#flashrogues

Sorry for the long wait! <3

The Rogues go on vacation together to Aruba! They've all been bored and cranky with no new exhibits, good scores, or interesting mischief to be had, especially with the Flash away on Justice League business.

So team Mom, Len is not amused by this, packs them all up for a flight to Aruba (he trades a favor for a private plane and Mark pilots it, because like hell he's trapping himself in an RV with all of them for a days long road trip).

They split their time between a hotel and Mick's personal beach cottage.

Len spends the majority of his time watching the rogues within the hotel where it's cool, Mick keeps an eye on them at the beach, Lisa takes over when they go shopping or touring.

Hartley enjoys some local wine and food tastings with music, Shawna loves the party scene, Mark catches a few local sports, Roy takes in the sights and enjoys some painting, Sam and Rosa have some romantic evenings, and Axel, well so long as he doesn't get arrested or blow anything important up it's fine. Probably.

They're all surprised when each of them runs into Barry.

They're on relatively fair terms as it’s been years and they've all come to an agreement after helping each other out more than a few times and Barry’s tangoed with the timeline enough that it's fixed a few things between them. (Clyde was killed by Eobard instead of Joe, etc)

Things are a little awkward at first, though it leads to Len actually leaving the hotel (albeit at night) to scout out the scarlet speedster.

They meet up at a quiet bar on the beach with a bonfire and the stars. Len learns that apparently the last mission with the Justice League was a particularly rough one and Barry needed time to himself away from everything.

They spend the entire night talking and, with the help of speedster alcohol, actually dance. They fall asleep on the beach until morning where they go their separate ways. They meet up again every other night, sometimes just relaxing in the waves.

Barry ends up spending a little time with each of the other rogues throughout the days and nights of their vacation.

Mick gives him a place to crash when he doesn't want to go back to his hotel room alone. They cook together, read old scifi books, and Barry gets to read some of Mick's manuscripts for his upcoming novels.

Hartley and Barry talk for hours about science and some of the things Barry has seen and learned during his missions. Shawna helps Barry relax and have fun for a little while, definitely a lot of karaoke. Lisa helps him pick out new clothes for himself that feel a little freeing, embracing new sides of himself (and giving her playful details about Cisco).

Axel shows him the firework shows he's been helping out with and the fun toy and science workshops he's been going to. Roy talks to him about comedy shows while they both sketch together. Sam and Rosa take him dancing and he barely has time to think about anything much less the dark parts of his mind.

Mark takes him sailing. They take turns showing off their powers, feeling the way they feed and build off of each other. They talk about growing up, about family and the ones they've lost.

Eventually it's time to go home. The Rogues and Flash go their separate ways, knowing they'll see each other again soon, maybe or maybe not on the same side.

It's back to business as usual.

At first.

It's starts small for some of them. Len drinking alone like he's waiting for someone until he catches himself. Mick feeling dissatisfied with his writing but no one's advice feels right. Hartley feels frustrated and is unable to make progress on his projects. Mark is moody and his power feels restless, like its missing a piece it never knew it had until it was gone.

Barry struggles between wanting to go on another vacation but also secretly knowing it wasn't just the location that he misses.

The others notice and decide to try to give them a nudge. Or a shove with a golden high heel.

They stage a big heist at different points of the city until the Flash is exhausted. They then grab him and take him to Saints and Sinners for what turns into a specially prepared dinner party the other Rogues weren't aware of until they wake up from their drug induced nap.

Lisa stays just long enough to make it clear they had better talk things out before she gets back from her date with Cisco. Rosa and Sam wish them luck and head out. Shawna, Axel, and Roy go catch a movie.

Dinner goes well, they all talk (even if things go off the rails a dozen times) and clear the air.

The Rogues were actually having a fairly domestic day. Some of them were getting groceries, a couple of them were doing some thrifting, and the rest were doing whatever it is they do when they're not committing atrocities. The key word here is were because while thrifting with Shawna and Axel, Lisa had spotted one Barry Allen at the cafe across the street. Apparently the only cafe he goes to given the number of times she'd seen him there with the STAR Labs crew.

Except this time he was there with a girl and it wasn't the doctor or his foster-sister. It was a different girl. The others saw that Lisa had stopped dead in her tracks and looked to see what was wrong and boy did they see. In an instant, Axel had texted the rest of the Rogues, making sure that the ones still at home brought everyone's weapons and jackets. Branding and such are still important, especially when there's a girl with her mitts on your CSI.

They had known for a while that he was their favorite, but this was something else. To have all of the Rogues show up so close to a precinct was unheard of, but for a boy? It was outright preposterous.

It had begun to thunder overhead and Mark's expression was one to match, just like those of the Rogues that had guns had fired into the air and Hartley shattered the front windows for good measure. The key was to get his attention and if that didn't work, either he was deaf or had ADHD something fierce. Luckily for them, he did look up and his eyes widened to find all of Central City's real big bads waiting for him across the street.

He had the good sense to look apologetic and say something to the girl before she turned around to see what he meant. And then she screamed.

Barry looked straight at them as the crowd of people ran around him and out of the building. With no bystanders to see, he ran up to them in a flash. To some, this was a surprise, and it would seem that others already knew and had withheld that useful piece of information.

No matter. They had his attention now. And Cold was the first to speak, "Who was that pretty girl, Barry?"

At least he had the good sense to look surprised.

"You guys started causing a panic because I was on a date?"

And well. When he put it like that, it really did make them think. That is what had happened, wasn't it. It wasn't like one of them had just seen him walking down the street and decided to say hi. No this was very different, indeed.

"We can't help it if the only CSI in the precinct looks like you," Kyle had a point.

