#he sees kendra covered in blood and feels something start inside his chest

[penelope-and-the-suitors]

At what point did Bracken realize he was in love with Kendra? Like, there are so many options to choose from and still have textual evidence? There could be when he first saw Kendra as a LITERAL BEACON OF HOPE in the prison. She was the first sunlight he saw in decades. She was his mom's handmaiden and she was a physical representation of home and the fairy kingdom. There could be when he travels outside with him and Raxtus to visit the Eternals and he tells her about his past and he's incredibly vulnerable and tells her how brave and tough he thinks she is. There's when Kendra rushes to his side after she thinks Torina killed him and they hug for the first time? All of these are good options but I think the funniest option is when he sees Kendra with a glowing sword, fighting Gorgorog (I don't remember how to spell his name and I'm too lazy to check), disheveled from battle, covered in demon blood, and standing over him like an avenging angle.

I think he just likes powerful women who are deeply traumatized.

[saiilorstars]

Rise Up

Ch.9: A Legend

Previous Story: It Had To Be You || Current Masterlist

Pairings: Barry Allen x OFC

Chapter Summary: Team Flash comes across a man hell-bent on killing Cisco's new girlfriend. As they try to stop him, they meet a mysterious woman also searching for the very man they are trying to stop. She calls herself the Jinx but according to the records, she doesn't exist. It leaves the question of where she came from.

This chapter (and the next) is a prequel that eventually leads to Graciela’s full story Redemption.

Pronunciation of OC: Bell-en. The last syllable has an emphasis so it’s not pronounced like ‘Helen’ would be.

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog​ @maaaaarveeeeel​ @stareyedplanet @perfectlystiles [If you’d like to be part of this OC’s taglist, let me know!]

A bright white and blue light appeared out of thin air in the middle of the woods, close to Central City. From it emerged a slim female figure. A metal device strapped to her wrist beeped with the same color of the portal. The woman aimed her wrist, that held the device, at the portal. It emitted a white light that seemed to the suck the portal right in. She started walking down the woods, her figure partially covered by the mist in the air.

"What's my location?" her English voice inquired.

'About twenty miles off Central City, Miss Haynez," a computerized voice from the wrist-device answered.

"And the date?"

"November 17, 2017."

"Excellent," the woman grinned and walked even faster.

~ 0 ~

Joe and Patty stood on both sides of Barry, all three staring at the gruesome pictures of their newest case. Barry had already snapped the needed evidence pictures to bring back and examine, while also swiping any physical evidence pieces he could find. They'd found various corpses down at a dock with no surviving witness to the attack. But the blood spilled was...was on a whole other level.

"Man, this was a bloodbath," Joe said, truly surprised by what they were seeing. No metahuman had yet to be so violent.

"Done by one person," Barry put down the picture he held, setting it next to the other pictures on the desk.

"One person did all this?" Patty quickly took another look at the pictures.

"Oh, yeah, you can see from the blood pattern," Barry tapped a finger over one picture, "This guy was shot first-" he moved his finger to the next picture, "-then the police chief, then these three were stabbed before finishing off the captain."

Patty knew she would never cease to be surprised. "Wow. Do you think a meta-human did it?"

"I don't know, but I found this in all of the stab victims' wounds," Barry picked up a small plastic bag with a piece of a golden knife. "It's some type of cryptocrystalline... Flint, most likely... Probably broke off the blade during the fight. I'll run it to make sure."

"Let's see what stores sell those kind of flint knives," Joe said to Patty and started heading out.

"Will do," Patty followed him. However, just at the threshold, she forced herself to stop and turned sideways. "Uh, Barry, do you know...if...if Belén is okay?" As Barry looked her way, Patty stepped back into the lab, looking pretty nervous. "It's just, the last time I spoke to her...it was about her Mom and...I haven't really spoken to her anymore, so...do you know if she's upset with me?" But even as Barry opened his mouth to assure it had nothing to do with her, Patty rambled on. "Because I really didn't want to cause problems." She just grew tired of Veronica always being on her case about all these mysterious cases handled by Joe and Barry. And to be honest, Patty didn't really see anything wrong with those cases. Joe and Barry had done what they could with those cases since they were all pretty much finished by the Flash and his team. What else could they, the regular ones, do?

"She's fine, Patty, and definitely not mad at you," Barry finally got a word in. Patty, relieved, began to smile. "She's just having problems with her Mom but it's between them I promise."

"Okay," Patty nodded, slowly convincing herself that Barry was telling the truth. "I wanted to make sure, sorry."

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell her you're worried," Barry smiled, actually touched that Patty felt this need to make sure their friendship was intact.

"Okay, thanks," Patty sheepishly smiled and finally went on her way.

As soon as she was gone, Barry released a breath and turned back to his work. He felt a bit sorry for Patty that she had to go through all this as an innocent bystander in the crossovers of Belén and her mother. He, himself, wasn't feeling all that well about it. He had to help Belén with her problems as well as be there to comfort her, and he had to take having her mother all around his workplace. Veronica Green was turning out to be a right nuisance but Barry would never say that out loud. He was trying to make himself understand that Veronica was trying to be a mother and care for her daughter...even if it did annoy the hell out of him sometimes.

~0~

Later that day, Barry had gone to STAR Labs to continue training with the help of Harry, and today Caitlin. While he ran on his special treadmill, Harry and Caitlin monitored his readings.

"He just hit 1,375," Caitlin read off the screens and looked at Harry, seeing he wasn't at all impressed.

"What's the fastest Barry's run?"

"Little over Mach two, when he ran back in time."

Harry remained unimpressed. "That's not good." He pushed the inter comm. button. "That's good, Barry." Caitlin shot him a look, not at all agreeing to lie. "We have our work cut out for us."

Barry came into the monitoring room, out of breath. "I'm not getting faster, am I?"

Caitlin awkwardly glanced at Harry for some help to be gentle. "Well…"

"No, you're not," Harry flatly said. Caitlin shut her eyes and inwardly sighed.

Barry did his best not to look so upset. "Alright, well, let's fix this, right? I mean, I can't beat Zoom at this speed. It felt like I was standing still next to him."

Before Caitlin could give him some words of reassurance, Harry coldly agreed. "That's because you practically were. Zoom is at least three, four times faster than you at this point."

Caitlin sighed. "How is he so much faster than Barry is and Jay was?"

"Physiology, form, strength, could be a number of things…" Harry paused and gave Barry a sharp study. "Attitude, diet."

Barry rolled his eyes. "Okay, all right, well, there's gotta be something we can do about it, so let's just figure it out... fast, okay?"

"We will," Caitlin nodded.

"Okay," Barry leaned off the threshold. "Where's Bells? She said she was coming here earlier."

"Off training with Cisco," Caitlin replied.

"Off also not doing as well, I should mention," Harry muttered, turning to the readings beside them.

Barry glared. He could take any criticism against him but not about Belén. "She is doing her best, okay?"

"Her 'best' won't be okay when she's up against a siphoner and probably Poison Ivy."

"Let's not focus on that right now," Caitlin told the two before they started going back and forth in an argument. "Barry, Cisco has a date tonight so I doubt he and Belén will be practicing late."

"Thanks, Cait," Barry gave her a polite nod and went off without sparing a look at Harry.

~0~

"Ye-ha-ha!" Cisco punched the air after Belén managed to strike down three of his practice targets.

Belén's skin faded from its green shade, and as she released a breath, she returned to her normal self. With a grin on her face, she turned to where Cisco monitored her. "I got it?"

"Girl, you got it!" Cisco laughed.

Belén glanced at the targets that were completely mangled with her vines. This was the first real session that worked in her favor and she could not be happier. She just tried to forget the fact these were targets and not the actual Datura. "Again?" she anxiously asked.

Cisco's excitement faded momentarily. "Well, uh, actually…"

Belén tilted her head and stared at her friend. "Cisco, you got plans?" she remembered he was still dating that barista and made her own conclusions. "Is there a date I'm butting into?"

Cisco pursed his lips. "I, n-no, not...not butting...no…"

Belén laughed and started walking towards him. "So butting in. I'm not going to ruin your date with the-" she cleared her throat and mimicked his voice, "-lovely Kendra Saunders."

Cisco mockingly glared at her. "Not funny!"

"Yeah, so funny actually," Belén had herself a good laugh.

Cisco raised an eyebrow, and thought of the quickest way to get her back. "Alright then, Mrs. Allen, you want a lift back home?"

And Belén's laughter ceased to exist. Her face went utterly red.

Cisco victoriously smirked.

~0~

When Cisco finished his round of laughter, he finally took Belén home in order to make it in time to his own date. Belén wearily made her way up to her own apartment. She unlocked her door and stepped inside, only to be surprised by finding Barry already there.

"So, since it's been a long while, and I figured you're tired, movie date-night?" Barry gestured to the various snacks set on her coffee table and to the television already turned on.

Belén started smiling and walking towards him. "You're the best boyfriend ever." She slung her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips.

"I like to think I am," Barry chuckled alongside her. He kissed her temple and sat them down on the couch.

"Making you a second key was the best thing I ever did," Belén reached for a box of licorice while Barry picked a movie for them.

"Yeah, I heard you went training with Cisco so I thought a nice relaxing night was something you would like," Barry shrugged. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"I think we both needed it," Belén hummed. She rested her head on his chest and smiled when she remembered her gain earlier. "I took down some particularly hard targets."

"That's great!" Barry shifted a bit on his side to meet Belén's happy face.

"Now if I can do that with Datura I'll be golden," Belén drew in a deep breath. Datura had been gone for a few days now, as well as Zoom, and while she tried to be happy about it she couldn't help feel like Datura was up to something. She would return with something worse for them.

"We'll find a way," Barry pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You want to pick a movie?"

