Reciprocal Altruism || Snowbarry College AU

The Cait-alyst or the Snow-hibitor III

With a gasp and an overdramatic hand to her chest, Caitlin found Barry standing in the hall of the bathroom with yesterday's clothes back on him. "I forgot you were still here."

"I know," Barry responded, walking past Caitlin into the kitchen. "I could hear the two of you screaming from the other side of the apartment. I didn't want to intrude though so I just hung out over there for a little bit."

"Listening in, you mean," Caitlin teased.

"I mean, it's kinda hard not to listen in with you screaming it to the entire building, Cait!"

Caitlin laughed and watched Barry make himself comfortable in the kitchen. "Wait, what are you doing?"

"Making pancakes," Barry answered, opening drawers to find the right pan for the job. "You do have pancake ingredients, right?"

"Uh..." Honestly, Caitlin wasn't sure. The last dozen or so breakfasts she had consisted of cereal bars and fruit, if she even had the time or the effort to eat breakfast.

"Seriously, Cait?" Barry shook his head. "You have to eat more. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

So Caitlin watched Barry as he danced around the kitchen, picking flour from one shelf and sugar from the other, making himself right at home in her tiny kitchen. She watched as he measured and combined the ingredients, stirring happily while he hummed. "Cooking is like a science experiment," Barry said. "So you gotta take time to think things through and let the flavor develop."

"Take your time, huh?" Caitlin retorted, "Mr. Speedster?"

"Hey, I may rush through things in life, but I don't mess with food. Flavor comes with time."

While Barry flipped the last pancake, Caitlin began to take out the plates and cutlery, as well as strawberries and blueberries from the fridge. Then she set out the syrup and butter on the table beside them.

Once Barry divided their portions, they began to eat, and the sound of forks and knives clinking against their plates was the only noise for a minute or so.

"This is amazing, Barry," Caitlin said after she had a bite of the incredibly fluffy pancake.

"Fanks," Barry responded through a mouthful of breakfast. Caitlin wrinkled her nose in disgust as she watched a tiny piece of cake fly out of his mouth. He then proceeded to douse his pancakes in a third of the bottle of syrup.

Watching as the syrup soaked through the breakfast, Caitlin commented, "You may take your time with cooking, but I see eating is a whole 'nother story, huh?"

"Gotta eat it before it gets cold," Barry reasoned.

"I forgot you hate cold things," Caitlin teased.

"Well, there's one cold thing I'm actually quite fond of," Barry shot back, lifting his head from his stack of pancakes for just a moment to send her a quick wink.

"You are too much, Mr. Allen." Caitlin laughed, a pink blush growing on her face.

"And you still can't take a compliment, Doctor Snow."

It still surprised her how suave Barry could be when he wanted to. Their campus may have been large, but everywhere Barry went, he was recognized as the track star who beat university records and brought notoriety to the school. He was popular among the athletes and the STEM majors alike, as someone who could "do it all". Caitlin had certainly heard enough about him through her freshman dorm's rumor mill long before she had ever met face to face with her now fake boyfriend.

So many people wanted a piece of Barry Allen and his charm. He could literally have his pick of any girl he wanted. Any girl, except the one who never really noticed it.