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The room was pitch black, but occasionally, her lover’s face would be illuminated in a beautiful golden light from the sparks that came from his kinetic energy. His blue eyes would light up and his blonde hair fell over his forehead. Every movement of his was soft and meaningful – one of the many reasons she adored him. She heard him keen a bit, dipping down to brush his lips against hers.
“Barry,” Y/N whispered, tracing her thumb along his kiss swollen lips, letting out a choked sound of pleasure when she felt him press deliciously against her.
Barry let out a soft sigh, cradling her as he brought her even closer, “I absolutely adore you,” he breathed, letting out a choked noise when she traced her fingers down his torso.
He ran his slim and warm hands up her sides as he left marks on her neck. She could feel his warm breath against her, and he let out beautiful, pleasureful sighs.
“You’re trembling…” Barry moaned, licking his lips, “let go, sweetheart,”
Before Y/N could respond, golden sparks of light filled up the dark room again. She screwed her eyes shut and she swore she saw stars, unable to choke back her voice.
Barry leant down and crashed their mouths together, swallowing their cries of pleasure. She moved her face to let out a sigh of Barry’s name, holding onto it like it was a prayer. Barry whined out her name, putting his lips to her ear.
“You’re my one and on—”
Beep.
Beep.
BEEEEEEP.
Y/N woke with a start to her alarm, her heart ramming against her ribcage. She blinked harshly against the sun filtering in through her window and let out a lovelorn sigh when she realized that she had, yet again, dreamed about making love with her best friend. She was really going to have to get over that. She ignored the slight ache between her legs and decided to get ready for work.
If the erotic dream wasn’t enough evidence, to say that Y/N L/N had the biggest, fattest, most embarrassing crush on Barry Allen would be the understatement of the year. They worked as partners in CCPD’s Forensics lab, and they were always on the same wavelength – finishing each other’s sentences, knowing the other’s thoughts just by a slight quirk of an eyebrow, the look in their eyes. Y/N and Barry chalked it up to them being partners for the past three years at the lab. She rubbed her face when she remembered why she was so tired that morning – her and Barry were called to a crime scene last night.
“What do you think, Allen?” Captain Frye asked, walking up to the blonde man who was knelt on the concrete of the parking garage.
“This isn’t a suicide,” Barry stood up, putting his hands on his hips, “the angle doesn’t work.”
“How do you figure that?” Frye asked, crossing his arms. Y/N bit her lip as she watched the interaction. Barry and Captain Frye got along, but Frye always hated being told that his guesses were wrong.
“Y/N can explain it better,” Barry ducked his head and looked at her, his blue eyes lighting up when they made contact.
She mentioned when they arrived on the scene that there was no way the crime scene could be labelled a suicide. Even though they were at a grisly scene, she felt her heart skip beats. Barry always let her take the lead when she made the breakthrough.
“Oh, can you, L/N? Please fill me in,” Captain Frye cleared his throat, impatient.
“Look at the position of the neck,” Y/N swallowed, kneeling between the two men, sure to keep her distance so she wouldn’t contaminate the crime scene, “This was staged to look like the body jumped off the top of the parking garage and landed five levels down. If that was truly the case, there would be more blood, and there would be excessive head trauma. The victim’s eyes are open – and you can see that there’s petechiae. They were strangled.”
“Exactly,” Barry continued seamlessly, “and if that’s not enough, you can see the bruising around the neck. We’ll let the medical examiner in once we finish our second sweep, but this body was placed here after the fact. This is a secondary crime scene. When was the 911 call received?”
Y/N felt Barry stand closer to her, his shoulder rubbing against hers. Frye stared at the duo and let out a sigh, knowing they were right.
“Around 9:55 pm…” Captain Frye mumbled.
“Mm. Yeah, this body looks to have been dead for less than eight hours – still soft, cold, but only now going into the stages of rigor mortis. I’m thinking that the victim was killed around 3-4 hours ago. We were called to the scene an hour ago. Which means…”
“The victim was killed around 6:55 pm. Alright, we’ll get a plan together. We’ll need to get a few more photos, Y/N is on that right now, and…”
“Once I get those photos, Barry and I will begin to bag the evidence. Unfortunately, since the victim was murdered away from the parking garage, there won’t be much to go off. Tire tracks may be our best bet, which means we’ll need--”
“The light from the back of the van. That’s for the close-ups. We can tighten our perimeter now, Y/N, will you—”
“you’ve got it, and will you check on—”
“Absolutely.”
Barry and Y/N then carefully went their separate ways at the scene to finish up their documentation. Captain Frye stood there, dumbfounded.
“…What just happened?”
Her and Barry had tried for ages to convince Captain Frye to look the other way for CSIs that would come in late the next morning after working a scene, but he would just grumble about how ‘back in his day, we were constantly on the scene’ even though her and Barry damn well knew that Captain Frye was probably constantly working the scene at a doughnut shop down the street. It wasn’t worth the fight, so her and Barry gave up on it.
She got ready and grabbed her bag, rushing out the door. While Barry was chronically late, she was usually early. She still couldn’t understand how the hell Barry could move at the speed of light and still be so late. She was usually scrambling to give an excuse as to why Barry was late. Captain Frye was over it after the first five times, so he declared that as long as one half of the duo was in the lab at 8:00am, he’d let it slide. Director Singh was a bit more of a stickler on that, but the director of the lab tended to stroll in around 9:30am. Barry usually made it before Singh made his way in, so she only had to split hairs for excuses once or twice. She bit her lip as she remembered the night Barry got his abilities.
She was in the lab when Barry was struck by lightning. For several months after the incident, all she could see when she closed her eyes was Barry getting shot full of electricity. It was a very, very late night in the lab – the scene they had just returned from was particularly grisly, and they both knew they wouldn’t get a wink of sleep. Y/N had lifted a print from the bathtub where the body was found, and Barry was over by the shelf of chemicals, searching for silver nitrate. The print was faint – they needed to change the color of the print so it would be clearer for them to examine under the microscope.
It was storming something fierce, and Y/N kept checking her phone to see if there would be any severe weather warnings. When she looked up to say something to Barry, he was struck by lightning, and the rest was history. His rush to the hospital was the scariest part. She still had nightmares about it.
“We’re losing him!” The medic on board spoke, working quickly to keep Barry’s burns moist. He had a few third-degree burns – the rest were either second degree or first.
“No!” Y/N nearly screamed, grasping Barry’s hand even harder, shaking her head, “get him back!”
“Miss, you’re going to need to let us work,” The medic pleaded, making Y/N let go of Barry’s hand, “your husband is in the best hands, we’re doing our best – Clear!”
“He’s not my---” Y/N decided not to finish her sentence, her eyes wide as she saw Barry’s body convulse up into the air with the AED.
They had to defib him twice – they were about to give up when he suddenly stabilized. He was in a coma for a week or two, but by the time he woke up, he was completely healed. It baffled doctors, but Y/N decided not to question it at the time. She was grateful he was alive. It was fun to explain to Barry that the entire hospital staff thought she was his wife. His cheeks turned pink, and he smiled.