"Uh, how about my favorite musical? Mamma Mia?"

Barry pretended to groan. "We've watched that like 50 times already!"

"So the 51st shouldn't be so hard anymore," Belén grinned innocently. "Promise to give you kisses throughout the movie?"

Barry pretended to think about the deal. "You mean it?"

Belén rolled her eyes at him. "Sure."

"No, but you gotta say it like you mean it!"

Belén grabbed him by the collars of his shirt and kissed him for a good minute. "How's that for meaning it?"

Barry's face was so dazed, just like his mind. She started laughing at him which pulled him out of his trance. "That's not funny!"

"It is from my end!"

"Belén would you-" But Barry was cut off at the sound of both his and Belén's phones going off at the same time.

"So much for movie night," Belén fished her phone out of her jean's pocket. "Huh, it's Cisco."

"He's in trouble," Barry realized. "I thought he was on a date but..."

"We need to go!" Belén exclaimed as she got up from the couch. Though she grabbed some licorice on their way out.

~ 0 ~

Jitters at night time had never looked as bad as it did to Cisco right now. Kendra had tried to create a perfect date for them by cooking dinner for them and having a movie ready to go over the rooftop. Everything would've been dandy had it not been for the strange man with a long beard and a long coat who decided to stop by.

Vandal Savage was not a patient man. What he wanted he got, and Kendra Saunders would not be the exception. He chucked forwards a silver weapon but missed as Cisco and his date, Kendra, jumped to the sides. Barry sped in with Belén and while the former attempted to punch Savage directly, Savage semeed to be ready for it.

Belén, on the other hand, went to Cisco and Kendra and helped them get up. "Who the hell is that guy?"

"I wish I knew!" Cisco said with the biggest scowl on his face. "He's ruining our date!"

Belén looked back when she heard Barry's body crash over a table. "I think your date is the least of our problems right now!" Belén struck a vine forwards to pay Savage with the same coin. It struck him to the side and as she was charging for him, a wave of purple energy came bursting through the door and, as simple as it sounded, it made Belén slip on the floor.

Savage thought it was his lucky moment as he pulled himself off the floor. "Pathetic," he spat first then attempted to continue with his own attack.

However, a woman appeared at the entrance with the most visible hatred on her face. "There you are," she, too, spatted but at Savage only.

Savage turned around, surprised someone would speak to him in that familiarity since he had never seen the woman in his life. "Who are you?"

"Doesn't matter," the woman briefly made eye contact with the others in the room. "If everything goes well you'll never know my name." She started smirking for some reason, but she decided to let Savage in on her secret. She pointed up to the ceiling. Savage followed her gaze and missed the light purple energy beam emit from the her fingertip. It hit the curtains above them and caused the poles sustaining it to creak and come collapsing down.

"Hey!" Barry sped towards them and pushed them out into the roadside.

"NOOO!" the woman screeched as her body tumbled against a mailbox. She shook her head and the pain from her fall to see where Savage had landed. It had been too late, though, because he was gone. "NO!" she screamed frantically and got up from the ground. "I had him!"

"You know him?" Barry called from his spot, eyeing the woman suspiciously. He only looked away to see Belén, Cisco and Kendra running out from Jitters to see where they landed.

The mysterious woman rose from the ground and blew on the hair in front of her face. Her light brown hair that was just above her shoulders framed her youthful face. Her eyes were dark and fierce, and very angry, though Barry realized it wasn't geared towards him.

Thank God because she's scary, he thought.

She wore a purple and black leather outfit that started off with a sleeveless, purple crop-shirt that had a small v-neck style. There was a bit of a black outline defining the v-neck style. Though, the crop shirt seemed to be connected at the armpits to a black, short-sleeved coat. Said coat covered the sides of her stomach, remaining permanently opened, and formed a long, twisted tail behind her. She wore knee-length, black boots over dark purple pants. And to finish it off, she had a dark, purple choker around her neck.

"I know him enough," the woman dusted herself off. She looked him over with great interest, then glanced at Belén to do the same. Her lips curled into a smile once she recognized them. "And I know you two - I read about you. History's even better when you see it with your own eyes."

"Who the hell are you?" Belén went straight for the question. She had enough with mysterious metas coming into their city to terrorize their people. "And do you know that man?"

The woman seemed to debate whether or not she should disclose her identity, but after a minute she gave a small nod. "You can call me...Jinx. And that man? It doesn't matter because I'm going to find him and kill him before he hurts anyone else. So, for everyone's sake, best stay out of my way, Azalea, Flash. I don't mean this city harm except for that man," Jinx warned and stepped forwards. "He's mine."

Jinx swung an arm forwards and shot purple beams again that forced the fire hydrant near Barry to shoot a violent gush of water directly at him and the others. It was how she made her escape.

~ 0 ~

The next day, everyone reported to STAR Labs to discuss what Belén, Barry, Cisco (and Kendra) dealt with. It also revealed that Cisco had, rather stupidly, revealed to Kendra that Barry was the Flash. Both Harry and Joe were still giving Cisco disapproving stares.

"I can't believe you're The Flash," Kendra could not stop saying, then glancing to Cisco, "And that you work with The Flash."

Cisco chuckled but was of course still hitting himself for his imprudence. "Yeah, let's keep that on the DL."

"And you're the Azalea," Kendra pointed at Belén with the same awe.

"You are so incredibly stupid my friend," Belén patted Cisco's arm and shook her head.

"Agreed," went Harry under his breath but still received a sharp glance from Cisco.

"Alright, so what exactly happened?" Caitlin asked the group in question.

"There was an mass homicide at the docks two nights ago and it left behind a scrap of knife that I analyzed," Barry pointed to the gold knife laying on the table. "It's the same knife used to kill the men at the docks. Residue is a perfect match."

"So it is the same guy," Joe noted.

"Definitely. But the thing is, these blades are old, centuries old."

"He nicked it off some museum then," Belén theorized.

"Do you have any idea why this guy would be after you?" Iris decided to question Kendra on anything that could help them.

"No, I've never seen him before in my life," Kendra swore to them all.

"Lots of these metahumans often don't have reasons to go after a person," Caitlin reminded, and everyone missed Barry's unsure expression.

"Well, he was certainly acting like he knew you," Cisco looked at Kendra. "He kept calling her Priestess Chay-Ara."

"That's Coptic," Harry pointed.

"In English, please?" Belén motioned for the translation.

"He means Egyptian," Caitlin said, though she herself still seemed a bit unsure.

"You know, that woman - Jinx - she was talking in a way like...like she knew about timelines," Barry remembered the strange woman. "Like you say-" he said to Cisco, "-that the guy was talking to you two."

"You think they're connected?" Caitlin asked.

"I can't be sure but she definitely wants him dead," Barry nodded.

"Iris and I were doing research on her and check out what we found," Belén moved over to the computers with Iris. "I mean, at first all we came across when we typed in 'Jinx' were these weirdos on the internet."

"Not surprising," Joe said on the side.

"But we had to figure out what she was," Iris continued, "Is she a metahuman? What can she do?"

"Oh c'mon," Cisco interrupted them, almost rolling his eyes, "The woman named herself Jinx - what does that tell you? She's bad luck, people!"

The others had to agree on the powers of the stranger.

"Killer name," Cisco had to add.

"But it's deeper than that," Belén started bringing up different headlines from different times, along with different pictures of women. "We didn't find one single picture of our mystery Jinx, but we found boatloads of other women from previous years with the same name."

Barry stepped forwards to get a better look at the different pictures. "They're all named Jinx?"

"Jinx, the Jinx, it's the same name really but they're all from different areas," Iris pointed out. "They're mostly grouped in America and England, though."

"Well, our Jinx had an English accent so we should focus on England," Barry said.

"But even then," Belén pulled down the tabs that weren't dealing with the English Jinxes, "None of them relate to ours. They have no similar appearances, but they do have one thing in common: they're all well known criminals in their times."

"And bad ones," Iris added to make sure they understood they were not dealing with their regular metas. "They have some wicked crimes under their names."

"Were any of them ever brought in?" asked Cisco, now feeling like he had to swallow down a ball in his throat.

"No," went the two reporters together.

"An interesting thing is that each Jinx seemed to disappear in their older years," Belén started going through some of the profiles for show, "1940s London Jinx disappeared when she was around 50. 1990s Bristol Jinx disappeared around her 60s. Before 1940, we had another Jinx in Cambridge who disappeared in her 60s."

"It's like they retiring or something," Kendra said as a light-hearted joke, but her words rang truth for some of the others.

"It could be like a mantle passing down generations," Caitlin theorized as she walked up to stand beside Barry in front of the screen on the wall. "Each Jinx has their daughter, or a niece, and once that daughter or niece becomes ready they take the place of the elder Jinx."

"That's great but how does this help us right now?" asked Joe.

"It lets us know that we're dealing with someone who knows her way around a fight," Belén crossed her arms. "If I had to say, she's had some good training based on these previous Jinxes. Our Jinx may be the current one and she's just getting started. She's a criminal and we have to bring her down too. But to find her, I'm guessing we need to find this man first. So," she turned around and looked directly at Kendra, "Why does this man have it out for you."

Kendra was startled with the implication that she would know why she was being targeted. "I...I don't know. I don't know either of them."

"This guy, he's clearly incredibly dangerous as well as Jinx, so I need you to at least let us try to protect you," Barry said, hoping she would listen to them on the first try. Thankfully, Kendra agreed.

"I can put a detail on her," Joe offered.

Cisco shook his head. "You didn't see this guy, Joe. No offense, but I don't think a cop is going to be able to protect her."

"To be fair, they are getting better with metahumans," Belén meant to be kind but even Barry agreed the police weren't up for this sort of task.

