Chapter 12: The Pied Piper of Central City

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Everyone has a hero, someone they look up to or admire, someone they just wish they could be. It's easy to believe in heroes. What's hard is when our heroes stop believing in us.

"Which way guys?" Barry yelled into the comms as we watched members of the Royal Flush Gang go in separate directions. Caitlin and Cisco yelled out the sam directions for each of us go in. Wells' voice came into our ears.

"Rose, go after the King, he is headed toward the interstate. Barry, the Queen, create a detour on Fremont." Barry and I followed our directions. I closed my eyes and popped in front of the entrance. I looked around when I found my block. A large truck came down the road. I felt my hands rise, glowing gold, pushing the truck carefully to block the oncoming motorcycle. Once the truck was in place, Wells told me to come back. I closed my eyes once again and went back to S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry came in a few seconds later, carrying the keys to the gang's motorcycles. We all high fived as Wells congratulated us.

"We need a picture," Cisco concluded as he went to grab his phone. I rolled my eyes.

"Pretty sure rule number one of having a secret identity is not taking pictures of yourself in your super suit without a mask on," Barry told him as Cisco handed him his phone.

"Oh, come on, please! This is just for us," Cisco begged. We looked back at Wells.

He threw one hand up in defeat, "Maybe people in the future will want to know how all this happened."

"Yeah," I smiled as I tightened up my ponytail and checked my appearance in the dark computer screen. "For all we know, we could get our own museum! How do I look, Cait?"

"Great, how about me?" Caitlin asked as we checked to make sure everything was in place. I stood a bit to the right behind Wells, leaving room for Barry as he stood behind the computers.

"Okay. Big smiles. Three...two...one," Barry ran from his place as the camera took a picture. There was a fleeting moment I felt Barry beside me and the flash went off. Another second passed and Barry was back holding the camera, smiling at the photo.

I cocked my head to one side, "Does that count as a selfie?"

"Absolutely," Barry said as he handed Cisco back his phone. I came out from behind Wells and stood in front of him as Barry came back to my side.

"Thanks again, Dr. Wells," I said.

"My pleasure," he answered. "Well done. I have to say it was a bit of a rush feeling like a..."

"A hero," Barry concluded. He patted Wells on the shoulder before going off to change. I turned my attention back to Wells.

"How about dinner to celebrate?" I asked him. Wells was beginning to decline when I pointed at him. "And "no" is not option." Wells sighed with a smile.

"Can I ask what's for dinner then?"

My smile grew brighter, "Homemade lasagna."

..............................

"I have to ask," Wells began as I set the plate of food in front of him and took my seat on a plush off-white dining chair. "Why did you invite me to dinner?" The lighting in my apartment made the place feel warm compared to the cool darkness of the night coming in through the windows. The smell of warm bread and pasta filled the air, adding to the coziness of the room.

"Because," I said as I started cutting into my dinner. "No one ever sees you outside S.T.A.R. Labs. Ever. For all we know, you go home at night and become a giant lizard man."

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