After the incident, Barry was distant. They didn’t hang out as much as they used to. When she’d text Barry asking him if he wanted to catch a movie, he’d respond just a little bit too late for them to make the showing. If she told Barry about a cool exhibit at the science museum in Central City, Barry would tell her that he was going out of town that weekend. If she asked Barry if he wanted to come over and complain about work, he’d beg to do it over the phone, if at all. Y/N had never felt so alone than during those months. She wondered if Barry detested her – it was only a matter of time before he’d get annoyed with her antics. She wondered if he had finally found out that she had a massive crush on him. She grilled all the detectives and scientists at the CCPD on that and they all said they hadn’t talked to Barry all that much either. She then began to conceptualize the idea of him having a girlfriend. She knew that day would come sooner rather than later – it was truly the eighth wonder of the world as to why Barry Allen – the man she saw herself adoring until her final breath -- was single.
It all came to a head when she was rescued by the mysterious new speedster that had arrived in Central City. Mirror Master had taken her hostage and was about to send her straight through one of his reflective surfaces, since she was the person who processed his fingerprints at a robbery that had taken place a few months ago. She resisted but ultimately knew it was futile. He had her strapped to a chair that was perilously tilted over a large ornate mirror -- two legs of the chair were on the floor while the other two were up in the air. One small movement from her would cause her to disappear into the portal he had created. She knew that if she fell through the reflective surface, she was as good as lost. She could just picture Barry’s face. How could he lose his mother, his father, and then his best friend? Would he even notice?
Suddenly, there was a blur of scarlet and flashes of gold electricity, and she was promptly rescued from Mirror Master’s clutches. She didn’t even have to look up into the face of her hero to know who it was. Scarlet? Gold lightning? There was only one man who fit that description. She had admired the Flash from afar for quite some time now, and she was humiliated that she looked like a “damsel in distress” upon their first meeting. Never one to take things lying down, she was sure to give Flash the facts pertaining to the matter.
“I know what this looks like,” Y/N panted, eyes wide, “but I totally had it under control, Flash…uh, Mr. Flash? I mean—”
“Just Flash is fine,” The man laughed, tilting his head at the female. She cleared her throat as he crossed his arms over his chest, “and I know you had it, but you’re not exactly the next Houdini.”
She wrinkled her nose at him and looked into his gorgeous blue eyes. He bit his bottom lip as he gazed back, unable to tear his eyes from hers. He then quickly realized what was happening and squeezed his eyes shut. It took Y/N less than a minute to let out a scandalized gasp.
“B-B—”
“Shh,” Barry breathed, putting a finger to her lips, “let’s get you out of here.”
Barry came clean to her that night, pacing her apartment as he spat out everything he had been hiding. She’d never forget grabbing his face and pulling it close to hers, telling him to slow down. A big smile appeared on his face, and he let out the sweetest giggle.
“Maybe you should speed up.”
Damn you Barry Allen.
Y/N greeted her fellow forensic scientists when she arrived at the CCPD, pulling on her white lab coat once she made it to her lab station. Her and Barry had some left-over work to finish up from the night before. The detectives were still searching for the original crime scene for the homicide last night, and they were relying heavily on Y/N and Barry’s investigation for clues. She looked at the lab station next to hers and let out a sigh.
No Barry in sight. She settled down and soon went into her own world. She pulled her gloves on and sat in front of her microscope, pulling out the fibers that her and Barry were able to find the other night. She pulled her seat up and got comfortable, ready to write down her observations when Director Singh waltzed in. Her eyes widened. It was 8:45 – not 9:30. What’s he doing here so early? She felt her heart race. Barry was late. Oh no, she’d have to think of another excuse, quick!
“Good Morning everyone,” Singh cleared his throat, taking a sip from his coffee, “I know I’m stopping by early today, but I’ve got a pretty big assignment…”
Singh looked around the lab – Patty Spivot and her partner, James Forrest, were at their lab stations filling out paperwork. He nodded in approval before he turned to look at Y/N and Barry’s station.
He saw Y/N holding her microscope tight with a slightly panicked expression. He looked over to where Barry usually sat – usually in Y/N’s personal space – to see he wasn’t there.
“Hm. I see Allen is running late. What’s—”
“His car got a flat tire on his way in. He’s waiting for the tow truck!” Y/N blurted, proud of her quick save.
“Huh. I thought Barry didn’t have a driver’s license...”
“U-uh…” Dammit, Barry! She knew that he didn’t see the need for a driver’s license at this stage, but that would’ve been a great excuse!
“Mmhm. Next time you want to cover for your partner, L/N, don’t.”
“Yes, Director Singh,” Y/N sighed, quickly looking back into her microscope.
Singh spoke to Patty and Bruce for a few minutes about a recent case of theirs when Barry finally came in. His blonde hair was a bit messy from his rush, and he was still trying to tie his tie as he pushed through the glass door. Y/N looked at him and his face broke into a handsome, joyful smile until he noticed that Director Singh was in the lab.
Shit.
“Nice of you to finally join us, Allen. You’ve really got L/N on a suicide mission. She gave me a weak excuse for why you’re late. Don’t make me have to ask her for one again. Instead of the Flash getting superspeed, it should’ve been you. Would make these briefings a lot easier and give me less migraines.”
“Heh…it certainly would,” Barry awkwardly chuckled, sending Y/N a dramatic look when Singh looked away. She giggled behind her hand as Barry walked to her side at their shared lab station.
“As I was saying, Spivot and Forrest – you guys are going to process all the Flash crime scenes, including the solved ones. See if there were any prints lifted that did not belong to the victim or perpetrator. We want his fingerprints on file so he doesn’t contaminate crime scenes from here on out.”
Barry’s breath caught in his throat and Y/N felt him tense up next to her. CCPD had the biometrics of all their detectives, officers, and CSIs. This way, if a crime scene was contaminated, they could identify the officers and CSIs on the scene and tell them off if they screwed with anything. If they got Flash’s biometrics…and they ran them into the system…Barry would show up as a match. They couldn’t have that. She cleared her throat.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, Director Singh,” Y/N took a deep breath knowing she’d catch hell for this, but she cared more about Barry than some co-worker tension.
“Yes, L/N?”
“Don’t you think Barry and I are more equipped to go through the files and see if we pick up any extra prints? More than half of those cases are our solves, and—”
“L/N. I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just question my ability to assign work. You certainly aren’t doing yourself or Allen any favors.” Singh cut her off, shaking his head. Y/N lifted her head to see the glares of Patty and James cutting right into her skin. She had basically questioned their ability as CSIs. She bit her lip as Barry gently nudged her side in encouragement.
“Thanks for trying,” He breathed in her ear, his lips grazing her earlobe.
Feeling Barry’s lips graze her skin was more than enough to make up for it. She winced. She really needed to get over this pesky crush.
“Besides, you and Allen have that parking garage case. You’ve got more than enough on your all’s plate. Allen, stop obsessing over cold case files as well. If you both think you’re the best forensic scientists in Central City, prove it by solving active cases.”
Barry didn’t respond but stood closer to Y/N, trying to shield her from Singh’s war campaign. He patted her shoulder before moving his hand to the small of her back for encouragement. Y/N was the only person who knew his secret, and he was so grateful that she had come through for him time and time again. However, with this new development, everyone could know his secret…and he couldn’t have that putting Y/N in any danger.
He adored his partner – each bit of her. The part of her that would put the tip of her tongue over her top lip as she analyzed something. When she’d squint and wrinkle her nose while looking at blood splatter analysis or a microscope slide. How she’d hold her arms out straight in front of her as she mixed chemicals, afraid of having to use the chemical shower that was at least 30 years old in the corner of the lab. He loved how she was loyal to a fault, always helping him. He hoped that she saw that he was all in for her too. Anything she needed or wanted; he’d give it to her without a second thought.
