Heart Breaker ❉ Barry Allen #wattys2016

chapter 15

"So we've taken down a few metahumans while you've been away and for our own knowledge I have kept a record of every meta we bring in or take down. It contains basic information such as powers, identity and appearance on every metahuman we have discovered. Now that you'll be spending more time at the lab however, this is your new job." Caitlin explained, smiling at Mack as she handed over matte black binder folder filled with yellow manilla files, each file neatly labelled with the meta's name.

"Perfect. What else can I do?" Mack asked, taking the folder from her friend and using the time to quickly flick through the files and see how much she had missed; it didn't look like a lot.

"More will come up as we discover new metahumans, but why don't you read up on that until Cisco comes in? I'm sure he'll have something he needs your help with, honestly that man barely functions without you." Caitlin replied, shaking her head in amusement as she slid in behind her computer and began typing away. The blank expression now clear on her face telling Mack the conversation was over.

With a simple nod back, Mack sat down at the desk and cleared a little space for the folder. Feeling rather warm in the Lab, she took of her jacket and threw it onto the ground beside her, not bothering to watch it fall until she heard Caitlin clear her throat and looked up to receive a disapproving look.

"Cait, I'm literally here all the time. I've thrown that same jacket on the ground in this lab countless times, what's the problem?"

"I want the absolute best for you and I think that this is a wonderful opportunity that you're lucky to have so I think you should treat it as such. This is now your job, Mack, you need to be professional. Would you have done that at Jitters?"

"Yes and Iris can back that up because she's slipped on my jackets countless times at work." Mack told Caitlin, her infamous smug smirk stretched across her face as she twirled in the spiny desk chair.

"You're unbelievable." Caitlin scoffed, an amused smile clear as she relaxed a little bit. Mack was right, it wasn't like she was new and needed babysitting or strict rules, she would do just fine as she normally acts.

"I know." 

"It's strange seeing you so much like you again, like you were really out of it and your sudden recovery seems to be in line with how much time you've been spending with Barry lately. Anything going on there I should know about?" Caitlin questioned, raising an eyebrow as she tried to hide her giddiness. The childlike excitement in Caitlin's tone causing Mack to laugh and shake her head.

"Just a coincidence, there's nothing interesting going on with Barry and I as of yet."

"As of yet? So you are into him?!"

"Shhhh! No, I'm not into him however if something were to happen.. well lets just say I wouldn't stop it."

"Wouldn't stop what?" Cisco asked, walking into the lab with a slushie in each hand. "This is for you, I thought a slushie was the best way to declare my love." He added, handing Mack the freezing cup full of flavoured ice.

"It's the perfect way, oh how I love you dear Cisco." Mack joked, taking a sip of her slushie as Caitlin rolled her eyes.

"I know the way to your heart, those meatheads you flirt with have nothing on me." Cisco replied, leaning against Mack's desk trying to act cool.

"Nothing at all." Mack nodded, trying to keep a serious face as Cisco grinned like a little kid. He was the best at taking her mind of things and keeping her spirits up, she couldn't dream of a better best friend.

"What's this Caitlin has you doing?"

"I thought she should read up on the metas we have recently taken down." Caitlin piped up, approaching the two as Cisco nodded thoughtfully.

"That sounds boring, but lucky for you, I have been developing something I wanted your help with. Come with me and bring your slushie."

"Yes sir." Mack saluted, closing the folder and following Cisco down the hall with her slushie in hand. "What's todays cool new invention?"

"Well it's actually a gun, a cold gun to be more precise." Cisco explained, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable as he waited for Mack to understand what the gun was created to do. She was a clever girl, he knew she wouldn't miss a beat.

"A cold gun? But that sounds like something that would be useful against a speedster, to slow them down?" Mack mumbled, her confused voice sounding more like she was talking to herself more so than Cisco.

"Correct."

"And the only speedster we know is Barry?" She clarified, unable to wonder and hope he knew about the man in yellow too. Maybe he created it to help Barry and Mack?

"Also correct." Cisco confirmed, Mack's previous hopes concerning the yellow runner quickly dissolving and instead being replaced with suspicion.

"Wait, do you not trust Barry?"

"No! No, I made it when we first discovered what he could do. We didn't know him or what he would be like, so I made it so we could defend ourselves if he wasn't as innocent and kind as he initially seemed." Cisco rushed, eager to explain himself.

"Okay, but why do you need my help with it now?" Mack asked, creasing her forehead in confusion as she tried to predict where he was going with this.

"Well, I have realised that since we're working with Barry, it mightn't be the best idea to have a weapon that could defeat him; if it fell into the wrong hands we'd be in real trouble. So I want your help to destroy it."

"Ahh, okay now I get you. Yeah for sure, where is Barry's supposed downfall-inducing weapon?"

"Um, well you see it's supposed to be right here." Cisco awkwardly said, turning the case over as though he was expecting it to be hiding beneath it or something.

"Cisco, do you mean to tell me that you lost a gun which may have the power to defeat The Flash?" Mack questioned, her voice deadly serious and borderline angry,

"Yes, yes that's exactly what I mean to tell you." Cisco rushed, throwing his hands up in frustration and annoyance.

"Well it can't just get up and walk away!"

"Mack, one of the cleaners quit this morning. I don't think it walked away, I think it was stolen." Cisco said quietly, causing Mack to angrily kick the empty case.

"Oh for God's sake, I can't catch a break! Look, okay we'll find it. We'll figure it out and I'll support you, but I dibs not telling Caitlin, she'll murder us with her eyes." Mack replied, desperately trying to calm herself down. The wild look of anger was still flashing in her eyes as she stormed out, Cisco following meekly behind.

Despite knowing she had his back, Mackenzie Taylor was terrifying when she was angry and Cisco was not keen on watching her unleash it, especially if he was to be on the receiving end. All Cisco knew was that Barry was now in danger and he couldn't shake the plausible idea of a future where he was indirectly responsible for the death of their favourite superhero. He didn't know what to do.