#flash x f!reader

There had been the near-kiss during movie night when his face had been right there in the glow of the screen, and you chickened out because Gar and Vic had barged in with popcorn. There had been the one almost-kiss after a training session when he leaned in so close you thought it was going to happen- but he sneezed, and the moment shattered into laughter.

And maybe that was the problem. Being with Wally was easy, Kissing him? That felt like it would change something. Something big.

"Okay, breathe," you muttered to yourself, blowing into your hands to fight off the chill. "It's just a kiss. People do this all the time."

"Talking to yourself again?"

You jumped so hard you nearly tripped over your own feet. And there he was- red hair tousled by the wind, green eyes lit up with mischief, a grin tugging at his lips. He wore that battered old hoodie you liked, the one with a faded Keystone City baseball logo on the front. And of course, he had that speedster smugness, like he'd been standing there for ages and you were the one late to the party.

"Wally?" you scolded, pressing a hand to your chest. "Don't do that!"

"What, show up?" he teased, strolling closer with that casual confidence that somehow didn't look rehearsed on him. "Or catch you having a full conversation with... yourself?"

"I wasn't-" you stopped, narrowing your eyes. "Okay, maybe I was. But that doesn't mean you get to make fun of me."

"Who said I'm making fun? I think it's adorable," he said smoothly, leaning on the railing beside you. His arm brushed yours, warm even through your jacket.

You tried to play it cool. You really did. "You always sneak up on people like that?"

"Only on the people I like." His tone softened just enough to make your stomach flip.

There it was. The thing he did- the disarming honesty beneath all the bravado. You glanced at him, but he wasn't smirking this time. He was just looking at you, like he couldn't quite believe you were there.

Your heart thumped. Loud. Too loud.

"So," he started after a beat, his voice lighter again. "Why are you hiding out here? Don't tell me you're avoiding another one of Vic's karaoke nights."

You laughed, grateful for the deflection. "No. Just needed some air."

"Hmm." He studied you, head tilted. Then, before you could blink, he darted away- literally- and returned in less than a second holding two mugs of hot chocolate, steam curling from the tops.

You blinked. "Did you just-"

"Zoom down to the kitchen?" He smirked, handing you a mug. "Yeah. Perks of dating the fastest man alive."

"You're impossible," you said, but you smiled as you wrapped your hands around the cup.

"And yet you keep me around." He bumped your shoulder playfully.

The night settled around you, quieter this time. Just the two of you, the city lights in the distance, the stars overhead. Wally sipped his hot chocolate like it was the most important task in the world, and you felt the weight of unsaid words pressing against your tongue.

You wanted to kiss him. God, you wanted to kiss him.

But how? Do you just... lean in? Do you wait for him? What if you missed and ended up bumping noses? What if-

"You're staring," he said suddenly, a teasing lilt to his voice.

Your face heated. "I am not."

"You are." He turned to look at you fully, green eyes sharp and soft all at once. "Which, you know, I'm not complaining about. I like it when you stare."

"Wally..." you warned, though your voice was more breathless than stern.

He leaned closer, close enough that you could count the freckles across his cheeks, close enough that your heart felt like it might sprint right out of your chest to try and keep up with him.

"You know," he murmured, "I've been trying to find the right moment."

Your breath caught. "The right moment?"

He smiled, softer this time. "Yeah. To do this."

And then- finally- he kissed you.

It wasn't flashy. It wasn't rushed. For all his speed, Wally kissed you slow. His lips brushed yours like he had all the time in the world, like he wanted to savor every second. Your hand found its way to his hoodie, clutching the fabric as you melted into him. His free hand- because of course he hadn't let go of his hot chocolate- rested gently against your waist, grounding you.

When you finally pulled back, the world felt a little different. Brighter, Louder. Like every atom in your body had been rewired.

Wally grinned, his forehead resting against yours. "Worth the wait."

You laughed, a little breathless. "Yeah. Definitely worth the wait."

He kissed you again, quick and sweet this time, before pulling back with that trademark smirk. "So... when do I get to brag to the others that I finally kissed my girlfriend?"

You rolled your eyes, but your smile gave you away. "Let's keep it to ourselves. Just for tonight."

"Deal," he said, and you knew he'd keep it- because for once, Wally West wasn't in any rush.