“Cold cases are just as important,” Y/N bit out, standing in front of Barry now. Barry would always research the case about Nora Allen, his mother, on the weekends. He requested the evidence boxes and went over every inch. He knew his father would never harm his mother, but he was still unable to clear Henry’s name. She knew Singh knew this information and for him to bring up cold cases to Barry was a low blow. She wanted the director to know that.
“But we understand where you’re coming from. Apologies for my outburst.” She quickly stood slightly behind Barry once again.
“Spivot, Forrest – do you all understand your assignment? Don’t allow Allen or L/N to assist you – they’ve got their own cases. Show me what you can do without the dynamic duo.” Singh decided to pour salt in Barry and Y/N’s wound but they took it in stride. Whenever her and Barry solved a tough case, he’d praise them to kingdom come. He just needled them when there hadn’t been a solve in a while, like any director would.
“Where should we start, Director?” Patty spoke up.
“I’ve taken the liberty of having the interns pull the case boxes from scenes that involved intervention from the speedster. They’re in a special room in storage, follow me. Allen and L/N – work on that garage case!”
“Yes, Director,” Y/N and Barry mumbled, quickly settling back down at their stations. Once Patty, James and Singh left the lab, it was only her and Barry and they quickly began to whisper.
“Thanks for the attempt, Y/N. Owe you one…” Barry thanked her again, wanting to wrap her up in his arms. He decided against that. How lame is it to have a huge crush on your best friend/co-worker? She totally didn’t like him back – no matter what Hal and Ollie say. He’d have to stop going out for drinks with them – he couldn’t even get drunk!
“No worries, Bar. Just wish I could’ve gotten the outcome we wanted. I don’t know what Singh is trying to pull, I understand his sentiment, but the Flash,” Y/N winked at Barry, “always wears gloves. I guess he could ask for shoe casts…”
“I always watch my back, Y/N. I’ll just watch it even closer now—”
“I’ve got your back, Bar. We’ll get through this. Hopefully before Singh cuts our heads off. I know Frye is a hardass, but someone put nails in Singh’s granola this morning.”
“Yeah, and he crunched his way through ‘em.” Barry smirked, quickly pulling up pictures of the body that the medical examiner took, “let’s see if we can find any clues.”
--
After working in a focused silence for about two hours, Y/N finally got a break. She let out a gasp and turned to Barry, shocked when their noses nearly bumped into each other. She didn’t realize how much closer he sat to her throughout their observations. Barry blushed a deep pink as Y/N quickly glanced away, biting her bottom lip.
“S-sorry,” Barry cleared his throat, scooting away a few inches, “I just got so caught up I didn’t even—”
“No worries, Bar,” Y/N squeaked, upset at how she couldn’t mask her voice to sound all cool and collected. “I, uh, think I found something.”
“Way to go, Y/N/N! What did you find?” Barry sat up straighter, running a hand through his blond tresses. She wished she could run her fingers through his hair, just as she had in her dream that morning.
Oh. Shit. That dream. That beautiful, beautiful dream. She felt her cheeks begin to heat and she quickly smacked her hands over them, praying to God that Barry wouldn’t notice. He raised an eyebrow but decided not to question his partner.
“You know how the med lab sent us the fibers sent under our vic’s fingernails? We couldn’t find any skin cells that didn’t belong to the victim, but fibers were picked up. When I looked closer in the microscope, I noticed they weren’t like cotton fibers or anything used in clothing—”
“Don’t tell me, it was—”
“Nylon Pile!” She and Barry exclaimed at the same time. She let out a breathless laugh, and she saw Barry scoot closer. Their shoulders grazed against each other, and she let out a content sigh before shaking her head. There was a case to help solve – she didn’t have time to fantasize about grabbing Barry’s face and locking their lips together until she turned blue.
“You got it. Get this,” Y/N quickly scooted her microscope to Barry who decided to look in, “since its nylon cut pile, we can assume that the car our vic was in was either a Ford, GM or Chrysler from the mid-90s. That cuts down a lot of the new cars. Unsure what make we’re looking for, but we can go through the DMV records, see if any cars match the description, see if any of those cars were found abandoned.”
Barry looked at Y/N with amazement in his eyes and he beamed at her. He saw her face light up and then electricity shot through his veins. She was so smart, so brilliant…but she never made a fuss about it. His brain could work at light speed – a Rubik’s cube had nothing on him – but he swore her mind worked faster. She made the connections he couldn’t – she was his perfect match – they were synced in every way, but their differences made their partnership stronger. He knew that if he expressed his undying devotion to her, she could be targeted – especially if Patty and James were able to somehow grab his fingerprints from the scene. Of course, he could always brush it off as himself contaminating the crime scene, but there were quite a few cases that he wasn’t assigned. What would happen if his prints came up in every Flash-related case?
Y/N L/N was the reason he didn’t fully lose himself. She was the one he could bare everything to. She was the powerful clap of thunder that followed his lightning strike. She made him want to slow down, not put his head down and rush through life. There wasn’t a minute in the day he didn’t think about her. He felt his chest warm up as he observed her. Her E/C eyes twinkled as they met his and a full minute passed before they realized they were gazing at each other.
“Uh, I’ll look at the photos we took of the tire tracks, see if I can identify the tire brand!” Y/N blurted, reaching over Barry to pull the photos out of the manilla file folder.
“Good idea! Do you want my—”
“I’ve got mine, thank you, though, Bar…” Y/N smiled, grabbing her magnifying glass. Barry rolled his blue eyes and smiled.
“I’ll let the detectives know that they need to look through the DMV databases for Ford, GM and Chrysler vehicles from the ‘90s.” Barry stood up and squeezed Y/N’s shoulder in encouragement, quickly scurrying out.
--
When Barry didn’t return after an hour, she knew that he was on Flash business. She didn’t get any alerts on her phone about anything massive happening in the city, so she wondered what called him away. She went back to the tire analysis before James and Patty came rushing in, grabbing their CSI jackets.
“What—”
“Just got a call from Captain Frye,” Patty responded, grabbing the keys to the CSI van, “Flash just left the scene of a battle with Captain Boomerang.”
Y/N swallowed dryly, nodding as Patty and James bolted out of the building. She put the sharpie that she had in her hand to her mouth, nipping at the cap. She couldn’t focus, so she quickly made her way out to the main lobby of the CCPD station, seeing the news on the large television they had.
“While the Flash has left the scene, we were able to get some footage of our Scarlet Speedster taking care of Captain Boomerang…” Iris West spoke.
Y/N smiled when she saw Iris. Iris was a great friend – they had met in college. Iris also got along with Barry, and she knew Y/N’s biggest secret – that she had a crush on the blonde. Iris swore she’d take it to the grave, but Iris also knew that Barry had a crush on Y/N. It took all her strength not to blab this information to them, but she figured they’d work it out on their own. Iris’ nephew, Wally, also had a cute little puppy dog crush on Y/N, and she couldn’t crush his little pre-teen dreams just yet.
Y/N quickly focused back on the TV when the footage rolled. She saw the Flash masterfully avoid boomerangs and back Captain Boomerang into a corner. She let out a loud gasp when she saw that one of Barry’s gloves was torn clean off.
