don't think about him. You're safe, that's what matters." He put his other hand on the glass, too. Looking at you almost madly. "That's all that matters."

"W-wha-" You crawled back as far as possible. You wanted to escape from him. You were literally kidnapped and cornered, but he was the one who scared you the most. You were fast, yes, but not as fast as him, you showed different skills and powers related to your speed but merely. On the other hand, he was a total expert and had a lot of power. You felt so defenseless and vulnerable against him. "I want to go."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, bending his head. "I do want that too, but there are strict orders. Don't worry, I'll be by your side the whole time and protect you."

"Why are you treating me like this?" You asked him finally. He was silent for a while and looked at you. He seemed a little indecisive, even quite indecisive. His hands slowly went to his mask and stayed there for a while. It didn't take long to realize that he wanted to reveal his identity to you. You watched in shock as he slowly took off his mask. And his face horrified you.

"Barry..." You cried. The man who came to your shop every day for weeks, who stalked and stared at you all the time. Also the guy who tried to capture you but didn't know about it.

"I swear I was trying to protect you. I swear to you, I didn't try to trap you. When I learned we were going to raid your shop, all I wanted was to keep you out of this, but they didn't let me. I never wanted to hurt you by sticking that injector in your beautiful neck, or knocking you out. I never wanted to bring you here. I hate myself and everyone else for making me do this to you. I just want you to be happy and safe and... I swear. I'm not evil."

He tried to reach you. He wanted you to hear the sincerity of his words, and yes you heard, but you didn't trust him. You thought he was trying to trick you. You felt miserable. "What's gonna happen to him?" Your voice was weak, making Barry's heart broken.

"Don't think about him, I-"

"Why do you constantly encourage me to think of no one but myself? Is this what you do?" You sobbed.

"I don't care about anyone, I only care about you. Isn't that enough?" His voice cracked, eyes were red.

"Why?" You burried your head in your knees and wrapped your arms around your legs. It was a dream, it was a nigtmare. It wasn't happening.

"Because I love you." He put his hands on the glass again. When you lifted your head, you could see the tears running down his cheeks. His lips were shaking a little, his eyes were red, and he looked very sad. "I love you so much."

You couldn't convince yourself the Flash was in love with you. He was scary and dangerous, mercilessly risking people's lives, even killing them, he was like an invisible chaos, he was... not like Barry. He wasn't Barry. He couldn't be Barry.

"Look, uhm... You have trouble understanding the process right now, I totally get it. You're afraid of the Flash and you believe he's evil. I'm so sorry for making you afraid of me, I didn't want it to be like this. I want you to trust me, not fear me." He struggled to control his voice, his trembling voice and tears wanted to prove his honesty.

"You shouldn't have learned like this, no. It should've been special." He lowered his head and clenched his hands. Then he disappeared. You were left alone trying to comprehend what happened. You wanted to believe, in fact, you believed his sincerity. But you never admitted it. Somehow he must've seen you in the shop and liked you, that was okay. But he was crazy. He was so obsessed with you that you realized even though you could run away from there, you could never run away from the Flash. He would always be around and no one would help you. And what would he do when he found out your secret? You curled up on the floor, closed your eyes, and fell asleep crying.

-

You were in Barry's arms when you woke up. He was in the cell and calling you, tapping your cheeks. "Are you okay? What happened? Can you hear me?" He was in a panic, shaking your body and checking your pulse.

"I was sleeping." You couldn't understand his worry and tried to get rid of his arms, but he held you tight and hugged you. "Oh, I thought something happened to you." He took a deep breath in relief.

"It wouldn't matter, you don't know me." Mixed emotions filled your entire body. You wanted to get out of his arms, you pushed him and hit him, but he didn't let you go. "If you knew me, if you knew who I am, you wouldn't feel this way."

"Don't say things like that, you're making me sad." He said in a low voice and caressed your hair. No matter what you say, he wouldn't want to hear you. He was in love with you, but an unhealthy and dangerous love.

"I'm scared, please let me go." It was like he was deaf, never wanting to understand and hear you. He was so drowned in his love for you that it scared the hell out of you. You would never guessed the Flash would become a villain obsessed with you. It was the worst nightmare.

“Now I'm going to take you somewhere with the other captives, but don't be afraid, okay? Don't be afraid. The speedster's moral urges will betray him, but your safety doesn't depend on him, it depends on me. You'll just stand there, I'll never take my eyes off you."

"I don't want that, no." This time you tried to push him with all your strength, hit him on the back and screamed but he just hugged you tight and kept caressing your hair. "I promise it'll be quick, then you're free to go."

And there you were. Barry didn't let you go until you calmed down and then took you to the other captives. You were all on the wall, and armed men were waiting in front of you. Like Barry said, he never took his eyes off you for a second. Again and again, even the lightest movements of armed men triggered him so much, and lightning flashed all around him. He was ready to run towards you, and kill them.

"Don't be so anxious, your girlfriend will be fine." The Batman put his hand on his shoulder and looked at you. "She's beautiful."

In less than a second, Flash removed Batman's hand from his shoulder and pinned him to the wall. "If even a single hair of her is damaged, I'll blow up your little bat cave and fucking kill you."

Despite Flash's angry face, he smiled and slowly pushed him away. "Don't be so dramatic, fast boy. You can have your girlfriend after we catch the speedster."

"Why does she have to be here? She has nothing to do with this."

"I wouldn't be so sure." He gave him a long stare, then walked away to give the orders. He was sure Barry thought he was an overly skeptical bastard, but Barry didn't know this world as well as he did. To him, you were just as suspicious as everyone else.

"Speedster, listen to me carefully. You have one second to save them. You can't hide who you are, Flash will see you. Now, ready." You looked at Barry as he ordered them to be ready to fire. Lightning was all around him now, ready to run. He just looked at you, didn't give a shit about the others. Saving you was his only and only goal. You could let him to save you and let the others die, but you could never do that. As Barry said, your moral urges were going to betray you, and you didn't care. At least you'd save lives.

"Fire."

The gunfire slowed when you heard Batman's voice, the lightning surrounding you as the bullets slowly made their way to kill you. You looked at Barry, he was already running to save you, but when he saw you looking at him, he saw the lightnings around you, he couldn't believe it. His face was in shock, he looked at you in surprise.

You looked at him one last time and rushed to pull the bullets out of their way of the captives. Adrenaline, fear and pressure made you go faster than usual, but you still weren't as fast as him. At least you had enough time. After saving everyone, Barry called out to you. "Get to your place, now."

You had nothing to lose, also you couldn't just leave everyone here and run, so you did as he told you. You stopped using your powers, thinking it was all over for you, and you didn't notice what he just did. "This is the man."