"Y'know I figured you would all hate me since I processed most of your evidence and even locked you up one way or another," he really didn't get it, did he?

Lisa sauntered up and to his side. "You, Barry Allen, are the only person in all of Central City that's good enough to play our game."

"You've got a brain that outdoes that pretty face of yours, sunshine," Mark had long since calmed down and the thunder has ceased, but his voice sounded just like it.

"Are you guys seriously propositioning me right now?"

"What if we were?" Axel crossed his arms, indignant at Barry's disbelief.

"I'm pretty sure dating your villains is breaking superhero rule number one."

"Good thing we villains like to break rules and, from what I hear, you do too, every now and then," Hartley had a point and he had clearly been sending too much time with Snart if he made said point with a pun.

What was most surprising was that he was considering it.

"You know what. Sure. You each get one date. The Arrow used to kill people so I really don't think he has room to talk in regards to breaking the rules of being a superhero. Plus he still owes me for shooting me."

"He did what?" It was hard to tell, but it was most likely everyone shouting in unison out of sheer shock and appal.

This post is to see how much interest there would be in a Flash Big Bang! The plan would be to start sign ups in July and work through to the beginning of December, with beta reading happening sometime in November.

The Big Bang would be themed around any and all Flash/Barry Allen ships, and all comers would be welcome.

Song: There's Nothing Holding Me Back by Shawn Mendez

I wanna follow where she goes

I think about her and she knows it

I wanna let her take control '

Cause everytime that she gets close, yeah

Len started it.

It was another robbery. Diamonds or something. Barry thinks Snart, Len, whatever, mentioned that Lisa's birthday was coming up or something.

She pulls me in enough to keep me guessing (mmm)

And maybe I should stop and start confessing

Confessing, yeah

They'd been trading their usual banter when Snart, no, "Call me Len, Scarlet" had kissed him. He hadn't gotten his senses together before Len was just gone. He later found one of the diamonds, a red one, in his pocket.

Barry would admit to himself he'd thought about it, it being Len. But he convinced himself it'd just been a ploy to catch him off guard.

Oh, I've been shaking I love it when you go crazy

You take all my inhibitions

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back

You take me places that tear up my reputation

Manipulate my decisions

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back

There's nothing holdin' me back

There's nothing holdin' me back

Then it happened again.

Pied Piper had played a song that'd made Barry's head feel light and dizzy. But instead of taking advantage of the moment to hit and run, Hartley had kissed him, smiled and said something in French, and then ran.

She says that she's never afraid

Just picture everybody naked

She really doesn't like to wait

Not really into hesitation

There had been a fire at a bar and of course Heatwave was there. Only he hadn't actually caused it, but almost gotten trapped in it. Barry had waited with him after using the man's burner to text Len to pick him up, then checked him for smoke inhalation.

Pulls me in enough to keep me guessing, whoa

And maybe I should stop and start confessing

Confessing, yeah

He'd been completely unprepared for Mick to grab him, crush him to him so he could feel how very okay he was, and kiss him until he felt like he was the one suffering oxygen deprivation.

He'd stumbled and then ran away when he'd heard Len's motorcycle coming.

Oh, I've been shaking I love it when you go crazy

You take all my inhibitions

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back

You take me places that tear up my reputation

Manipulate my decisions

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back

There's nothing holdin' me back

Barry hadn't thought he would need his guard up around Mark Mardon of all people. The man had mellowed considerably over time after joining the Rogues, but he was still him.

Cause if we lost our minds and we took it way too far

I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright

If you were by my side and we stumbled in the dark

I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright

Until during a bank robbery, after everyone had been evacuated, and Mardon had pushed him onto a pile of money and kissed him, muttering something about dreams come true after all.

Barry had not been at all prepared, and apparently neither had Mark, for their powers to cause a reaction between them that felt like licking lightning. Barry had ran away after almost coming in his suit and nearly setting the money on fire.

'Cause if we lost our minds and we took it way too far

I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright

If you were by my side and we stumbled in the dark

I know we'd be alright, we would be alright

Barry was a bit more prepared for Trickster Jr.

Or at least he'd thought so. He wound up triggering a trap and hanging upside-down with a sprinkler system going off as Axel laughed and then leaned in for a Spider-Man style kiss. He'd escaped with the new tech and Barry was more confused than ever before.

Oh, I've been shaking

I love it when you go crazy

He didn't even put up much of a fight when Mirror Master and The Top pulled him into a dizzying dance after crashing a fashion show and took turns kissing him until he couldn't think straight.

You take all my inhibitions

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back

Barry was starting to worry about his Rogues. Was this a ploy to mess with him? Or had some Meta whammied them?

It turned out the second one was true.

Sort've.

You take me places that tear up my reputation

Manipulate my decisions

Lisa, Shawna, and Bivolo showed up to ask for help. Barry tried to the stupid little sting of disappointment. Of course they'd been whammied. He'd never been this popular personally in his whole life.

The Rogues had been pulling a lot more jobs lately with less planning than usual, but Barry had been too confused by their attention to think about it.

Lisa explained that Roy had gotten drunk at a party and developed a new level of power. Lisa and Shawna had been away on a shopping trip when it'd happened.

As far as they can tell, Roy's new color orange had unlocked their inhibitions to take more risks and it was getting dangerous.

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back (oh whoa)

There's nothing holdin' me back I feel so free when you're with me, baby

Barry helps and so does Team Flash, of course. (Lisa is happy for get the chance to work closer with Cisco and Shawna thinks Caitlin is actually kind of cute when she's not keeping people in a pipeline.)

After all is said and done, Barry is ready for things to go back to normal and forget it ever happened.

"Is that what you think we want?"

Maybe they can make their own new normal.