He would be leaving behind prints, no doubt about it – especially since he caught one of the boomerangs and let it fall to the ground. The screen quickly went from the footage back to Iris and she looked solemnly into the camera.
“Unfortunately, there was one casualty that occurred before the Flash made it to the scene. There is no further information at this time, but we will be sure to provide our viewers with updates as this investigation continues.”
“Damn, Boomerang at it again? What is it, like the fourth time this month?” Detective August sighed, turning to look at Y/N.
He was bewildered when he noticed she was no longer standing next to him by the TV.
Y/N bolted out of the station like a bat out of hell – the crime scene was about three city blocks away and she had to do damage control. She knew that Barry would be beating himself up over how he didn’t arrive in time to save the victim, and she’d have to track him down to let him know it wasn’t his fault. She let out a wheeze after running about a block, letting out a groan.
“I hate cardio.” She moaned. She took a deep breath and set off again, letting the fear of Barry getting caught motivate her. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the yellow tape. They had officers near the perimeters of the tape since there were a lot of nosy onlookers.
She walked up to the tape and flashed her badge, quickly signing in on the clipboard so that she was on the record for visiting the scene. She jogged quickly up to where James and Patty were.
“Y/N?!” James exclaimed, bewildered, “what are you doing here?”
“She thinks we can’t do our jobs, remember?” Patty spat, frustrated. She did like Y/N, but the way she threw her and James under the bus this morning was not something Patty was going to forgive so easily. Y/N let out an awkward breath, scratching her head.
“Um. I wanted to come…help?”
“We don’t need your help,” Patty asserted, “Director Singh is going to lose his shit if he finds out you came to the scene. At least tell me you weren’t dumb enough to sign in on the clipboard…”
Y/N awkwardly looked to the side and heard Patty and James let out exasperated sighs. They looked back at Y/N and she allowed her eyes to meet theirs.
“You are a dead scientist walking.” James shrugged.
“Whatever. Um. Where’s the boomerang that Flash touched?”
Patty and James looked at each other again, frustration bubbling to the surface. Patty looked at Y/N.
“We’ve already bagged it. We’ll let you see it once we process it at the stat—”
“Just let me go ahead and process—”
“L/N!” Captain Frye’s voice boomed over the scene.
Y/N winced and slowly turned behind her to see Captain Frye on the war path, coming straight for her. She swallowed.
“What are you doing here?” He shouted, causing the other officers and detectives to look at the commotion, “Singh has barred you and Allen from any cases involving the Flash. You’re supposed to be working on the parking garage case!”
“Barry and I are working on the case! I just figured—”
“Figured WHAT?” Frye threw his hands up in the air, “there was a murder that took place nearly 24-hours ago, and you’re out here trying to prove to yourself that you’re better than Spivot and Forrest—”
“No, that’s not it at all, Captain Frye—”
“You are depriving the victim’s loved ones of justice by being out here and running your mouth. I know that Allen pumps you up a lot, but you’re not the greatest CSI in the world, L/N. You’ve got to let others have some work! How incredibly selfish. Get out of here! I’ll have Singh deal with you later!”
Y/N felt her eyes well up with tears, but she quickly looked away, slumping over slightly. She just got her ass handed to her – and if she thought this was bad, Singh’s condemnation is going to be like the apocalypse.
“You heard me, L/N!” Frye spoke again, “OUT!”
Y/N didn’t have to be told twice, quickly running to the perimeter of the tape and signing out on the clipboard. She really was a dead scientist walking. As she walked away and wiped her eyes, she set herself on her next mission. Find Barry.
--
Y/N caught a cab and went straight to Barry’s apartment. She climbed the steps two at a time and squealed to a stop outside of his door. She quickly knocked on it, putting her hear to the door to hear him.
“Barry?” She said, biting her lip, “it’s me…let me in?”
She heard some quiet shuffling and Barry unlocked the door. When he opened it, she flung herself into his arms, holding him tight. She felt his fingers splay out on her back in surprise, but he quickly recovered, sinking into her loving touch. He rubbed her back with a warm hand and shuddered into her neck.
“It’s okay, Bar…” She whispered, running a hand through his hair, “I’m here.”
Barry didn’t want to pull away, but he did, swiftly shutting the door so they could have some privacy. He had been crying, it was obvious. He was angry that he couldn’t get to Boomerang fast enough to save someone from being hit in the chest. Captain Boomerang was trying to rob the main bank in Central City, and he had sent one of his sharpest boomerangs hurdling towards a security guard posted outside.
The guard didn’t have a chance. Barry didn’t have super hearing like Superman, or a Bat Signal like Batman. He didn’t have a green glowing ring that alerted him to danger. He had to find these things out on his own – he usually listened to the police scanner quietly through one of his ear buds, but the report was called in too late.
He should’ve known. He should’ve been watching. He let out a choked sob again as Y/N guided him over to his couch to sit down.
“Barry, it’s not your fault—”
“I should’ve been there. What is the point…wh-what is the point of being the fastest man alive…when I can’t even save someone in time?” Barry rubbed his red-rimmed eyes, sniffling.
Y/N dared to wipe the tears from his cheeks with her thumbs, kneeling so she sat in front of him, face-to-face.
“Think of all the people you did save, Bar. I don’t even want to imagine the damage Captain Boomerang would’ve caused if we didn’t have you. How were you supposed to know that one of your rogues was in front of the central bank?”
“I should’ve known,” Barry croaked, shaking his head, “I was…I was so happy to get these abilities when I woke up in the hospital room, Y/N…” Barry began, pulling her hands from his cheeks and holding them in his hands, “I was so depressed before then – I saw crime scenes every day. Always making it after the crime was committed, not before.”
Y/N nodded as Barry whispered, squeezing his hands. She knew exactly what he was talking about. It took a lot to be a CSI and there was lots of turnover. She encouraged him to keep going.
“But now…I can arrive to crimes before they’re committed and stop them from ever happening. I couldn’t do that today…and it makes me wonder why the hell I got these abilities if I can’t even use them right.”
“Barry,” Y/N shook her head, “your feelings are valid, and I understand where you’re coming from…but you shouldn’t blame yourself. You showed up and neutralized one of your rogues. He’s in prison right now…”
“He’ll get out again,” Barry breathed, defeated.
“If he does, you’ll be there to stop him and put him back where he belongs.” Y/N firmly spoke, lifting Barry’s chin so his eyes met hers. He felt air fill his lungs again and he licked his lips. He still felt awful, but she helped him see the other side of the situation.
Y/N was good at that. Barry was about to begin to relax just slightly when he stood straight up, nearly toppling Y/N over on the floor.
“Sorry!” He exclaimed, helping her up.
“It’s okay,” Y/N laughed, shaking her head, “what’s wrong?”
“My glove got ripped off,” Barry moaned into his hands, squeezing his eyes shut. He could think as fast as he ran, but sometimes information didn’t stick.
“I know, I saw the footage. I ran as fast as I could to the scene. I got my ass torn up by Frye, though,” Y/N bit her lip, “I tried to find the boomerang you caught – they’ll find your fingerprints on there…but it was already bagged and before I could take it off of Patty and James’ hands…”
“Frye showed up,” Barry completed her sentence. Him and Y/N certainly didn’t have the best of luck.
“So…the identity of the Flash will be revealed.” Barry took a deep breath, accepting his fate. Y/N’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, grabbing Barry’s arm.