"We're going to need some friends' help...in Star City."

Belén gaped, as did everyone else who understood what Barry meant.

~ 0 ~

A short moment after giving a brief description of their plan, Belén and Cisco went after Barry to try and discuss the matter.

"What could possibly be that bad that we need to leave the city?" Belén asked that while staring at both men, knowing there was something one of them wasn't explaining. "Scratch that-" she made a motion with her hands, "-what's so bad that you want to go to Oliver for help?"

"I mean, she's sort of right…" Cisco swayed his head, giving Belén a clear understanding that Cisco was just as lost as she was. "We've fought meta-humans with abilities a lot worse than knife-throwing."

"I don't think this guy's a meta-human. There's something different about him…" Barry thought for the right word, "...something, ah, mystical. Even Jinx seems kind of off."

Belén and Cisco exchanged unimpressed glances.

"Mystical, really?" Cisco repeated.

"We stop meta-humans because we're scientists. We can figure out what their weaknesses are, but we don't have any experience when it comes to guys like this, with magic. They do."

"Are you sure Oliver is going to want to help us, though?" Belén raised an eyebrow.

"He'd probably be more inclined if a certain pretty girl asked nicely," Barry sent her a cheeky smile.

"Sure, let me get Felicity on the line," Belén crossed her arms.

"That could help too!"

Belén groaned. "On one condition."

"Which would be…?"

"I want to come too."

It was easy to tell Barry wasn't exactly liking that idea. "I - this guy is dangerous, Bells. He's not even a metahuman and it scares me!"

"You're forgetting that when I was training with Oliver I had my fair share of non-metahuman ass to kick," Belén continued with arms crossed and a straight face. "What else you got?"

Barry looked at Cisco for some help. Cisco quickly put his hands up, deciding this was not his argument. "I'm just going to go tell Kendra when we leave…" he made up fast and rushed away.

"Well, what excuse you do you have for me?" Belén challenged rather smoothly.

Barry racked his mind for the kindest, gentlest, way to make her see his logic. "Your Mom, Sherlock-cop, is behind you like a hawk. What do you think she's going to do if you leave the city all of a sudden?"

Belén faltered with that idea planted in her head. "Well, I...I don't…"

"You haven't decided if you want to tell her anything about all this-" Barry made a gesture to the place, "-and I think if you leave and all of a sudden there's sightings of the Azalea in Star City where she'll inevitably know you went to...don't you think she might put two and two?"

Belén thought about it with the time and effort the matter deserved and ultimately knew that Barry was right. "I hate dating a scientist sometimes."

"No you don't," Barry chuckled.

"I really do - sometimes I just wanna hit you with your stupid books!"

"You're just cranky and I'll let all those comments go," Barry pulled her into a hug, ignoring her muffled 'I'm not cranky' as he held her tightly.

~ 0 ~

Patty was once more looking over the evidence left behind by Barry on their bloodbath homicide case. She no longer felt surprised having Veronica constantly peer over her shoulders to observe the case as well.

"You could just take a seat, you know," Patty went ahead and handed one of the pictures to Veronica.

This time, Veronica made no snappy response. She merely took the picture and studied it. Patty looked up to see the older woman's blank face. It didn't appear Veronica was even examining the picture in her hand.

Although she felt awkward asking, Patty forced herself to be just polite and talk. "Is everything alright?"

Veronica seemed to snap out of her trance and put the picture down on Patty's desk. "Yes, of course. Um, so are there any leads on that knife bit yet?"

"No, not yet, it's in the process…" Patty answered the question out of professionalism but couldn't stop the conversation there, not when she was sure that it had to do with Belén. "Detective Green, are you sure there isn't anything wrong?"

Veronica gave Patty a long look before shaking her head and leaving the office room. On her way out, she bumped into Joe, and she called it her streak of unluckiness for that day. "I'm sorry," she gave a polite apology then hastily tried getting away.

"Detective?" Joe turned after her. "Are you alright?"

Veronica groaned but came to a halt and turned sideways. "I could do without your fake care, Joe. We all know you and your adoptive son are praying for me to get the hell out of this place."

Joe was not expecting that type of hostility against him personally, maybe a little for Barry. "Uh, it's not fake, and I would appreciate if you left Barry out of your problems with your daughter." Veronica, raising an eyebrow, slowly turned around. "It can't be easy to try and rebuild a relationship with your estranged daughter but Barry has only ever tried to make your daughter happy."

Veronica looked around, probably reminding herself that they were not alone to make a spectacle. She came back to Joe, speaking lowly between them. "I don't deny that he is. Truth be told, he seemed like a very a nice young man the times I have been with him an Belén. That, however, does not excuse all the sketchy cases done between you and him and those metahumans. It does not excuse the fact that I know he and Belén are hiding something from me - something that you know about as well. Now I think knowing all this, and putting yourself in my perspective, you would understand my reasons to have a little dislike towards your son."

At that, Joe could not and would not argue. He remembered when he first found out that Barry had begun making rounds in the city trying to be a hero. He felt a deep pit of terror in his stomach, and a big case of helplessness. In the end, a parent - no matter if it's biological or adoptive - only wanted their children to be safe. Veronica, at the moment, could not fulfill that desire because Belén had not told her the truth.

"If you'll excuse me, Detective, I need to go work on our latest case," Veronica spoke in her regular tone and walked away.

~ 0 ~

"So they're just gone, then?" Iris stood beside Belén at the latter's desk, both holding cups of coffees. Iris was still in the dark about Oliver Queen's vigilante's side and therefore only knew Barry was going to the Arrow in the next city.

Belén gave a small nod. "Mhm. I wanted to go but Barry pulled out his logical crap that I usually lose at, so…"

Iris smiled teasingly. "Been there so many times. It's annoying, actually."

"You're telling me. Now here I am, doing my work," Belén motioned to her computer where a half-written article was.

"And that-" said a new, female voice, "-is never something to be so glum about."

Belén quickly leaned forwards on her chair, just as Iris turned to the side and giving Belén a clear view of CC Pictures' visitor. "Laurel?" a great smile spread across Belén's face as she got up.

Laurel Lance stood tall and cheery at the doorway, happy to see her lifelong friend.

"What are you doing here?" Belén put down her cup on her desk and went to greet Laurel.

"I am visiting my mother and I thought why not stop by to visit my friend?" Laurel gave Belén a hug and whispered, "And to talk about the Azalea."

Belén pulled away with a chuckle. "It's okay, Laurel, she knows," she made a gesture back to Iris. "Laurel, this is Iris West. She's my co-worker and almost sister."

"Laurel Lance," Laurel shook hands with Iris. "Childhood friend."

"Ah, so then you have some embarrassing stories I could slip through to Barry," Iris sent Belén a teasing smile. "He gets on my nerves complaining about your teases."

"Not my fault he's a dork."

"Watch it," Iris pointed, but of course teased too.

"This is a new article, then?" Laurel peered down at Belén's computer.

"Still working on it."

"Nice," Laurel took a seat in Belén's chair then knowingly smiled at the two women. "I stopped by to see if my friend wanted to go out to lunch?"

"Oh, I'd love to, but I already made..." Belén was looking at Iris who was now shaking her head.

"You're good, Bells, just go," Iris smiled. "But hey, maybe we can all have dinner tonight?"

"Works with me," Laurel looked at Belén.

"Same. It might even be good to get Caitlin," Belén added. "Poor thing's been working hard with Harry lately."

"Harry?" Laurel gave a questioning face.

"I'll explain," Belén promised and went to gather her things.

~ 0 ~

As Laurel and Belén walked down the street towards Jitters for their lunch, Belén caught Laurel up with the latest in Central City - well the bits Laurel wasn't aware of. Of course the news of a new speedster terrorizing the city had made it into StarCity's newscasts several times, especially when Zoom confronted the Flash.

"You'd think there being multiple dimensions would freak me out…" Laurel raised her head, processing everything she'd heard with great calmness, "...but no."

"Quite the lives we live, huh?" Belén smiled to herself. "While it can be dazzling and happy...it's got some terrible drawbacks."

"Yeah, but...would you give it up?"

Belén right away shook her head. "Never. It's how I met my friends...it's how Barry and I got together. I'd keep it just the way it is no matter how bad things get." Laurel chuckled.

Jitters wasn't as packed as one would think it would be during lunch hour. Laurel and Belén took a seat at one of the empty tables after ordering.

"So then, are we going to talk about this whole Azalea thing?" it was easy to tell this was the topic that drew Laurel to find Belén again. "I mean, last time we talked, you were pretty hell bent on making sure the Azalea stayed dead."

"To be fair, the last time we spoke I felt like my life was over," Belén countered. "My brother had just died, my sister was sent to prison, two of my friends died, my boyfriend broke up with me...and I had gained custody of Axel." The entire memories made Belén stop to take a breather. "I was not at a good place then."

"But now you are," Laurel noticed with a genuine delight.

"I went to therapy," Belén admitted. "Actually, I still go. It's less but Dr. Baeva says that's a good thing."

"And you felt good enough to bring back the Azalea?"

"Yeah," Belén nodded her head, her eyes flickering to the side. "I thought the Azalea should stay dead so that I could move on, but...I don't want to do that. I don't think I could ever do that. Just like you fight to be the Black Canary, I fight to be the Azalea."

Laurel was so proud to hear her friend talk like this after so much despondence. "Exactly!"

"Unfortunately, it also resonates from the fact there's this psycho metahuman from Earth 2 trying to kill me."

"That's this Datura woman, right? I read about her too."

"Yeah. According to E-2 Dr. Wells, Datura has siphoning powers along with being one of the most poisonous metahumans on his earth."

"Now wait a minute, she siphons AND and she has powers based on this poisonous plant?"

