totally meta

chapter 16

Henry sat in the lab, adjusting his suit as Dr. Harris entered the room with a tablet in hand, her expression unreadable. He noticed the slight furrow in her brow, the kind she only got when something was bothering her. Without looking up, she tossed the tablet onto the table in front of him.

"You want to explain this?" she asked, her tone calm but with an undercurrent Henry couldn't quite place.

Henry picked up the tablet, the screen displaying an open blog post. The title immediately caught his eye: "Heroes Aren't Perfect; The Mystery of the New Flash Continues." His stomach twisted as he realized it was written by Rachel.

He quickly skimmed through the post. Rachel had written about her encounter with him, the mysterious new Flash who had saved her from a car wreck. She described the way he had hesitated when she tried to kiss him, the cryptic words he'd left her with about knowing her from a past mistake. While she didn't seem to know who he really was, the post raised questions—questions about the Flash's identity, his past, and why he kept himself so hidden.

Henry sighed, putting the tablet down. He looked up at Dr. Harris, who was waiting expectantly. "I didn't tell her much," he said, trying to stay calm. "She has no idea who I really am. I only said that I knew her from a past mistake."

Dr. Harris crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing just slightly. "That's all?"

"Yeah, that's all," Henry confirmed. "I didn't tell her my real name, where I'm from, or anything that could give me away."

Dr. Harris studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Good," she said. "Because if anyone would have a reason to reveal the Flash's identity, it would be her. She clearly has a personal stake in this now, and I don't think it's wise to let her dig too deep."

Henry shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't think it would go this far. I didn't mean to leave her with more questions."

"Maybe not," Dr. Harris replied, her tone softening just a bit. "But you need to be more careful. If she starts connecting the dots, she could expose everything—especially you."

Henry could tell that her concern was genuine, and he appreciated it. But there was something else in her voice, something almost... possessive. He didn't dwell on it, though. "I get it," he said. "I'll stay away from her. It's probably better that way."

Dr. Harris's shoulders relaxed slightly, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something he couldn't quite read. She looked away, gathering her thoughts before speaking again.

"You're right," she said, her voice firmer now. "For your own safety, it's best to avoid her. The less contact you have with her, the fewer chances she'll have to figure out who you are. And besides..." she paused, her tone faltering just enough for Henry to notice. "We can't afford any distractions right now, especially with what's happening with the meta-humans."

Henry nodded, oblivious to the hint of jealousy in her voice. "Yeah, I'll keep my distance. It's just... strange, seeing someone from my past like that. Especially now."

"I understand," Dr. Harris said, her tone more controlled now. "But we have to stay focused on the mission. You've done a lot of good out there, Henry, but you can't let personal connections get in the way."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Doc. I won't."

Dr. Harris offered a tight smile in return, though something about it seemed forced. "Good," she said. "Now, let's get you ready for your next run. And remember—no more unnecessary risks."

As Henry got up to prepare, Dr. Harris turned back to her tablet, glancing at the blog post one last time. Her fingers tightened around the tablet's edge before she quickly shut it off. She knew Henry was dedicated to his role as the Flash, but she couldn't help the uneasy feeling creeping into her thoughts. Maybe it was her responsibility to keep him safe, but deep down, there was something else fueling her concern—something she wasn't quite ready to admit, even to herself.