“No! I won’t let it—”
“Y/N,” Barry sighed, grabbing her shoulders, “it’s okay. The world would find out eventually, wouldn’t it? It’s my fault for being so sloppy. I should’ve thought things through. I usually do…” He bit his lip, “let it happen, Y/N/N.”
“But Barry! You don’t want to reveal your identity, and you shouldn’t be forced to. That’s not anyone’s decision to make but yours.”
“Once my identity is revealed,” Barry dryly spoke, closing his eyes, “I’m going to have to distance myself from you again.”
Y/N felt her heart sink and she shook her head, unable to fight back her tears. She let out a soft cry and desperately began to plead with the man she loved.
“No, Barry. We’re best friends, I’ve got your back. Your identity won’t be revealed and even if it did happen, I’ll still be by your side. I know you can protect me—”
“I can’t protect you,” Barry whimpered, holding her face between his hands, trying to wipe her tears, “I couldn’t protect the security guard that got killed today. I nearly lost you to Mirror Master that one time. I can’t risk you getting hurt because of me.”
“I can take care of myself, Barry!” Y/N begged, about to go to her knees, “Don’t make me go through mourning you again…”
It pained Barry when he heard Y/N sob against his chest. He adored her with every fiber of his being. He’d give his life for hers. He needed her as much as she needed him…but he knew she had a better life in store for her. He dragged her into this whole entire Flash mess when she figured out his identity. He should’ve been more careful. He should’ve cut off all ties to Y/N. He’d never live with himself if she died because of him.
He pulled her out of his chest and looked down at her. He loved her. He did. He would never love anyone else. She was the thunder to his lightning. The harbor in the tempest. He cleared his throat.
“I need you to trust me, honey.”
Y/N couldn’t even revel in the affectionate name that passed Barry’s soft lips. She felt like her entire world went gray. Without Barry there was no color.
“It’ll all work out. You’ll be safe, okay? That’s what I need. I need you to be safe. Can you help me with that? Hm?”
“I can be safe at your side,” Y/N weakly protested.
“But you’ll be safer if you’re out of the blasting zone. Don’t worry about me. I’m the one with superspeed, Y/N.”
“But—”
“If you need me, honey,” Barry sternly spoke, his blue eyes striking her E/C, “I’ll be there in a flash.”
--
Y/N made her way back to the station with tearstained cheeks. She felt like she had lost Barry to the lightning strike. She would do anything for the man she loved, but she couldn’t stay away. It was his guilt talking. But…she wouldn’t protest him any further. She could tell he was tired and worried. She didn’t want to be something he worried about. She slunk into the lab, pulling her white lab coat on. She saw Patty and James at their station, and they slowly looked up to see a devastated Y/N.
Their hearts sank.
“Singh must’ve ripped her to shreds…”
“She was already in shreds after Frye yelled at her,” Patty sighed, “now I feel bad.”
“Hey, Y/N!” James spoke up, clearing his throat.
Y/N barely recognized someone calling out to her, but she turned to look at James and Patty. They had sympathetic smiles on their faces and furrowed brows. She wanted to spit. She didn’t need sympathy – she needed her Barry back. And those fucking fingerprints they were going to process was the thing that stole him from her.
“Yeah?” She sniffled, not wanting to rock the boat.
“Patty and I are going to process the fingerprints we just lifted, but we have to wait for the silver nitrate to sink in so we have a darker print. You come look at the print…if you want…Maybe it’s clearer to you.”
Y/N looked down at her hands in thought. If she messed up the slides, she could save Barry’s identity. The fingerprints they lifted from the boomerang weren’t full prints, but with the little amount they had, they could make an ID if it was in the system. Barry’s prints were in the system since he was a CSI. She shook her head of the thought. No. They already lifted the fingerprints. Barry was going to be caught. She walked over to their station and looked at the faint prints on the microscope slide.
“Thanks, guys…have you gotten any hits off the fingerprints?”
“Not yet. We’re still waiting for a clearer print to show up,” Patty offered, tapping her fingers against sterile counter, “You’re free to check it out.”
Y/N knew that Patty and James felt guilty, and she did appreciate the fact that they were letting her examine the print. She looked through the microscope and saw just how faint it was. She let out a hum and pulled back from the microscope.
“Yeah, that’s faint. How much longer do you think it needs to develop?”
“Probably at least ten more minutes,” Patty sighed.
“We’re gonna grab some coffee, it’s been a long day,” James yawned stretching. “Do you want anything?”
“No thanks, I’m good guys…”
“Alrighty. Wait, where’s Barry?” James asked.
Y/N held back a sob, clearing her throat. No. She couldn’t cry. She couldn’t think about Barry in his apartment trying to figure out a way to get through this. She looked at the ceiling to make sure her tears stayed in.
“He’s at home. He started feeling a bit queasy after we did our tire analysis. I think he’s come down with a stomach bug.”
“Oof. Yeah, there’s something going around. Barry did that presentation at an elementary school a few days ago – the kids probably swarmed him with something. Let him know that we hope he feels better soon!” Patty exclaimed, quickly walking out of the lab with James behind.
Once she heard their footsteps fade, she walked back to her station and put her head in her hands. Y/N knew that there were only two options for her at this point – replace the fingerprints that Patty and James lifted, or let Barry get caught straight out as the Flash. She bit her dry bottom lip and she shut her eyes tightly. She loved her job as a Forensic Scientist – she had worked so hard to get her position. She suffered through late nights in school, stress when she’d be mere percentage points away from failing Chemistry and Physics. She put her all into her job, and while it was a hard job, she knew that bringing justice to families and the unfairly accused was something that she was born to do.
She was told that love made you stupid and blind. Y/N realized fully, in that moment, why that statement was true. She loved Barry. She’d sacrifice for him – he already sacrificed so much for Central City and her. What would happen if Barry was found out? Would tests be run on him? Would his identity be revealed to the entire world? How would the rogues react – they targeted the Flash, never Barry, since they didn’t see them as the same person. If his name got released, Barry wouldn’t be safe anywhere. He wouldn’t be able to rest. He certainly wouldn’t be able to continue as a CSI.
The reason Barry became a CSI was tragic. He wanted to prove his father’s innocence. He spent his entire life knowing that his father was not capable of murdering his mother, but nobody listened to a word he said. She remembered the confrontation Barry had while they were working on a closed case. They were in one of the meeting rooms in the CCPD and the case involved Captain Cold. Barry couldn’t shake the conclusion that Detective Dion made, and he was standing in front of the bulletin board, his hands on his hips. Dion was next to Barry and Y/N was sat at one of the tables, looking through evidence – she agreed with Barry. This didn’t fit Snart’s M.O. Someone else froze the drug dealers and framed Cold.
“Barry, your thoroughness is admirable,” Dion began, clearing his throat. He was annoyed because the other detectives of the CCPD were celebrating his victory over Cold. Why the hell was little scientist Barry looking back over the case?!
“This isn’t adding up, Dion. The Rogues don’t get involved with drugs – that’s a rule Snart came up with,”
“Mmhm…” James sighed, crossing his arms. Y/N could tell he was getting impatient with Barry and she curled up her fists, ready to spit.
“And when Captain Cold does kill, he’s not sloppy. This kill was sloppy. The killer is still at large in Central City.” Barry stood firm in his belief, staring hard at the board in front of him.
