flash point (parallel path)

BONDS AND BREW

Barry raced back to Star Labs, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. The encounter with Multiplex had left him unsettled, the memory of their battle still fresh in his mind.

As he entered the lab, he found his friends Caitlin and Cisco waiting for him, their faces etched with concern.

"Barry, are you okay?" Caitlin asked, her voice laced with worry.

Barry forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm fine," he said, though his tone betrayed his true feelings.

Cisco narrowed his eyes, studying Barry closely. "You don't look fine," he said, his voice tinged with concern. "What happened out there?"

Barry hesitated, unsure of how to put his feelings into words. The truth was, facing Multiplex had been more difficult than he had anticipated. The villain's determination to seek revenge had shaken him to his core, leaving him questioning his own abilities as a hero.

"It's just... Multiplex," Barry said, his voice trailing off. "He... he jumped out of a window."

Caitlin gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "Oh my God," she whispered, her eyes wide with shock.

Cisco's expression darkened, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Why would he do that?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Barry shook his head, his heart heavy with regret. "I don't know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I couldn't save him."

Cisco moved closer to Barry, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hey, man, at least you defeated the bad guy," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "That's something to be proud of."

Harrison Wells nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "Cisco's right," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "You can't save everyone, Barry. Sometimes, all you can do is your best."

Caitlin joined them, her touch gentle as she patted Barry's shoulder. "We're here for you, Barry," she said, her voice soft and comforting. "Whatever you need."

Barry offered them a weak smile, grateful for their support...

As the weight of Multiplex's demise settled in the lab, Barry found a moment to confide in Caitlin and Cisco about Ethan, the mysterious young boy now staying at his house.

"So, I met this kid, Ethan," Barry began, his voice tinged with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "He's staying with me for a while. He's... he's an orphan, just like me."

Caitlin's eyes softened with empathy, her heart going out to Barry and the young boy he had taken under his wing. "That's really kind of you, Barry," she said, her voice warm with admiration. "I'm sure Ethan appreciates having someone like you to look out for him."

Cisco nodded in agreement, a playful glint in his eye. "Looks like you've got yourself a little brother now, Barry," he quipped, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

Barry rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but smile at Cisco's remark. "Yeah, something like that," he said, his voice sounding uncertain. "Anyway, I just wanted you guys to know."

As they continued to talk about Ethan and the challenges he faced, Barry felt a sense of gratitude wash over him.
....

As Ethan stepped into jitters, the cozy aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped him, soothing his nerves as he approached the manager's office. With a confident stride, he knocked on the door and waited for a response.

"Come in," a voice called from inside, and Ethan pushed the door open to reveal the manager, a middle-aged woman with a warm smile.

"Hello there, how can I help you?" she greeted him, her eyes curious but kind.

Ethan returned her smile, extending his hand. "Hi, I'm Ethan. I was wondering if there are any job openings here at jitters?"

The manager's eyes lit up with interest as she shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Ethan. I'm Lisa," she said, motioning for him to take a seat. "We're actually looking for someone to join our team. Tell me, do you have any experience working in a coffee shop?"

Ethan nodded eagerly. "Yes, I do. I've worked at a few cafes back home," he replied, hoping to impress her with his enthusiasm.

Lisa nodded, impressed by his confidence. "Well, we could certainly use someone like you. Can you start right away?"

A grin spread across Ethan's face. "Absolutely! I'm ready to jump right in."

With a nod of approval, Lisa stood up and extended her hand once more. "Welcome to the team, Ethan. I have a feeling you're going to fit in just fine here."

---

Later that day, as Ethan adjusted to his new role behind the counter, the door to jitters swung open, and in walked Barry and Cisco.

Barry's eyes lit up with recognition as he spotted Ethan behind the counter. "Hey, Ethan!" he called out, waving him over.

Ethan looked up, a smile spreading across his face as he approached Barry and the unfamiliar face beside him. "Hey, Barry! What's up?"

Barry grinned, gesturing to Cisco. "This is my friend, Cisco. Cisco, meet Ethan. He's staying with me for a while."

Cisco offered Ethan a friendly nod. "Nice to meet you, Ethan. Barry's told me a lot about you."

Ethan returned the gesture, feeling a sense of warmth at the genuine welcome from Barry and his friend. "Likewise, Cisco. It's great to meet you," he replied, grateful for the opportunity to make new friends in his unfamiliar surroundings.
As they talked, Ethan excused himself to attend to other customers, weaving his way through the bustling cafe with practiced ease. Meanwhile, Cisco's gaze lingered on Ethan's wrist, where the sleek and futuristic design of his watch caught his eye.

"Hey, Barry, check out Ethan's watch," Cisco remarked, nudging his friend's arm with a grin.

Barry followed Cisco's gaze, his curiosity piqued as he examined the intricate timepiece adorning Ethan's wrist. "Wow, that's pretty cool," he commented, impressed by the sleek design and advanced technology.

Cisco nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, it's definitely not your average accessory. I wonder where he got it from."

Barry shrugged, though a part of him couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the watch than met the eye.