Unhidden (Barry Allen Is Sebastian Smythe), The Sequel to Hidden Away Until Now

3| The Gleeful Homecoming

First Published: March 31, 2021

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Matching wits with a speedster, hard, right? Oliver knew that firsthand with Barry, but it was even harder to sparwith the speedster, especially now. Sebastian and Barry seemed to know exactly what Oliver was going to do before he did it. By the time Oliver launched his move, he'd be on his back on the training mat, sweating and swearing. Barry, or sometimes Sebastian, was always peering at Oliver when the archer was down.

Cisco had run tests, it seemed that Barry's brain fired its signals faster with two personalities, and also, the fact that Barry had gone into the speed force a little over a month ago to talk with it. But Barry didn't have a new gift, neither did Sebastian, he could just tell by the way anyone held themselves or positioned their bodies what they were going to do. The team was by far the easiest for him to beat because he knew them so well. Barry had been training for months, improving his hand-to-hand combat and acrobatics, he wanted to be ready, just in case he temporarily lost his powers. Barry had been taking down bigger villains on his own lately, not letting Oliver step in, or sending Oliver after the smaller criminal. Oliver wasn't particularly happy about that, but he was more concerned about Barry. Barry was driving himself harder and harder in training every day. He'd go to work, come to Star Labs, and then to Star City. He left to see his glee friends twice a week, and then Kara.

Barry was currently beating Oliver again, the fight had barely even started and Oliver had hit the mat more times than he'd care to count. Barry's movements were faster than you could comprehend with his speed, but lately, he hadn't been using it to spar, and somehow he was still hard to see. Oliver could barely even focus on defending himself from Barry at the moment, much less think seven moves ahead. Barry had been training so much, with or without Oliver or someone on the team. Oliver managed to block a punch coming his way, but he missed the movement and ended up getting judo-flipped. He groaned, sinking into the mat. Barry stared at Oliver with amusement in his eyes, and Oliver knew that Sebastian had to be laughing his ass off right now. "Okay, that's it, time!" Oliver exclaimed.

Barry smirked, offering Oliver a hand. "You used to be able to beat me so quickly, Ollie. What's changed?" Barry asked, frowning when Oliver pushed his hand away.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you can basically tell what I'm going to do before I do it!"

Barry sighed, looking hurt as he moved back to give Oliver space. "I can just tell with your body language, Oliver. Sebastian and I have spent our entire lives trying read people. And now that we're closer, I guess, maybe it unlocked some sort of ability to check your body language, your stance, the tiny things. I'm better at it with people I know, people I don't know as well, well, it's harder. But you were harder for me, Oliver. You have this wall, blocking anyone from your true emotions. When I finally managed to break through this year, it was so much easier to see where your pain comes from; the reasons you do things. I've also watched you fight enough to know your moves as well as how your body acts before it does it."

Oliver stared at Barry in the face, studying him. It took years to be able to predict moves as well as a vast knowledge of fighting techniques. Oliver had tried once and he could barely do it himself; why could Barry? Maybe, it was the fact that his brain fired its signals twice as faster; three if you counted the speed force. Oliver needed to get back on his game; they all did.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Barry's voice sounded hard now, almost like he knew what Oliver was thinking about.

Oliver shrugged. "No reason, just thinking." The warmth of the room was flying away because Barry's body was siphoning off it, his speed liked the warmth. Cold was his mortal enemy.