"Yeah. Though sometimes I wonder how that works, because…" Belén trailed off, still thinking, "...Harry says that, back on his world, there were rumors about Datura...not being all the way there," Belén tapped the side of her head. "She would disappear for weeks and then resurface with new powers. At the same time, there were series of murder sprees where the cops would find corpses of metas possessing similar plant powers like Datura."

"Do you think Datura could've been looking for something in those metas?"

"That's our theory, and it's my theory that I have what she's looking for," Belén sighed, "I just don't know what it is. So, in the meantime, she's here...terrorizing my city, beating the crap out of me."

"Well, you gotta look at this from a different perspective," Laurel got to thinking for a moment. "You say she's a siphoner but...she calls herself Datura? Why? That's just one flower, one power she possesses, right?"

"I've thought about that too," Belén admitted. "Believe me, I've gone crazy thinking of her and her powers."

"So, what have you come up with?"

"Well, I theorize that the datura power could be either the first power she siphoned and thus became her baseline of all powers, or…" Belén stopped all of a sudden.

"Or?"

"Or they could be something of importance to her. Not physical importance but emotional."

"Why would she name herself after only one power when she's a siphoner?" Laurel smirked as now Belén was getting somewhere with her thoughts.

"Emotional importance," Belén answered, far more sure now that she had spoken her theories out loud. "You name yourself after your powers, after what makes you, you. I named myself the Azalea because I love those flowers. Gardening Azaleas and other flowers was my favorite pastime, my way to unwind and just..be me. I doubt Datura did gardening...she had to have named herself Datura for another reason."

"I miss this Belén," Laurel blurted, and the two shared a laugh.

~ 0 ~

Later that day, when her shift was over, Belén stopped by STAR Labs to see how Caitlin was holding up with Harry on her own. She found the two working at the prime desk in the cortex.

"Afternoon," she greeted and only spared the computer screens a brief look, knowing already she wouldn't understand their work. "So what are you scientists working on today?"

"We may have just created a way to help Barry become faster," Caitlin could barely contain her excitement. Harry had no problem.

"Really?" Belén loved hearing that and was sure that Barry would too. "What is it?"

However, before either Caitlin or Harry could explain, Jay had come in. He soon saw the computer screens himself and scowled.

"Velocity-6?" there was a trace of disbelief in his tone which put both Belén and Caitlin off. "This is what was so urgent, Harrison? You get me to come here so I can take your speed drug?"

Harry, on the other hand, remained at ease and simply pointed at Jay for being correct. "That's right."

Jay gave an incredulous look at Caitlin. "You knew about this."

"Of course she did," Harry answered for her. "She figured it out."

"What's the big deal?" Belén cut in. She definitely was not up for another physical fight between the two men.

"I thought this was to help Barry," Caitlin was on the same page as Belén.

"It is to help Barry-" Harry said, "-which is why we need to do test runs on subjects who once had the Speed Force in their system."

Jay was not having this. "The Speed Force doesn't work like that. It's not something you can create in a lab."

"How do you think you became the Flash, Garrick? By me and a lab," Harry reminded, and Belén did have to admit that it rang some truth. That is what their Wells had done to give Barry his powers in the first place. "Science is what did this to you, to Barry, to Zoom, and science is what we need to stop Zoom, and this is our only option."

"Find another one," Jay didn't hesitate to shut down the work, even if it was Caitlin's. "The Speed Force can't be replicated or enhanced. It's a living thing. It's a gift that was given to me. That drug... you have no idea what it's gonna do. I'm not going to let another one of your experiments mess with me again, Harrison. You find someone else to be your guinea pig."

"It's a drug?" Belén immediately saw the problem and turned on Harry. "You're giving my Barry a drug?"

"Keep that serum away from Barry," Jay warned her and Caitlin before storming away.

Harry had put on his black jacket and a hat in the meanwhile. Caitlin turned on him too and questioned his plans.

"To pick up what we need!"

"We can't give Barry whatever you're planning on," Belén snapped but the man started heading out.

"We're gonna do what we need," Harry left them with those words.

Caitlin, exasperated plopped down on a chair. She saw Belén's horrific stare after the threshold. "If I knew what it was, I would have never…"

"I know Cait," Belén assured. "I mean...is it wrong, though? It's like...steroids, right? But to make you faster?"

Caitlin nodded. "That's the idea."

"But...but would it have side effects? Like bad ones?"

"Jay seemed pretty sure that it wasn't the right thing…"

"I honestly don't know who to believe anymore. Jay doesn't bother to show up and help and when he does show up it's to shoot down all of our ideas."

Caitlin of course tried to make Jay look better. "I-it can't be easy having to lose your powers, and...you know? I just...we shouldn't be hard on him That's all I'm saying."

Belén smiled knowingly at the brunette. "Right. So listen, I stopped by to ask if you wanted to come to dinner with Laurel, Iris and I."

"Laurel?" Caitlin repeated. "As in Laurel Lance the Black Canary?"

"The one and only," Belén smirked.

"But I thought…"

"She's here alone. She didn't even know Barry and Cisco had gone to meet Oliver. So, you want to come?"

Caitlin looked at the computer screens still showing Velocity-6, then glanced back at the threshold. "I don't know. I think someone should stay here and hold the fort. And by that I mean check to see what Harrison is doing."

Belén thought that was a rational mindset and thought about her own choices. "You know what, I think I should stay too. I wouldn't want you to overwork yourself."

"No, Bells, it's okay. I know you haven't seen Laurel in a long time."

"But I don't want you to stay here all alone…"

"I'll be fine," Caitlin promised. "Go out. I think you deserve some time out."

"Okay, but afterwards I'm coming back here to keep you company. I'll even bring you something," Belén grabbed her purse.

"That would be nice," Caitlin smiled.

~ 0 ~

Setting the dinner date at eight, Belén took her sweet time to get ready. She pulled out a nice white blouse with fitted slacks and some heels. Applying some makeup and doing the hair took about an hour but she was still on time. Just as she was getting ready to leave, someone knocked on her door.

No longer was Belén surprised to see her mother making a visit.

"I'm not going to argue - I don't have time to," Belén snapped before her mother could start shouting. "I have a dinner to get to and then to STAR Labs with Caitlin."

Veronica didn't appear to have the fighting in her, something that even Belén saw right away. "Why STAR Labs?"

"Because Caitlin is there. Anymore questions?" Belén went back to the living room for her purse and phone.

"Honestly, Belén, I don't know why you keep going to that hazardous building. What's the point?"

Belén snorted. "Did you really come by to ask me that?"

Something snapped inside Veronica and she shook her head, straightening herself up. "No, of course not. I came to talk."

"We've done that, countless times," Belén returned with her purse strap hanging around her wrist. "It doesn't work out. Tonight I'd like to skip it."

"If you would just-"

"I have to go," Belén cut her off smoothly and ushered Veronica out the door. "You want to talk tomorrow morning then fine. Tonight I'm not letting you tarnish my mood."

Veronica let her daughter go without another word. It appeared she was really driving that wedge between them, and she feared how far it would go. A ringing from her pocket brought her out from her thoughts. It was a text from work.

~ 0 ~

"No Caitlin?" Iris asked when Belén had joined her and Laurel at the restaurant they'd agreed at.

"No, she and Harry are working," Belén decided to leave out the potentially dangerous serum out of the conversation for the moment.

"I'd love to have seen her," Laurel remarked while taking a look at their menus.

"Maybe tomorrow, then?"

"I guess." Belén honestly made it her life's effort to not show how upset she already was thanks to her mother's surprise visit. Without Barry around, she felt like she truly needed just some friends with her to make her forget how crappy her life was at the moment.

It was nice to forget that she wasn't a metahuman being hunted, and that she was in danger. After all, these were the moments when her life was supposed to be at its best. She'd finished college a long while ago, she snatched herself a good job, even went back to doing what she'd originally wanted to (aerial dancing). Along the way she'd met some really good people who slowly became like her family.

She deserved to remember that part of her life.

~ 0 ~

"So you're telling me that this flint knife is thousands of years old?" Veronica reviewed what Patty had told her just to make sure she wasn't getting anything wrong.

"Yeah, I'm surprised too, believe me," Patty gave a shrug of her shoulders.

The two women were walking down the street, discussing the matters of their bloodbath case. Patty had finally gotten news on the evidence Barry had gotten earlier and now Veronica was looking over the case file.

"But it means it couldn't have been on the market…" Veronica deduced and glanced at Patty.

The blonde hummed in agreement. "We checked and there are no records of it belonging to some set in local museums. We're expanding the search but even then it doesn't really look like it belongs anywhere."

"Except history books," Veronica closed the file and looked up. As soon as she did, she spotted a familiar figure across the street. A man was loading something into the back of a car.

"Are you alright?" Patty stared at the woman for a bit, worried.

Veronica's eyebrows knitted together. "It can't be."

"What…?" Patty meant to follow Veronica's gaze but Veronica quickly ushered Patty to her own car. "Hey! What about that ca-"

"I'm going to look it over for tonight and tomorrow we'll talk again! Goodnight, Patty!" Veronica then made her own mission as she hurried to her own car.

~ 0 ~

Caitlin had been giving Harry disapproving stares ever since he returned to STAR labs on the plan of finishing up the serum for Barry. Despite that, Harry didn't desist.

"We can't use that serum on Barry," Caitlin gave a crinkled-nose glance at the silver gun meant to inject said serum.

"That's up to him, isn't it?" Harry cleverly countered with. Caitlin frowned knowing that, in the end, it really was all Barry's decision whether or not to take the serum. "If Barry wants to stop Zoom, this is what he needs."

"Jay said it could hurt Barry-"

"Well, Jay's a coward," Harry pushed through the serum into the gun with a 'pop!'.