Dion turned back to see Y/N nodding at Barry’s statement, and he hid a growl. Of course L/N was working on this with Allen. They were never separated, and that was a dangerous thing to someone who was trying to cover up a crime…
“Not every case is about your daddy, got that?” Dion snapped, causing Barry to turn and face him with a shocked expression. Y/N quickly stood from the table she was at, her chair making a squeaking noise from the sudden movement.
“Sometimes the world is simple and the guy with a gun that freezes people committed a crime where people were frozen to death.” Dion smirked, clearing his throat. This would distract Barry and Y/N, which is what he needed. He did not need anyone knowing that he was the perpetrator of the crime.
“Detective Dion, you are way out of line—”
“I know your story,” Dion ignored Y/N’s call-out, staring Barry down, “Your daddy gets convicted of killing your mommy, you think he didn’t do it, and you dedicate your life to forensic science…it’s heartwarming stuff. Someday they might turn your sad life into a TV movie. Maybe L/N here can be your love interest.”
Barry’s blue eyes narrowed into a glare, and he ran a hand through his blonde hair. He needed to think. He was a patient guy, and Dion just gave him a potential lead. He knew detectives hated to be wrong, but this was just a different level.
“We’re going to find out who really did this, Detective Dion,” Y/N snarled, making her way to Barry and standing in front of him like a guard dog, “and when we do, Captain Frye is going to bump you down to traffic control.”
Y/N was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard the faint voices of James and Patty making their way back to the lab. She bit her lip. She closed her eyes and made up her mind.
She bolted to James and Patty’s station and moved the slides out of place, replacing them with slides of her fingerprints. She knew that she was going to get throttled, but at least it wouldn’t look like she sabotaged the prints. She was at the crime scene they were investigating (of course, they made her leave the crime scene and Captain Frye’s vein in his forehead nearly popped with how loud he yelled) but that was enough to cast doubt.
She made it back to her and Barry’s station without a second to spare, quickly plopping down in front of her microscope and pretending to examine something. She could feel sweat beading on her forehead, and she prayed that Patty and James wouldn’t notice it.
“Hm…” Patty walked in, putting down her coffee cup, “…weren’t these prints a bit bigger before we left?”
Shit.
“Let me see,” James sighed, looking into the microscope. He bit his lip in thought for a moment before he shook his head, “I think it’s just your brain playing tricks on you. Hey, Y/N!” James called out.
Y/N whipped her head up and tried to calm her panicked expression. She faked a smile on her face, which probably looked more like a grimace.
“What’s up, James?”
“Can you come look at the fingerprint we lifted from the Flash scene? You were the other person besides us to look at the print. Does it look any different to you?”
Y/N swallowed as she walked over and peered into their microscope. Yes, it did look a bit different, but like hell she’d admit that! She cleared her throat and stood back, putting her hands behind her back.
“Not to me…but you can definitely see the print clearer now. Maybe that’s why it looks different?” She squeaked.
“Told you,” James smirked at Patty who playfully rolled her eyes.
“Thanks, Y/N. How’s yours and Barry’s investigation going? The parking garage case?”
“I-it’s going well, Barry and I made a breakthrough about the fibers under the vic’s nails. We also believe that they were already dead by the time they arrived at the parking garage – but the victim was alive while being transported. The detectives are looking into DMV records for anything that matches. We just finished our tire analysis.”
“Sounds like you guys are making progress!” James exclaimed, “we’re still in square one with the Flash investigation. We’re just lucky he tripped up at this last scene.”
“Yeah, sure are,” Y/N forcibly chuckled, quickly playing with her hair, “well, I’ve gotta keep looking at the tire grooves, triple check. Heh.”
Y/N didn’t stay to look at their bewildered faces, quickly jogging over to her station.
--
Barry paced his apartment. He knew that any minute now he would get a call from Director Singh about his fingerprints matching the ones left at the scene. He bit his lip when he thought about Y/N. He knew that she went back to the lab. It pained him to see her walk away, defeated. She was so sad…because of him. Did he do the right thing? He rubbed his eyes and tried to focus on the situation at hand. Y/N was a great CSI…even if he couldn’t continue in his role after his identity is revealed, he knew that the lab was in good hands.
Y/N was a loyal person. She went through the case file of his mother after they met for the first time. She took it home without him knowing one night and she came into the lab the next day looking like she was only standing up because she had chugged a 24 ounce can of Red Bull and had 3 5-Hour Energy shots from the gas station. She had made a slight breakthrough – one that he didn’t even think of. She looked at the fibers that were collected under his mother’s nails. Spandex-like material was found underneath them, but his father was picked up at the scene wearing a poly-blend wool suit.
It wouldn’t be enough to clear his father’s name, but it put them a step in the right direction.
From then on, she was always at his side. She was staying up late looking through cold cases with him. He’d never forget the time they were holed up in the large storage closet at the CCPD, folders spread out in front of them with evidence bags. Singh had gotten wind of them staying late (off the clock, of course) and Barry couldn’t place why Singh looked relieved when he opened the door to see his two CSIs on the ground brainstorming.
He still remembered how embarrassed Y/N got when he brought that up to her after Singh told them to pack it up and go home. That’s when he understood that Singh thought they were doing something else behind the closet door.
He wished he had done something else with her besides pour over cases. Sure, they went to the movies and hung out constantly while they were off work, but he didn’t get to do things with her that a boyfriend could do. He couldn’t pull her close into his arms while they watched a movie. He couldn’t kiss her everywhere he wanted to kiss her. He couldn’t hold her hand as they walked through the park.
He wanted her to be his, but he was too much of a coward to make a move. He didn’t want to lose their friendship and have things be painfully awkward between them.
Yeah. Well, he just burned any semblance of love and friendship between them to the ground. He was scared to see her mangled body, or hear her screams of pain. If he had to stay away for her to be safe, by God, he’d do it.
He was about to sit down on his bed and sulk when he quickly realized something. Why did Y/N go back to the lab? Her shift was over. She had no reason to be in that lab, and she never stayed over late when he wasn’t there. He understood she could just be throwing herself into her work – she tended to do that – but after hearing that she couldn’t hang out with him anymore?
Why the hell would she want to go back to the lab station they shared instead of her bed where she could cry in peace and think things over?
Barry let out a gasp. That little…
She was going to sabotage the forensic investigation!
--
Y/N knew she should’ve left right after she swapped the prints but she knew that’d look super suspicious. She felt her heart drop when Patty and James let out astonished gasps. They had just run the print through the system. She felt their wide eyes on her and she shifted uncomfortably.
“Y/N…” James whispered.
Y/N cleared her throat awkwardly. Maybe they would think that she was the Flash. She knew that was hogwash, but hey—
“There’s no way you’re the Flash,” Patty spoke.
Y/N grimaced. So much for that…
“Yeah, you definitely don’t have the body for it,” James shrugged, “UH! I mean that in a nice way, like, you’re not built like a…dude?”
“James, stop.” Patty ran a hand through her hair before she crossed her arms tight across her chest. “You touched the boomerang didn’t you? You went to evidence lock up while James and I were gathering our items and touched it.”
Y/N let out a squeak. Well, that was a development. They didn’t think that she sabotaged them while they were out for coffee, so that was one thing. She took a deep breath. She knew she’d get her ass whooped, but Barry belonged in the forensic lab, and he deserved a peaceful life.
