Cold to the Touch (Arrowverse Fic)

Chapter Twenty

Star Labs

Crystal's POV

"Is Barry late again?" Cisco asked as he hopped onto the med cot in Cait's lab, a clipboard in his lap

"That boy is a running stroke of irony." I shook my head fondly as I shoved Cisco's shoes off the made bed, "Heathen," I tsked. I plopped myself down at the edge

Cisco chewed on the end of his pen not looking up from his clipboard, "How can someone who runs so fast always be late?"

"Lightning might've given him abs, but it couldn't fix his tardiness." I chuckled, pulling Cait and Cis in with me

"Where's Barry?" Dr. Wells joined the conversation, "He's late."

"We were just saying late is kind of his signature move," Cait told him

"Hey, you guys want to see my signature move?" Cis asked suggestively

"Please keep your pants on." I deadpanned not looking up from the tablet in my hands

A whoosh of air cut off his response. Barry was standing in the doorway, coffee cup in hand, "Sorry, guys, I got a little...held up." he was acting a little smug about something and honestly, I didn't want to know, "You had to be there." he shrugged when we each shot him a look

"I'm gonna need a moment or two alone with Barry," Wells dismissed the rest of us. Cait, ever the teacher's pet, hauled ass leaving her lab once told, while Cisco and I followed much slower behind her

"You're in trouble," I murmured in a childish sing-song voice as I passed Barry who promptly pushed me playfully into the Cortex. We settled around the main console, only eavesdropping a little bit. Not our fault if their voices carried. It was mostly just Wells giving Barry shit for using his powers for everything...again. "What're you working on anyway?" I turned my attention to Cisco, peering over his shoulder to look at his clipboard

"I'm trying to find a way to add a self-driving feature to your bike."

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow, "I haven't touched the bike in weeks. Not since Barry became my superspeedy taxi service."

"I've noticed," he said with dismay, "And I've been pretending it doesn't hurt my heart to see my tech sitting there," he dramatically put a hand to his chest

"Our tech," I reminded him, "So why bother if you know it's not being used?"

"Because, my frosty friend, one day Barry may not be around or able to give you a ride back here, and trying to get an Uber in that get-up might be a little awkward."

"Okay, I'm on board. Where do we start?"

"Well, we-" he was cut off by a whoosh of air speeding past us, "Where's he going?" Cisco asked the room

"His day job beckons." Wells answered, "As does yours." and with that he left the Cortex

"I barely know what our day job is anymore," I remarked, staring blankly after Barry's lightning trail

The three of us shared a thoughtful look, "So," Cait broke the silence, "Self-driving bike, huh?"

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"What do you guys know about facial reconstruction?" Barry asked as he ran- not at his top speed- into the lab, a file in his hand

"What's the case?" Cait inquired

"A badly burned body was found in an alley. No ID and as Eddie so eloquently put it, his face was 'melted off'." he sighed as he handed the file to my sister