Caitlin huffed, clearly offended on behalf of Jay. "Jay's a scientist who knows a lot about speedsters!"

"You're a scientist, Snow. You've been watching Barry. You know he's nowhere near as fast as he needs to be," Harry snapped, reaching his patience with these people. "This other mentor, this other Harrison Wells, did not want him to reach his full potential... I do."

Caitlin glowered. "You know, you're really starting to sound a lot like him." She didn't want to be anymore of a part of the serum and walked into one of the side rooms, hoping that Harry would gain some sense in the meanwhile.

Harry could care less what Caitlin thought and turned the silver gun over to make sure the serum had been injected right.

"I knew it was you," Veronica's voice made him stop his work. She had come into the place with a gun in her hands, aimed directly at Wells.

"Who are you?" Harry, of course, had not met the woman before.

"I don't know how you did it, how you managed to survive while my son died, my daughter sent to jail and my youngest so...lost-" Veronica gritted her teeth, "-but you won't be escaping this time. You're under arrest."

Harry deduced that the woman had to be talking about his doppleganger, who up to now had apparently done no good to anyone in this world. "I'm Harrison Wells but I'm not the Harrison…"

Veronica threatened again with her gun after Harry took a step forwards. "Stop! You move closer, and I'll shoot."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Give me that-" he raised the silver gun still in his hand and Veronica mistook that as a threat and so she shot him.

The moment Harry collapsed on the floor, Caitlin came running in, going out of her mind with the scene. "Oh, my God, what have you done? Harrison? Harrison, stay with me. Harrison, Harrison, stay with me!" she didn't know how to quite move him without hurting him even more. "Stay with me, Harrison, come on." She shot Veronica a snarky look. "Why did you shoot him?"

"I thought that was a gun!" Veronica exclaimed and motioned to the silver gun on the floor. "That's Harrison Wells! He's meant to be dead-"

"Oh, and you decided to go ahead and finish that job!?"

"What - excuse you! I followed him thinking he was back to no good again! That was after I processed the fact he wasn't dead like Belén told me!"

Caitlin growled and got up from her spot. "I have to call Belén! And Nina!"

"What is going on!?" Veronica watched Caitlin run over to the desk to get on that phone call.

"Ms. Green, I will let your daughter do that explaining! Right now you're going to help move him-" Caitlin pointed at Harry, "-to a bed."

Veronica's eyes flickered from Harry to Caitlin incredulously.

~ 0 ~

Of course the moment Belén - and consequently Iris and Laurel - heard what happened at STAR Labs, dinner was cancelled. Belén came running in with Iris and Laurel behind, only to see Caitlin and Nina Clarke tending to Harry's unconscious self. Veronica still remained in the cortex, glowering at the two doctors but still primarily confused.

"What happened!?" Belén hastily walked up to her two friends.

"I shot him, that's what," Veronica was the one to answer, and quite aggressively too. She still didn't understand what was going on. As far as she knew, Harrison Wells was meant to be on his way to the hospital to be treated and then promptly shipped off to Iron Heights.

"Why would you do that?"

Veronica blinked rapidly, unsure if she'd heard right. "Y-you're asking me...why I shot the man who murdered my ex-husband, and destroyed my children's lives?"

Belén remained quiet. Of course to her mother, it was a stupid question.

"How is he doing?" Laurel neared Caitlin and Nina.

"He's losing oxygen," Caitlin shook her head.

"Nina, you can't do anything?" Iris went along with Laurel.

"There's a bullet in a branch of his pulmonary artery that's blocking off most of the blood flow from the left lung," Nina was quite serious in the matter. "And I can't remove the bullet without causing too much damage."

"You need Jay," Caitlin suddenly thought of and looked at Belén.

"Go, call him," the ombre-blonde gave a nod.

"Belén…" Veronica stared at her daughter hard, "...what the hell is going on?"

Belén looked at her friends and then back at her mother. There really was no way out of explaining this unless she felt like looking like a crazy person. Running a hand through her hair, she began to spill. "That man-" she gestured to Harry, "-is not the Harrison Wells you think he is."

Veronica's eyes squinted as she tried process the words. "E-excuse me? What? Belén, I'm not an idiot-"

"No, of course you're not! You're far from it!" Belén bitterly exclaimed. "You've gone in search so much that I have have to tell you now."

"Tell me what?" Veronica looked around the place, frowning with utter dislike. "Why do you come here so often? This place belonged to the man that destroyed our family."

"Because we've turned it into something good," Belén said softly, her eyes looking past her mother to the display case that was currently covered by the sliding wall Cisco installed to keep hers and Barry's suits out of the public's views. She walked over to the desk and with one last look at her friends (who encouraged her to go on), she pressed the button that slid the wall up. "I have helped turn it into something good."

Veronica followed Belén's gesture and turned to find a familiar green suit sitting on a mannequin. Veronica's mouth opened with a slight gasp.

"I'm her, Mom," Belén said before Veronica made her own conclusions. "I'm the Azalea."

So many things started making sense to Veronica within the next minute. Her daughter's strange behavior, for once, every time this vigilante was mentioned. It also helped to remind her that this precise vigilante had already made appearances in Star City, along with the Arrow.

"It was...you," Veronica turned back to meet her daughter's nervous face. "You've been this vigilante all this time and I'm just now hearing about it?"

"It's not something easy I can talk to you about," Belén said weakly, seeing anger starting up in Veronica's eyes.

"Oh, my bad, so it's my fault now," Veronica bitterly laughed.

"Mom, I don't want to keep fighting with you, okay? You know now. And you should also know that this man-" Belén once more gestured to Harry, "-is not the man you think he is. He's from another world, alright?"

"Another world…" Veronica laughed there, clearly disbelieving it.

"It exists, okay? This is...a doppelganger. And he isn't here harming us. The Harrison Wells you know about, he's dead. Like...actually, he was erased from existence so it's even better."

"You need to stop," Veronica pointed at Belén. "You need to stop talking. I-I need to…" her head whipped in the direction of the Azalea suit, and her eyes flickered to the empty mannequin beside it. "Who...who's that one for?" she pointed.

Belén thought that if she told Veronica about Barry, then it would really drive things home for her mom. "I…"

"Oh, now this is rich," Veronica, it seemed, already made her conclusions. "Oh my God-" she rubbed her face, "-of course you work with the Flash."

"Mom-"

"NO!" Veronica waved her hands, indicating she was done. "Two years all this has been happening and you decide to tell me this now! Not to mention that all of it is just...crazy."

"Crazy?" it was Belén's turn to laugh. "Mom, we're helping people-"

"You are putting yourself in danger!" Veronica glanced at Nina, Iris and Laurel. "And you all knew. Of course you did. But none of you had the common sense to make her see reality!"

"The Azalea has helped people, Ms. Green," Iris spoke up for Belén. "She and the Flash have saved people and places."

"But at what cost?" Veronica's eyes teared up. "I lost my ex-husband, my son, my son-in-law, and my daughter."

"But Belén is right there," Nina snapped. Unlike Iris and Laurel, she had more of an attitude to match Veronica's. "She is the one who had to fight against Rayan and Maritza to do what's right. You should be damn proud of her and not shouting at her like she's five years old!"

Veronica turned to Belén, her tears on the verge of spilling. "You are putting yourself in danger, Belén. With that...that monster of Zoom out there...and that-that Datura. You want to keep going?"

"Zoom is not after me, Mom," Belén said quietly. "He and the Flash have their own battle going on."

"But the crossfires, Belén. Those are the real dangers. And that Datura, she's already hurt you, hasn't she?" Veronica started to remember those strange bruises on her daughter's body. The stitches on her neck. "If I lose you too…I will break. I will." She decided that enough was enough for that night and so she stormed out of the room.

Belén dug her hands through her hair and took in a deep breath. Her own tears were threatening to fall.

"Hey," Laurel walked up to her, pulling her hands from her hair. "You did good. It's better she found out now than by someone else."

"She's so mad," Belén's voice broke. "I have never seen her like that. And we've had some arguments."

"She reacted like anyone in her place would have," Laurel glanced back at the others for some backup.

"My dad was really mad when he discovered Barry was going out in the beginning," Iris thought to help by reminding of that parallel.

"Laurel put her hands on Belén's shoulders. "Your mother has lost most of her family, so it's logical she's scared to death about this. Give her some space to think about it and cool down."

"Okay," Belén nodded. There was nothing else to do, really, but wait. She wasn't expecting her mother to understand it all in one go, and much less when Belén knew she hadn't said all of the story.

A while later, Caitlin's call had gone through and Jay had dignified to show up.

"How bad is it?" although he asked he made his own conclusions based on just looking at Harry.

"There's a bullet in his pulmonary artery," Nina informed. "Caitlin said you could help."

"Can you close the wound if I get it?" Jay countered with, a silent agreement made amongst them.

"Yes."

"How are you going to do that?" Laurel asked, getting an odd look in return. She smiled and introduced herself. "Laurel Lance. Black Canary-" she gestured to herself then went ahead and gestured to him, "-Flash of another world. I know it all."

Jay slowly looked to Caitlin, the only face he needed to see. Caitlin handed him the silver gun holding the serum.

"What is that?" Iris laid eyes on the silver gun with distaste.

"It's a serum called Velocity-6. It could give Jay temporary speed," Caitlin said. "He can phase through Doctor Wells' chest and remove the bullet."

"Yeah, but I told you, I have no idea what's gonna happen if I use that," Jay reminded.

"If Caitlin did it then you should be okay," Belén said, showing her full trust for her friend

Jay injected his palm with the serum and waited for the effects. He growled in pain but the women all saw the familiar orangey lightening fill his eyes. His right hand began to vibrate, and not wasting time, he dug it into Harry's chest and managed to pull the bullet out.