“Yes,” She whispered, “I…”
“Why couldn’t you just trust us to get this investigation done?” James asked, furious, “Look, L/N, we respect you and Allen, you should respect us!”
“I-I know—”
“NO! You don’t know! Are you kidding me? Do you think we’re going to be able to lift the Flash’s prints now? What is wrong with you! We just need the prints so we can keep him out of mind on investigations!”
“The Flash wears gloves,” Y/N spoke, exasperated, “he doesn’t leave behind fingerprints, so what’s the damn point of getting the—”
“The one time his glove came off and you had to mess it up! What the hell, L/N? We weren’t even going to run the print through CODIS!”
Y/N felt her lungs be robbed of air.
They. Wait. Wait, wait…WAIT. They weren’t going to put the fingerprint through the system? So they would’ve never found out Barry’s identity in the first place?
“What.”
“Yeah! Singh told us not to run it through CODIS, we just wanted the prints, not to expose him! We only ran the prints because they looked super familiar and didn’t match the ones on the boomerang.”
Y/N let out a strangled yell and covered her face with her hands. She wasn’t the best at listening, but she knew damn well that nobody said out loud that the prints weren’t going to be run!
“Were you trying to keep his identity secret?” James whispered, it all coming together for him. Him and Patty looked at each other, mouths agape.
“Yes,” Y/N admitted, looking at the floor, “Look guys, I never doubted you for a second—”
“Do you know who the Flash is?” Patty spoke up, raising an eyebrow, “Why didn’t you just tell us your worries, L/N?”
“Because—”
“Y/N L/N!” Director Singh’s voice echoed throughout the lab and the scientists quickly fell quiet. She saw her life flash before her eyes.
“Tell me why I got a notification from the system that your fingerprints were found on the boomerang from the scene this afternoon. I thought I had given you clear directions to NOT investigate any of the Flash cases!”
“Director—”
Before Y/N could get another word out, Barry burst into the lab, nearly tripping over his long legs. Patty and James stared at the scene before them, absolutely bewildered.
“Barry!” Y/N exclaimed, shaking her head, “you’re supposed to be at home with a stomach bug!” Y/N bit out, upset that Barry showed up in time for her not to take the complete fall. She didn’t want to get caught in another lie.
“I feel better now!” Barry exclaimed, licking his lips, going along with the story she had concocted about him, “Oh, hi Director Singh, didn’t see you ther—”
“I don’t know why you came in such a hurry, Allen. I didn’t take you as the type to want to witness your partner getting fired.” Singh bit, glaring at the blonde.
Barry felt his blood go cold and Y/N stood there, unable to move a muscle. Patty and James let out sounds of surprise, and the lab was completely silent. Barry shook his head and stood in front of Y/N.
“No! You can’t—”
“Back away, Allen. I know you and L/N love to stand up for each other, but this is neither the time nor place. L/N made a grave mistake when she messed with the crime scene—”
“Wait! Director Singh,” Patty spoke up, looking between Y/N and Barry.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Y/N was covering for the man she loved. James came to the same conclusion and backed Patty up. Thanks to Y/N’s panicked admission to them, they could put two and two together. Barry Allen is the Flash.
“Please, Y/N isn’t responsible for this! When we got back from the scene, Patty and I unbagged the boomerang with the print. I nearly knocked it off the table, but Y/N was nearby and grabbed it before it could shatter. She didn’t have gloves on, and her fingerprints went over the Flash’s.”
Y/N and Barry looked at Patty and James who sent them a look. Y/N felt Barry’s hand squeeze her hip and they turned back to see Singh’s expression. He took a step back as he listened to James, but it didn’t cure the issue at hand.
“Congratulations L/N for having fast reflexes. The issue remains. L/N showed up to a crime scene and did not have clearance. Captain Frye told me all about the incident that happened at the scene. It was unprofessional and reflected badly on the CCPD. I can’t just let L/N off with a warning like I have for countless other reasons.” Singh took a deep breath, looking at Y/N.
“Look, L/N. I don’t want to do this, but you’ve left me no choice. You’re fired.”
Y/N felt her heart shatter. She had lost both Barry and her job today. Barry began to stammer but she moved away from him and made her way to her station.
“I’m sorry, Director Singh. I was very unprofessional…and jeopardized not only James and Patty’s investigation, but mine and Barry’s. I appreciate all the times that you’ve looked the other way.” Y/N spoke softly, quickly packing up her notebooks and personal items.
“…L/N,” Singh walked up to her and took a deep breath, “I was able to pull some strings. You are one of the best CSIs we’ve ever had. The firing won’t go on your record. It will say that you resigned.”
“I appreciate that, Director Singh.” Y/N sniffled, relieved when she packed all her things. She just wanted to go home and collapse.
Singh nodded and Y/N slunk out of the lab, not looking back. Barry felt explosions go off in his veins and he cleared his throat.
“Director Singh, can I please talk with you? In your office?”
James and Patty ducked their heads and quickly went back to their work, knowing it was a lost cause. If Barry didn’t watch himself, he’d be fired too.
“Sure, Allen. We’ll have to discuss finding you a new partner sooner rather than later. Follow me.”
--
Hours had passed and Y/N didn’t notice as she stared up at her ceiling in her dark apartment. How was she going to make rent? She had saved quite a bit of money for an emergency, so she knew she would be okay for at least three more months. Beyond that, she knew she’d have to move out of Central City since the CCPD wouldn’t hire her back. She’d have to find another police department to work in if she wanted to continue her forensic work. She had run out of tears to cry, and her cheeks felt sticky thanks to the residual tear tracks.
Love made you stupid and blind. Y/N chanted in her head. She should be furious with Barry. She was always making excuses for him with Director Singh, lying straight to his face. She was always taking on Barry’s work when he had to be out there saving the world with the Justice League. She should hate him.
But she didn’t. She still loved him – her feelings hadn’t changed. She didn’t dare look at Barry once Singh told her she was fired. She didn’t want to see his face. She didn’t really want to see him even now. She wouldn’t be able to look at his disappointed face. Barry was ready to face his consequences, and it made Y/N sick to her stomach to realize that Barry’s prints weren’t going to be run anyway. She had done all that for nothing.
But she knew she’d do it again if they were put in the same situation and those prints would be run. She let out a loud sigh, curling up into herself. Her phone had been going off constantly a few hours ago with texts and calls from James, Patty, and Barry. There was even a phone call from Director Singh. She didn’t want to hear their apologies. Barry’s texts and multiple phone calls caused her pain – she wanted to answer them, but she couldn’t even look at the messages yet.
If it was not clear to Barry before, it was clear now – he definitely thought that he had caused all of this for her. He was so worried about her getting hurt by the rogues, but he now realized that she could get hit with friendly fire as well since he was the Flash. She prayed he didn’t think that, but she knew Barry Allen like the back of her hand. Of course he was blaming himself for this. She just needed to rip off the band aid. He probably texted her telling her that he never wanted this to happen and that this was a perfect example of why they needed to stay apart.
But the threat of staying apart is what caused this. She turned over to look at her phone, the screen still dark. The calls and messages had stopped in the last hour. It was silent. She closed her eyes and heard a rapid knock on her front door.
“Go away,” She cried softly, burying her face in her pillow. She didn’t need company right now. She knew if she saw another person she would –
“Forgive me for the intrusion, but I’m out of patience today,” A familiar voice whispered in her bedroom doorway. She let out a grumble.
