Cold to the Touch (Arrowverse Fic)

Chapter Thirteen

CC Jitters

Central City

September 13th

Crystal's POV

"Morning, Iris!" I exclaimed as I made it to the front of the line

"Morning, Cris!" she smiled wide, "Playing with your hair again?"

I ran my hand up through my already slicked back fringe (1) and shrugged, "Still trying to figure out what works." 

"Trust me, it's all working for you. The color, the cut," she gave a 'chef's kiss' gesture. Iris really was the best hype-woman. "Will that be your usual this morning?"

"The slightly abridged version, yeah." I sighed through a tight smile

"Things still tense between you and Cisco, I take it. Hhm, serves him right." she handed everything over, "I have half a mind to go down there myself and set him straight."

"As hilarious as I think that would be, it'd really suck to see you get banned from Star Labs."

"It'd be worth it, though."

"Yeah, it would. See ya around, West."

"I mean it Snow, you say the word and I'll be on his ass!" she leaned over the counter to call after me. I laughed and walked out the door, I didn't think I'd find another friend quite like Iris West.

________________________________________________________________________________

Star Labs

When I got to the Cortex, Cait was sat in her office with her back to the door. A smirk stretched onto my face, a plan already forming in my head. I slowly walked up behind her and threw my arms around her shoulders, "Morning, Caity!"

She damn near jumped out of her seat, "Don't do that!" she glared, slapping my arm, "What's wrong with you?" 

"How long you got?" I laughed, "Would coffee make it up to you?" I grabbed the tray from where I left it

"You know it would." she took her drink

"What's got you so focused over here anyway?"

"Night shift's chart on Barry."

"What about it?"

"It's different."

"Good different?" I took the seat beside her, "Or 'should probably be dead' different?"

"I have no idea, it's just...different." she sighed heavily, struggling to find a better word

"Weird," I said shortly, hopping out of the seat and moving to my temporary setup on the opposite side of the room, not far from Barry's bedside

"Are you ever going back to your lab?" Caitlin asked as she leaned against the door frame

"No clue, Cait," I sighed, "but what I can tell you is, I'd much prefer Barry's company to his right now."

"Only so much you can do from here."

"Then I'll move to one of the empty labs."

"You can't avoid him forever, Crissy. He was your best friend before all of this."

"Yeah, and that's what sucks the most about all of this. I can't even talk to my best friend about the asshole that dumped me."

"Well, then it's a good thing you've got such an awesome big sister."