Nina quickly began to see the effects of the intervention and smiled. "BP and oxygenation is rising. Blood flow is returning to his lungs."

Caitlin moved over and hugged Jay. "Thank you."

~ 0 ~

After a new day to sleep on things, as well as to monitor Harry's situation, Belén found herself alone in her apartment...thinking. She was waiting, actually, for Laurel to stop by, but in the meanwhile she was planning on what to do with her mother. All that day, Belén had tried talking to Veronica but was sent away or her calls were ignored. She was beginning to understand how it felt to be paid with the same coin. She'd done the same thing to her mother and was now paying one.

Hearing the knock on the door, Belén went to go answer, mentally preparing herself for a nice night with Laurel. She opened the door and was mighty surprised to see Barry who was not meant to be back so early.

"Hi," she greeted with a slow smile working across her face. "What are you doing here?"

"Change of plans," Barry shrugged and raised his hands. "Bad guy's here."

"Oh...oh," Belén soon understood the implications.

"But don't worry, Oliver and the rest of the team coming too. We'll get him," Barry walked right in. "Did I miss anything here?"

"Uh...well…" Belén slowly closed the door, wondering how to put all her words together. "Laurel is here already. Um, Caitlin and Harry worked out this serum thing, oh and my Mom shot Harry which led me to tell her that I am the Azalea."

"What!?" Barry whirled around, his eyes widened to the impossible.

"Harry's fine, but my Mom refuses to talk to me so I'm just here on my own…"

Barry could see the last thing she wanted was to be alone. "Why didn't you go stay with Iris, hm? Caitlin? Or Nina?"

Belén gave a shrug of her shoulders as she walked past him. "I don't know. I live alone, I should get used to that."

"Yeah, but...why would you want to be alone?" Barry asked, a playful hint in his tone. "I've done that...and it's not a lot of fun."

Belén chuckled and turned away from him. "Well, Barry, sometimes a girl just likes to be alone. I can wake up and decide not to put pants on and who would tell me anything?" Barry got to thinking behind her. "I'm fine, really. I just needed some time to think about - are you staring at my legs?" she had turned around and found Barry's gaze directed at her legs.

Being caught, his face turned red. "I-I wasn't, n-no…"

"Were you thinking about it?" Belén laughed and sat down on the couch armrest. "Me with no pants on?"

"No!" Barry said a bit too quick, only making Belén laugh even more. "Oh, you are so gonna pay for that."

"You're an idiot," Belén accused as he marched up to her. "But I actually missed that so I'm going to let it go." Barry leaned down to kiss her but she pulled away. "On the one condition that you stop looking at my legs."

"That I can't help," Barry out his hands on either side of her. "See, you're too beautiful, and that includes your legs."

"Oh really?"

"Mhm," Barry closed to the gap between them with a kiss. There was a muffled laughter between them as Barry carefully pushed her back onto the couch.

"You came back with some necessities…" Belén laughed while while Barry crawled over her.

"I've discovered I can't be away from you very long," Barry innocently admitted. "Plus, you've got some nice legs."

"Oh my God, shut up!" Belén threw her head back in another round of laughter. She lightly gasped when she felt one of his hands trailing down from her thigh and down. "I love you and your idiocy."

"I love you and your sweet words," Barry countered with. He leaned down and barely got to kiss her again when someone new knocked on the door.

"Belén? Open up. I've got take out and it's pretty heavy!" Laurel's voice broke them apart.

"What?" Barry frowned.

"Oh, um, I forgot to mention Laurel was staying over," Belén pushed Barry off her in order to sit up.

"Well, it looks like I'm the odd man out," Barry pretended to huff.

"Aw, you can stay if you'd like," Belén offered and got up.

"No, I'd rather have you all to myself," Barry got up and took her hands. "We really need a date, you know. Or just some plain time to ourselves."

"Agreed, but we can probably sort that after we take down the bad guys?"

Barry nodded. He stole a kiss from her and sped out of the room, of course not before speeding Laurel's bags to the coffee table. Laurel's hair fell over her face from the speed and laughed.

"Now I see what Diggle means!"

[singledarkshade]

Sunnydale Centurion

Chapter Thirty-Two - Overloaded Rory gripped his sword while Willow chanted the spell to try to return Angel’s soul to him. Xander and Kendra were also holding weapons, just in case they were attacked. Part of him agreed with Xander that they shouldn’t try to return Angel’s soul, but he also knew that if they did then it would remove a very dangerous enemy.

A crash made him spin to see several vampires appear in the library. Rory could hear Cordy’s screams and Willow’s cry of panic. Rory knew Kendra was fighting but he couldn’t help as two vampires attacked him. He managed to dispatch one but another two joined in overpowering him. Rory struggled and felt horror fill him as he saw Drusilla slash Kendra’s neck with her fingernail. The slayer’s hand moved to her throat, but the blood flooded out and she folded to the floor.

“Let’s get what we came for,” Drusilla said.

Rory struggled as Giles unconscious body was lifted and dragged out the library.

“What about this one?” one of the vampires holding him asked, “Can we eat him?”

Drusilla glanced at him briefly before she spun back and stared at Rory. Walking slowly over the female vampire reached out and took his face in her hand.

“You,” she purred, “Your mind sings such different songs. Of time and space, of years more than you have. What are you?”

Rory shook in fear, the other vampires were gripping his arms painfully tight.

Drusilla stroked his cheek and forced him to look at her, “You are interesting. So many secrets inside your mind,” she leaned into him and breathed in his ear, “Secrets I want to know.” She laughed and turned to leave, “Bring him too. Unharmed.”

“But Angel said he only wanted the librarian,” one of the henchmen spoke up.

Drusilla turned sharply and growled at him, “And I’m telling you to bring him,” she paused for a second then asked darkly, “Who are you more afraid of?”

Rory felt something strike his head before he blacked out.

 His head throbbed as consciousness returned, it took Rory several minutes to work out what happened. Sadness filled him as he remembered Kendra, he knew he probably couldn’t have saved her but if he’d been able to get to her there might have been a chance.

Forcing his eyes open, Rory found he was laying on a four-poster bed, but it looked as though it wouldn’t be out of place on a horror movie set. Realisation struck him he was in the lair of the vampires and he felt panic well up in his chest. Forcing himself to remain calm Rory slid off the bed to look around the room, there was a window, but he could see he was too far up to jump. The door was also locked.

Screams sounded from nearby and Rory winced.

He had to get out of here.

The door opened behind him and Rory slowly turned finding Angel standing there.

“Well, well, well,” the vampire smirked at him, “Look at the snack Dru brought for me before the end of the world.”

Backing away Rory looked for a weapon of some kind stunned when Angel was suddenly thrown to one side.

“Leave him,” Drusilla snarled, “I have plans for this one.”

“We’re destroying the world in the next twenty minutes, Dru,” Angel reminded her, “Your plans better not be long term.”

Drusilla hissed at Angel who rolled his eyes and left them room. She moved to Rory, catching his chin with her hand making him wince at how hard she held him.

“Now, my dear,” she cooed, bringing a silver flask out of her pocket with her free hand and flipping the lid off it, “Let’s see what secrets you are hiding.”

Rory struggled but the way she was holding him meant his mouth was open and he couldn’t resist as she poured the sour liquid down his throat. She then covered his mouth with her hand so he couldn’t spit it out and Rory had to swallow.

“Good boy,” Drusilla murmured, stroking his hair as she moved him back to the bed, “It will start working in a few seconds.”

A wave of dizziness hit Rory before the world around him dissolved into a white light, visions assaulted him and the last thing he heard was Drusilla’s annoyed voice.

“Well, that was disappointing.”

                                 *********************************************

 Xander gripped the stake in his good hand, trying to talk himself into remaining calm until they were all safe and back in the library having pizza. Willow was going to be okay, she’d probably be in hospital for a few days but the doctor assured them that since she’d woken up quickly they were not concerned. It was Giles and Rory he was worried about.

He understood why they took Giles, Angel needed his knowledge to learn how to end the world, but there was no reason to take Rory. Xander was terrified that this was going to end up being another Jessie situation and he would lose his best friend, again.

Buffy turned to him as they reached the mansion, “You know the plan?”

Xander nodded and wrapped his arm around her in a tight hug for a moment, “Be careful. Don’t let him get to you. And don’t worry about the others. I’ll get them out.”

Buffy squeezed him tightly, stepping back she nodded, and they split up to sneak into the mansion.

Relieved all the vampires were distracted by whatever Angel was doing Xander moved slowly through the mansion looking for the missing members of their group. Pushing a curtain open, relief filled him to find Giles. He winced seeing the state the older man was in and knew he had to get him medical attention quickly.

“Giles,” he called crouching behind the chair, Xander worked on the knots which wasn’t easy with one hand, “Can you walk?”

Giles sighed sadly, “You're not real.”

“Sure, I'm real,” Xander replied.

“It's a trick,” Giles muttered, “They get inside my head, make me see things I want.”

Xander managed to untie the ropes, moved so they were face to face and asked, “Then why would they make you see me?”

Giles frowned, considering this for a moment before nodding, “You're right. Let's go.”

Xander slid under the older man’s arm and helped him up, “We still need to find Rory.”

“Rory? Why did they take him?” Giles wondered.

Xander shook his head, “I don’t know but he wasn’t with the vampires in the main hall so I’m hoping he’s still… him.”

Giles grabbed a piece of broken wood, leaning against the wall, “Find him.”

   Xander could hear Buffy fighting and headed the opposite direction. Finding stairs, he ran up them. He reached the top heard cries and calls, it was Rory. Following the voice Xander was relieved there was still no guards, but he stalled when he opened the door and found Rory on the floor gripping his head.