Barry Allen. She should’ve never given him a key!
“Can I lay next to you?” Barry bashfully asked, playing with his fingers.
“Mmm.” Y/N mumbled, burying her face in her pillow.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Barry replied, crawling onto the bed and sitting next to her. He dared to reach out a hand and trace patterns on her back.
She felt him draw little lightning bolts, hearts. She clenched her jaw and quickly turned over, glaring at his beautiful face.
His blue eyes were as soft as ever, and his blonde hair was mused. He had obviously run here without the suit on.
“I know what you’re going to say, I don’t know why you’re still hanging around,” Y/N sniffled, propping herself up on her elbow.
“You don’t know what I’m going to say,” Barry whispered.
“I do, too! We can basically read each other’s minds, remember?” Y/N challenged. She let out a breath when Barry didn’t protest, “you came here to tell me that this was a reason as to why we have to be apart. I know. I know the risks, but I don’t care, Barry! But you’ll never listen to me.”
“Y/N, honey—”
“And the little affectionate name? Stop!” She scrunched up her nose, getting more upset, “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for you to call me something like that and you used it to push me away!”
Barry’s eyes widened at the tiny confession Y/N growled, but decided not to follow up on it yet.
“I’m sorry, Y/N. Please, let me—”
“Let you do what? Explain?” Y/N sat up fully, crossing her legs. Their knees brushed together, and she ignored the little butterflies in her tummy with the soft contact. “My heart is already broken; you don’t need to continue.”
“I love you!” Barry exclaimed loudly, throwing his hands up in the air.
Silence fell over the duo and Y/N let out a little wheeze, completely taken aback. Barry licked his dry lips and felt his heart beat alarmingly fast against his ribcage. He had definitely wanted to do this in a more romantic way, but that just went out the window.
“Barry—”
“I’ve loved you since we began working as partners. I loved you far before I got my abilities. I loved you when I was in the hospital. I could hear little whispers of your voice in my dreams while I was in the coma. I have dreams about you at night that never cease. I love you now. And I’ll love you until I die…and then I’ll continue loving you wherever I am afterword.” Barry blurted, his words running together. He was able to slow down by the end, and he saw Y/N’s bottom lip tremble. She understood him.
“Then why did you push me away?”
“I care about you, and I’d die if anything ever happened to take you away from me. Something I couldn’t prevent, something I had a hand in. At first, I pushed you away because I didn’t know what I was capable of. I pushed you away today because I knew you’d get a huge target on your back once the world learned that Barry Allen was the Flash.”
“I—”
“I know you thought I’d stay away even further now, Y/N. But I won’t. I’ve learned my lesson. Me pushing you away…is what lost you your dream job. I can’t believe you’d stick your neck out like that for me. Why? Why would you do that for me?”
“Because I’m in love with you, Barry!” She cried, stating it like it was obvious. She was surprised when she felt Barry’s arms wrap around her.
Barry closed his eyes and tugged her closer, not wanting to feel of her to leave his arms. He shushed her as she breathed, rocking her back and forth.
“Do you love me enough to continue being my partner at the CCPD?” Barry whispered in her ear, his lips brushing against the side of her face.
“Of course! But…that’s over now. I’ve got to move away from Central City to work in a forensics lab again, I—”
“I got you your job back, genius…” Barry teased, quirking a blonde eyebrow.
“What!” Y/N shouted, pulling herself out of his arms. Barry looked a bit disappointed when he lost her warmth, but he bashfully smiled when she noticed and yanked him towards her.
“I talked with Singh in his office, and I may or may not have revealed my identity to him.”
“Barry!” Y/N shook her head, “Are you crazy? Why would you—”
“Because I’m in love with you, Y/N,” Barry laughed, mimicking Y/N’s earlier confession. She let out a groan and smacked him softly on the chest.
“I’m serious, Bar! Now more people know, and—”
“Oh, and Patty and James know too.”
“What!”
“I didn’t tell them!” Barry put his hands up, “they put two and two together. Why else would you sabotage everything you’ve worked for to keep the Flash safe? I guess me running in was the dead giveaway. So maybe I did technically tell them? I don’t know.”
“What are you going to do now?” Y/N whispered. The more people that knew Barry’s secret, the more danger that could bring to him. Was he nuts?
“They’re sworn to secrecy. Once I revealed it to Singh, he realized why you acted the way you did. While he wants you to know that you’re not allowed to go to any crime scenes for the next month, he admired your dedication…to protecting me.”
“Would you be able to use the Flash to negotiate a pay raise for me?” Y/N couldn’t hold her comment in, letting out a squeal of a laugh when Barry pinned her to the bed and tickled her sides.
“Superspeed! No fair! Stop!” She yelped, her loud laughter filling the apartment.
Barry let out a laugh when he stopped torturing her, lying his body down on top of hers. He felt his cheeks heat up and he admired her up close. Y/N couldn’t tear her eyes away from his face. God, if she woke up every morning to that face, she’d be the luckiest woman in the entire world.
“Thank you, Barry…for telling me your secret first and trusting me. I want to be there for you. Please let me…” Y/N whispered, their lips nearly touching.
“What’s lightning without its thunder?” Barry asked, touching the tips of their noses together, his blue eyes beginning to close. “I need you. Right here with me.”
“Wherever you go, I’ll always follow…” Y/N breathed before Barry crashed their lips together.
Y/N felt electricity run through her and she realized that little sparks of energy were coming off Barry’s body. She felt him vibrate a bit and she quickly calmed him, parting the kiss to leave little kisses on the sides of his mouth.
“S-sorry,” Barry bashfully spoke, going to plant kisses on Y/N’s neck. She ran a hand through his hair, letting out a pleased sigh.
“It’s okay,” Y/N had their lips touch again and they deepened it, their legs getting tangled in the commotion.
She felt Barry’s warmth though her body and she wanted to be completely raptured by it. Barry licked Y/N’s bottom lip and she let him in immediately, letting out a moan when he shifted his body on hers, allowing their pelvises to firmly press together. She heard him let out a shuddered breath, parting the kiss to look into her eyes.
“Oh, Y/N—”
Barry stopped when he heard Hal Jordan’s voice loud and clear in his ear.
“Whoo! Get it, Lover Boy! I told you she liked you back! Oh, the League’s gotta handle something in DC – Bats didn’t give many details. When you make it back to Y/N’s later tonight, she’ll be thanking me, because I got a few pointers for ya…”
Y/N noticed Barry’s annoyed expression and she immediately knew that Hal was talking to him through the JL earpiece. He had this expression whenever he heard Hal’s voice. Sure, Hal was his other best friend, but he made Barry want to rip his hair out more than half the time.
“Duty calls?” Y/N breathlessly asked, leaving pleading kisses on his jawbone.
‘Y-yeah,” Barry stammered out, not wanting to leave her side, “I’m sorry…”
“Don’t apologize,” Y/N smiled, watching Barry step back and get into his Flash suit. She giggled a bit at the tent that was obvious in them, and he glared at her.
“Thanks, honey.”
“No problem, baby. You better go, the world needs its Flash…”
Barry speedily left a passionate kiss on her lips, his straight teeth peeking through with his adorable smile.
“I love you. I’ll be back in a flash!”
“Ugh,” Y/N groaned, Barry only leaving behind a little crack of gold lightning, “I’m gonna have to put a stop to those puns if he’s going to use them in the bedroom…”