headcanons for DevilFlashVibe, first part. Barry Allen x Matt Murdock.
you know those six months after the singularity? between seasons one and two? well Barry did spend them isolating himself, rebuilding the city in secret and letting the guilt devour him, yes. he also got seriously desperate about his dad. with Eowells evaporated, Henry wasn't going to get out of jail ever and that was one more burden Barry couldn't carry and one he needed to do something about.
imagine Barry restless and desperate. and growing more so by the millisecond. looking through all of Star Labs and Eowells' stuff and finding nothing, or not much. looking up highly praised lawyer after lawyer.don't ask me or him how, but Barry reads about Matt Murdock.
maybe he hears from someone, sees him on the news, maybe maybe maybe. Barry does do his research though, he won't let himself be fooled or manipulated by someone highly intelligent and skilled. not again. not. again. Matt Murdock? he's fascinating in more than one way and he's good, he's really good and Barry's always been impulsive, he needs to meet him. he goes to New York.
at that point, and i know the dates don't match but whatever, since i'm watching Born Again, that's Matt going through his own very harsh times after Foggy's death and after he decided Daredevil was gone. Matt's focusing on work, always more work and when Barry comes to him, he's intrigued. he pretends it's only the case Barry's presenting to him and not that incredibly fast heartbeat he can hear and how overwhelming it is. albeit overwhelming in the best way, the best way he's felt in months.
Barry, obviously, doesn't talk about his secret identity, nor his powers, nor Eowells' and only tells Matt he disappeared and no one can find him. he's reported dead.
they work on Henry's and Eowells' case together and Barry wonders why he never found out about Matt before. why he didn't come to him sooner. he's fascinated by him, the way he believes in a system that wrongs so many, just like Barry does, and yet seems to want to do more. the way he's weirdly sharp and fast, his reflexes almost as good and quick as Barry's who's got speed on his side.
Matt always drinks the same excellent alcohol Joe does, which Barry has a weak spot for, and always listens to old school rock'n'roll, all of Barry's favorites too. oh you know these two work after hours, very very very very late.reality is what it is though and as good as he is, Matt can't do much with a case that has no proof, no murderer or his body, nothing new in fifteen or more years and Barry might tell him the truth or not, it doesn't matter anyway, there is still no proof nor actual, plausible, believable explanation. Matt does try really hard and he has that comforting aura about him.
speaking of which, Barry's really charmed and comforted by Matt and that calmness he gives off, the patience and the ability to listen and reassure and there's something about him, like he understands the despair and the sadness and the isolation and the missing absolutely everything. Barry's going through it and the case makes it harder because it's hopeless, he knows, he feels, he sees.
Matt's got his hand on Barry's shoulder when he feels like he's going to cry, and he might be crying late at night in his apartment. Matt tells Barry it's okay, it's going to be okay and he's here, he's right here with him. the way he says and does.
it doesn't happen then, Barry's too vulnerable and raw, but it does happen and they justify it with the alcohol that has no effect on either of them or not much, or the sadness and loneliness and that's not entirely untrue. it's the comfort, Matt's so reassuring and Barry needs it so bad. so so bad. and Barry's fast fast fast heartbeat is so overwhelming it helps Matt forget, relax, feel, just feel again. or maybe for the first time, at least in a long time.
they sleep together and it's a one time thing. it definitely is. Barry is set to go back to Central City now, with nothing for his dad, more self punishment and guilt and a few months, or maybe one or two before the start of season two. there's no bad blood between them, no sneaking out, no regrets either, it was a one time thing, really, that's all.
was it? Barry might have a crush. oh he might.