“Rory,” Xander fell down beside his friend, “Can you hear me? Rory?”

“I’m sorry,” Rory cried horror in his voice, “I’m sorry, it just happened. Amy…please…Amy…no. No!!!!!”

Xander grimaced, he needed to get his friend out of here but couldn’t carry him. Grimacing in thought, an idea came to him and he hoped it would work.

“Rory,” he called, “I know where Amy is. She’s safe.”

“Amy?”

The wild unfocused look Rory gave him chilled Xander, but he was committed now, “Yes. And if you come with me, I’ll show you.”

Xander managed to get Rory to his feet and basically pulled him out the room then down the stairs to where Giles was, thankfully, still upright. Sliding under Giles’ arm, Xander managed to use his other hand to guide Rory and got them both out the mansion to relative safety.

                                 *********************************************

 In the few hours since they’d left the mansion the world hadn’t ended to Xander’s relief, but Rory was still screaming for Amy, lost in whatever the vampires had done to him. Xander stood in the doorway of the room Rory was in while the doctors tried to sedate him, but nothing was working. Rory’s mother and stepfather were on the other side of the bed, trying to talk him down as well.

Giles, now bandaged up, appeared at his side, “Any change?”

Xander shook his head, “They’ve tried to get his mom to calm him, but nothing is working. He’s still calling for Amy. It’s like he’s zoned out but trapped and not coming back.”

“If only Miss Pond was here,” Giles sighed, turning confused as Xander groaned, “What?”

“Amy,” Xander cried as though it explained everything, pushing his way into the room and grabbing Rory’s bag. Digging through it, Xander ignored everyone, until he found what he was looking for.

Rory’s phone.

He knew the code to access it and quickly looked through the contacts, working out the time zone and praying she had her phone on her, Xander called Amy.

   School had ended about ten minutes before meaning it was quiet as Amy strolled through the corridors to put away their books after study group. Mels was waiting at her locker so they could walk home together. Amy jumped surprised when her phone began to buzz just as she reached the locker. Sharing a confused look with her friend, Amy quickly dug it out. No one would call her at school unless there was an emergency, she saw the name and panicked slightly.

“Rory?” she demanded the moment she answered.

“Amy,” an unfamiliar voice came, “This is Xander.”

“Xander?” Amy frowned confused, she knew he was Rory’s best friend in Sunnydale, and despite hearing so many stories over the years they’d never talked, “Where’s Rory?”

There was a pause on the other side before Xander replied, “Rory is in hospital.”

“What?!!!!”

“There were some drinks spiked with some kind of hallucinogenic and Rory drank one,” Xander explained.

Amy grimaced when one of the teachers, Miss Ellis appeared but was quickly intercepted by Mels.

“Rory Williams is in hospital,” was all she had to say for Miss Ellis to frown sympathetically and guide them into an empty classroom. Even though he had left Leadworth many years ago Rory was still known.

Amy waited until Miss Ellis left before asking Xander, “Is he okay?”

“He’s hallucinating,” Xander explained, “And he’s calling for you. We need your help to calm him down.”

Amy grimaced, “What can I do?”

“Talk to him,” Xander said, “Let him hear your voice, hear you’re okay, tell him he’s forgiven for whatever he thinks he’s done.”

Feeling Mels at her side, Amy gripped her friend’s hand tightly and put the phone on speaker.

“Okay.”

They waited for a few moments before she heard Rory crying out, tears filled Amy’s eyes hating that she couldn’t be there to hold his hand.

“I’m sorry,” Rory’s voice came through the phone panicked and desperate, “Amy, I couldn’t stop it…I’m sorry…”

“Amy, talk to him,” Xander said.

Mels nodded and Amy took a deep breath, “Rory, Rory can you hear me?”

“Amy!!!”

Trying not to cry, Amy forced her voice to remain strong, “I’m right here, Rory. And I know it wasn’t your fault.”

She could hear his cries lessening and kept up her soothing words just letting them tumble out.

“He’s asleep, Amy,” Xander came on again, “Thank you.”

“You’ll call me and let me know how he is,” Amy told him.

“I promise.”

As the ringtone sounded, Amy started to cry and held onto Mels who gently rubbed her shoulder.

“He’s okay,” Mels murmured, “He’s okay.”

                                 *********************************************

 Rory sighed in relief when his mum and stepdad left the room, they were both being very overprotective at the moment which he did understand, but he was feeling completely smothered under the attention.

“They just care,” Willow said softly from the bed next to him.

He was no idea how they’d managed it, but he and Willow had been put in a room together. He assumed it was because the gang were driving the nurses nuts moving from room to room checking on the pair who were stuck in hospital beds.

“Okay,” Xander appeared suddenly and handed Rory his phone, “I’ve called Amy with updates over the past few days but since you’re now awake and the doctor says it’s okay, you should call her yourself.”

Rory nodded, “How is everyone else?”

“We’re okay,” Xander assured him, “I just want some art on my hand, Willow is just lazing about and keeping you company.”

Rolling his eyes, Rory asked, “Giles?”

“Resting at home,” Xander told him, “He was in pretty bad shape.”

Rory nodded before asking, “Buffy?”

“We don’t know,” Xander replied with a frown, “But it’s been a hard week and after everything she probably needed some time.”

Grimacing Rory worried about his friend but there was nothing he could do from a hospital bed.

Xander continued, “Kendra’s Watcher arrived yesterday to take her body home. He and Giles talked for about an hour then he left.” He stepped out the door and appeared with a wheelchair, “I am taking Willow for a tour of this lovely facility while you make your call.”

Rory watched as Xander gently helped Willow into the chair, waiting until they’d left. Picking up his phone Rory dialled Amy.

“Xander?” Amy answered.

Rory smiled to hear her voice, “It’s me.”

“Rory,” relief filled Amy’s voice, “Are you okay?”

“I am,” he promised, “Just feeling a little weak and light-headed.”

He could practically hear her thinking over everything.

“What do you mean by weak?” Amy demanded.

Grimacing Rory replied, “Whatever I ingested has some side-effects the doctors say will take a few weeks to go away.”

“Does that mean you’re not coming home?”

Rory smiled slightly, “We’ll be flying back next week as soon as school finishes. Mum is really upset about what happened and wants to get out of Sunnydale for a while.”

“She’s not the only one,” Amy replied before saying, “But I can’t wait to see you. Let me know your flight details and I’ll see you as soon as I possibly can.”

Rory smiled, “I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

“Can’t wait,” she replied, “I have to go. Being dragged to a school dance tonight by Mels.”

“Have fun and tell her not to do anything too bad,” Rory said, smiling as Amy laughed before they hung up.

Laying in silence Rory closed his eyes and frowned. Although he had said he didn’t remember anything from endless assault of visions, one had stuck with him and every time he remembered it his stomach dropped in horror.

Amy was holding his face in her hands, talking to him as he struggled against a command in his head, a command to hurt her and then a weapon discharged. Her eyes widened in shock before she fell backwards as Rory tried to hold on to her desperate for it not to be true.

All he knew was she was dead, and he was the one who had killed her.

[ranger-of-estel]

Not as Planned: Chap 4

The team decide to follow a new strategy, regardless of the consequences when they get back to the ship. And Leonard decides that maybe some of the best things aren't planned at all

Read it on AO3

Throw away the Plan

               Leonard leans against the wall of the locker room, watching as Sara carefully navigating between gaining this Kendra & Carter to trust them, and not risking the timeline. Though to be honest, she’s mostly just talking with the other woman. Carter, with his likely fractured jaw, is still glaring at Mick, who’s eye is beginning to turn purple. His partner had won their match fairly; but he’s pretty sure that both men could jump in for a rematch at any moment.

               “So, you’re saying we’re supposed to die here?” Kendra frowns.

               “Savage is after the artifact…or what used to be an artifact.” Sara motions toward the golden chalice turned trophy. “But you obviously chose to fight, but were unprepared.”

               “And what, exactly, is it you are proposing we do?” Carter shifts his attention to her for a moment.

               “Swap clothes with Leonard and myself.” She shrugs, “Mick will go with the two of you, pay for bus tickets to get you out of town.” She shakes her head. “It’s not perfect, but it will give you a head start, time to become someone new before Savage knows you’re gone.”

               The room goes quiet, the couple sharing quick glances before finally offering them a nod. Sara grins, and soon they are swapping outfits. As they prepare to leave Kendra turns back to them. “Thank you.”

               “You’re welcome.” Sara shares a quick embrace with her, Leonard simply dipping his head.

               Mick looks between them, “see you two back at the hotel.”

               “You be careful too,” Sara leans up to press a kiss to his cheek before walking back to grab Leonard’s hand. “Come on, wouldn’t want to miss our mugging.”

               He allows her to lead him toward the back door, shaking his head. “This is a horrible idea.”

               “It’s your idea.” She counters, glancing back.

               “It was the only thing that I could see working,” he frowns. “Doesn’t mean I like it.”

               She shrugs, “come on, you enjoy a good fistfight.”

               “Fatal Stabbing,” he scans the alley as they approach, “this isn’t just fists.”

               They hear footsteps, and he sees that dangerous look in Sara’s eyes. “No fun without a challenge.” Then she spins on the first of the attackers, “hello boys, not who you were expecting?”

               A second figure has stepped into the other end of the ally, Leonard shedding Carter’s jacket before stepping forward. And while he won’t admit it, he does enjoy the fight. It’s something simple, at least compared to the rest of the mission thus far.

               A quick glance to his right tells him that Sara is also loving the chance to blow of steam. And he can’t help but sneak glances to watch the deadly precision of each move. The same feeling of awe (and he’ll admit it, attraction) that had been present that first night in the bar come rushing back.

