ColdFlash- Soulmates

Chapter 8: Hurt at Being Right

  Barry still didn't quite know how Iris managed to talk him into the quiz night. Maybe because he was so distracted that he had subconsciously allowed for a way to relax. All he knew was that Iris was looking to hook him and Felicity up, he just didn't like the IT genius like that. Don't get him wrong, he thought that Felicity was an outstanding human being, beautiful, clever, witty and so kind and caring. A gift. But he just couldn't imagine any future with her. Besides, Oliver would probably try and kill him. Barry was after all a forensic scientist, he was used to looking at the clues and there were al lot of clues that pointed towards the chemistry between the vigilante and witty support- obvious even for the short time he had spent in the presence of them both. Oliver Queen liked Felicity Smoak and Felicity Smoak liked Oliver Queen. Though neither knew how the other felt- because, even though Oliver was a very bright individual, he was most definitely and completely emotionally constipated.

  Even though he knew Iris' angle he came along for the fun, for the distraction. When Felicity stepped through the coffee shop door that evening Barry and everyone else there was shown just how beautiful she was- Oliver was a lucky guy if he ever got his head out of his backside. The blond had left behind her usual attire completely, glasses and all. Her hair cascaded down over her shoulder in a rather fetching twist and her short black dress clung to her very feminine figure. All three, Barry, Iris and Eddie, couldn't help be stop and stare for a moment as she entered.

***

  They were doing so well, for Felicity and Barry it was easy. Iris and Eddie were just staring incredulously at them, which made it hard for Barry not to laugh. This was a breeze, this was something that he enjoyed. He could feel the bond between him and the woman next to him as they worked in sync to thrash everyone else in the shop. He was having such a great time any thought of Leonard Snart had left his mind, until the man himself was spotted by the CCPD.

"Okay, I'll cover you," Felicity said as Barry hastily got up and pulled on his jacket, bitterness cracking through to show in his features.

 A bitterness you shouldn't feel if you didn't know this guy so buckle down Allen! He told himself sternly as he made a quick exit.

***

  Barry raced into the Central City Museum just as Snart pointed some kind of weapon at Joe, finger on the trigger. He pushed his foster dad out of the way and got hit full on as the finger squeezed and a jet of what had to be a nitrogen based something erupted from the end of the ungainly gun. The blast was painful, hitting him full in on his side- so, so painful.

"You okay?" Joe asked panting slightly from behind the pillar Barry had put him.

  Barry gasped and clutched at his side," It burns," he managed to get out. 

  The side that had been hit burned and itched, the skin felt stretched- especially around the scar.

  He gathered his wits and raced out from behind the pillar he was slumped on just as Leonard fired his weapon.

"Time for a test run," Leonard announced, smiling. The familiar drawl made Barry pause for only the briefest moment, it was the first time in two years that he had heard his ex's voice. "Lets see how fast you are!"

  Then, to Barry's horror, he started shooting the gun at random fleeing citizens. He rushed about grabbing them, the pain in his side was slowing him and he couldn't help the panic that was slowly rising in his chest. What if he kept getting slower? He slumped against the side of another pillar, energy quickly leaving his body. That little bit of exertion had hurt.

At that moment, Snart turned and saw a man in the walkway between rows of seats and pulled the trigger without a seconds pause. Barry was up in the second, adrenaline fueling him along with the desperate need to get to that man. He pumped his legs as fast as he could, racing against the stream of ice... but he wasn't fast enough.