Bravery Requires Fear

8. Dismissal

A/N: See end of chapter for notes on triggers.

_______________________________________

It had been a month or so since his breakdown at work and Barry had quickly adjusted to the flow of his new environment. He was having a lot of fun being back around in the scientific field and loved being able to help people again. If Elaine wasn't letting him out to play superhero yet then he would play superhero in his own way.

Right now though, he was in the main room of her teams headquarters checking out the meta-human scanners for any trouble.

" Sushi?"

Barry looked up at Elaine as she walked in and laughed before he sped over and stole the bags from her hands. His eyes twinkling and his face alight with mirth when he heard her groan of frustration.

Barry strolled leisurely through the halls of their headquarters, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter when he heard her jogging to catch up with him. He turned a corner and strutted back into the little room where he was working, working before he went to check on the meta-human scanner for any signs of distress, and slid into the little rolling chair in the corner. He leaned back and stretched, his heart feeling so full as her converses turned the corner into the room, her eyes blazing with amusement.

Elaine put her hands on her hips with a huff, " Oh come on Allen! At least let me sit down before you start going crazy." Honestly he didn't see why she was so upset, he'd only just recently started using his speed again and had only gone on one mission with her and that was only because of his badgering. 

" I am not going crazy," he leaned forward and snatched one of his notebooks out of her nosy hands, " Just having a little fun is all." He flashed a smirk her way and moved the two of them across the room, set the takeout up on the circular wooden table and propped his ankle up on his knee.

He loved the way her eyes lit up every time he used his abilities, loved the way the crystalline blue sparkled when he made her laugh. She was so happy he was speeding, he just knew it. She squawked at their new surroundings, her cheeks flushed.

One.

Elaine shuffled around in her chair and crossed her arms, huffing and shaking like she was about to throw a fit.

Two.

And then she took a second to think, appreciate her surroundings and see what he'd done. He set up their food just like how she liked it.

Three.

His redheaded friend sighed and reached for a fork.

Barry guffawed and slapped a hand on the table, frowning slightly as she tried to hide her flinch. He shook his head, he'd tackle that later, " Every time. I swear, you always get mad at everyone but the second I do it you're fine."

She knit her brows and leaned forward on her elbows, " What do you mean?"

Barry waved a hand and dig in, " Its nothing, just talking about how every time I use my powers you get so mad about it and then simmer down within seconds is all."

Her cheeks flushed again when his words sunk in and she set her utensils down in preparation.

One.

Barry smirked and kept on munching, acting like he didn't notice the way she was reacting. Elaine clenched her fists and he could tell her muscles were tensed through the tight black fabric of her long sleeved shirt.

Two.

The stupid woman shook her head again like she was trying to dismiss her thoughts, and Barry could tell she was really worked up by the way her fingers began to glaze over with frost. A frown worked its way onto Barry's face when the air began to chill, a glance showed the tabletop beginning to frost too.