               He’s pulled from his thoughts as a knife passes inches from his face. Reminds him how much he doesn’t like being outgunned. Though it’s easier than he expected to disarm the man, and even easier to knock him unconscious after.

               Turning he finds Sara has pinned her own opponent to the wall, knife held tightly against his throat, tip drawing a drop of blood. He can see the tension in her shoulders, recognized the struggle against her bloodlust’s call to kill. He steps up beside her, hand resting on her shoulder. “Sara.” It’s a call, a reminder.

               Seconds later some of the tension leaves her shoulders, the knife pulling back so it’s just touching his skin. “Looks like you get lucky today.” She offers a wicked grin, “tell Savage hello from Garib and his Legends.” With a swift motion she uses the hilt of the knife to knock the man unconscious, pocketing the weapon as she watches him fall to the ground.

               For a moment she just stands, Leonard’s hand falling back to his side as she turns to face him. She looks tired; and he wonders, not for the first time, exactly how much strength it takes to overcome those demons. She looks up at him, gratefulness in her eyes. “Thank you.”

               He shrugs, “don’t mention it.” He motions to the two unconscious figures, “give me a hand?”

               She nods, and together they move the two bodies so they are resting against the ally wall. Then they begin the walk back to the hotel, sun beginning her decent behind the buildings of the city. It’s quiet between them, but never uncomfortably so. And he again appreciates that she doesn’t feel the need to fill every moment, that they can just be.

               When they reach the hotel they find Mick stretched across the couch; chinese takeout in one hand and the remote in the other. It pulls a smile from both of them, and soon they are all three on the couch for one more night of action flicks and companionship.

               Sara turns in first; Mick and Leonard moving to the patio with their beers. They don’t talk much, allowing Len’s mind to wander. He replays the past few days, decides that things have gone surprisingly well despite the multiple twists in the original plan. He has liked it being only the three of them, no one painting them the villains, the untrustworthy ones. They understand each other, play off one another’s strengths. They make a good team.

               Len makes his way inside next, changing into sleepwear before making his way to the bed. Sara is curled up on the far side; and for a moment he cannot help but think she looks soft. Like years of league training and the fear of losing control have faded away, revealing the young woman beneath. Part of him wishes she could always look like this; but before he can give that any more thought he hears Mick’s heavy footfalls approaching. Pushing everything else aside he slips under the covers, careful not to disturb his sleeping bedmate.

               Leonard wakes to the feeling of uneven breathes between his shoulders, and fingers curled into his shirt. Lisa must have crawled into his bed again, the crash of Lewis throwing something against the wall rings through the room. “Hey,” his voice is thick with sleep, one hand reaching back to comfort his sister.

               “I’m sorry,” the voice doesn’t belong to Lisa, and the figure quickly pulls away from him.

               The haze of the past fades as he wakes, flipping over to find where Sara has moved too. A flash of lightning reveals her huddled form at the head of the bed; followed by the frightened sound as thunder rumbles loud enough to shake the room.

               “Sara,” he sits up, moving slowly toward her.

               “I didn’t mean to wake you,” she looks up, harms holding her knees tightly to her chest.

               “It’s fine,” he moves to the edge of the bed, rising to his feet before offering her his hand. “Come on, don’t want wake Mick.”

               She hesitates, but does take his hand and allow him to lead her into the main room. There’s another flash of lightning, her hand tightening in his as she flinches at the following thunder. She curls into the corner of the couch, and he moved to turn on a few lamps. “God I’m pathetic,” she huffs frustratedly.

               He turns to face her, shaking his head. “You have good reason not to like storms.” He thinks to his own life, how the shattering of bottle still makes him flinch. “not all scars are physical.” He moves to the windows, pulling them closed and then making his way to the radio. He finds a local rock station, turning it up loud enough to mask the thunder, but not enough to wake Mick.

               Sara’s watching him curiously, and he can’t help the smile tugging at his lips as he takes in her disheveled hair and rumpled clothing. An image so far from the carefully groomed assassin the rest of the team is so used to seeing. “What?” She questions.

               “Nothing,” he shakes his head, then motions to the couch with his hand. “Stay here.”

               She just nods, and he makes his way to the kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets before giving a disappointed huff. Not that he’d really expected them to have what he needs. He moves to the phone, easily dialing the front desk.

               “Main service desk, how can I help you?” a young man answers.

               “I need cocoa, milk and a bag of mini marshmallows.” He states, glancing back to where Sara has curled up in a blanket. “I know it’s not the usual order, but bring it and I’ll make sure it’s worth your while.” He hangs up, making his way back to the couch.

               “What was that about?” she motions toward the phone, tensing as the room vibrates with thunder.

               He smirks, “you’ll see.” He grabs the deck of cards from one of the tables, moving to sit on the couch with a cushion of space between them. “Up for a game?”

               “Not sure it will really distract me,” she straightens some, “but not like it could hurt to try.”

               They on their second match when she looks up at him, “you know you didn’t have to stay up with me.”

               Part of him wants to tell her that he can’t stand to see her afraid, that the idea of her hurting alone twists something inside him. But it’s to honest, makes him vulnerable, so instead he says. “I know, but wouldn’t have been able to sleep soundly with you up and moving.”

               She nods, fingering the cards in her hand. “It’s strange…or maybe not so much.” She shrugs, “I agreed to join this mission hoping to find a way to be the hero my friends all keep saying I can be.” She looks up, and there’s more vulnerability in her eyes than he’s ever seen. “But when things get hard…when I start to lose myself, it’s always you who grounds me again.”

               “Sara,” he starts to speak, but she cuts him off with a half laugh.

               “And I know that’s not what you signed on for; a killer showing up at your door when she can’t sleep, keeping me in check during missions.” Her eyes have dropped back to her hands, shifting cards in her grasp.

               “I don’t do much,” Leonard watches her, his own had of cards now face down at his side.

               She looks back up at him, “you ground me.” Her gaze drifts to one of the windows, the rain that can be seen running down it. “When the bloodlust hits, I feel lost at sea again…but then you’re there to anchor me.” She glances back at him, “it’s never been your job to have my back, I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you do.”

               Leonard’s mind is spinning, grasping for a way to reply that doesn’t brush off the depth of her admission. “We’re outcasts,” he follows her gaze to the window, “it’s our job to watch out for one another.” He smiles then, “besides, if I didn’t have you around, Mick and I would have ditched this disaster of a team ages ago.”

               She laughs at that, “feeling’s mutual there, Crook.”

               Before he can reply, there’s a knock at the door. Sara’s brow rises, he just gives her a quick smirk before rising. He grabs a couple bills from the pocket of his jacket hanging by the door, then opens it. A boy in his early twenties stands with a bag from a nearby store, which he promptly offers Len. “The items you requested, Sir.”

               Leonard chuckles; taking the bag before handing the him the cash. “It is much appreciated.” The boy looks at the cash, eyes widening as he looks back up at Leonard. “I did say it would be worth your while.” He motions down the hall with his chin, “off you go.”

               “Yes – yes sir!” the boy grins, almost stumbling as he turns. “Thank you, sir!”

               Leonard turns back into the room with a shake of his head, meeting Sara’s curious gaze over the back of the couch. “So? What’s the big surprise?”

               He motions to the kitchen, “the best cure for sleepless nights.”

               She perks up a little, following him into the adjoined room and watching as he sets out the ingredients and finds a pan in the cabinet. “Is that…hot chocolate?” He hums an affirmative, mixing the ingredients before turning to face her. She’s smiling again, “you’re just full of surprises.”

               He smirks, leaning back against the counter. “Well, can’t be a villain all the time.”

               She snorts, “I’m still not convinced you ever were.”

               “You doubt my skills, Canary?” he shifts forward, just slightly into her space. And he swears her eyes drop to his lips, tongue swiping over her own before she smirks up at him.

               “As a thief? No.” She doesn’t move, “but despite your best efforts to hide it, you’re a good man Len.”

               He scoffs, pulling away from her magnetic gaze to check the pot once more. “Now you’re just insulting me.”

               “Don’t worry, the secret is safe with me.” She quips, accepting a mug of the warm drink as he turns with the pair of mugs.

               They return to the couch, but leave the cards where they were abandoned. The storm has subsided, and it’s not long before he sees Sara beginning to drift. “Time to rest, big fight with Rip tomorrow.”

               She groans beside him, “don’t remind me.” She sets her empty mug on the table, before sighing. “I’ve really enjoyed this…us working together.”

               He’s not sure if she’s including Mick, or just the pair of them. Not that it matters. “As have I.” She takes his offered hand, and they make their way to the bedroom once more. They get back into bed silently, neither wanting to wake Mick. He expects her to wait until he’s turned, press into his back as she has when they share a bunk on the Waverider. Instead she tucks against his chest, tilting up to look at him with tired eyes before whispering, “Okay?”

               He nods, and she dips her head under his chin once more. She dozes off moments later, but sleep has fled him. He knows such a small shift shouldn’t matter, that realistically there is less contact now than when she’s behind him. Maybe it’s her words, still echoing in his mind. Or the way she’d looked at him in the kitchen.

               “You were never in my plan, Canary.” He looks down at her, one hand coming up to brush hair from her face. His voice is hardly a whisper, partly afraid she’ll wake and hear the words he isn’t sure he’s ready to say. “You’re like a compass, always pointing to the path to being a better man.” And yeah, sometimes he ignores her, sometimes he fights against her. But if Barry is right, if there is good in him, following her lead, the example she sets, will lead him there. It should probably terrify him more than it does.

               As sleep finally pulls him under, he decides maybe he should take Mick’s advice after all. He’ll ask her to go get coffee before they go back to the ship. Find out if the spark between them can become more; planned or not, they’re better together.