Chasing Lightning (Barry Allen)

3-Things as they are

Why do you keep watching fate playing catch me if you can with you while you already know the result?

Why do you start a losing game, just for the sake of satisfying fate's dirty games?

It keeps giving you what you need, what you think you deserve but then, in a blink of an eye, it steals everything, even more than what it has already given you.

I know why it is playing those games with me, giving me hope and taking it. Maybe because hope is the only thing stronger than fear, we need to fight to get what we really deserve.

I will fight to get what I really deserve.

It's been nine months since the explosion, which was a nightmare for the whole city, including me and my friends, Barry's still in S.T.A.R.labs since the day Dr.Wells decided to save him.

Iris has changed, she became colder and sadder. However, she found her true love, detective pretty boy as Joe calls him. Their relationship is top secret. No one knows except me.

Yet, we became even closer in this period of time, I thought maybe if Barry's not here, I could make her feel better. But deep inside, I knew that nothing will make her feel better, the pain of losing someone is not something you can wipe away easily, It'll always be caught up with you , in every step you take , with every glance of an eye, with every word you speak. Barry wasn't only haunting her, but he haunted me too. While Iris didn't stop talking about him, I was still working at S.T.A.R.labs trying to save what can be saved... Still, He seemed trapped in a vain closed circle of nightmares; his heart was beating faster, much faster than normal. I've seen him every day, lying on that bed like a dead body, sometimes I just give up and hug him or hold his hands. He should've felt so lonely on that bed, forced to stay surrounded by darkness. Barry needed help. Yet, no one could give him what he needed.

And then, suddenly, I stopped going to S.T.A.R.labs and prevented Iris from talking about him. Because seeing him, powerless, vulnerable, made me think of the mistake we've done, I should've stopped them that night. I really hated myself for doing that to Barry , and to everyone..

I found a temporary job as Joe's assistant. Well, fighting crime with my best friend's boyfriend and father who doesn't know that his co-worker is his daughter's boyfriend can be weird sometimes; especially, when you're afraid that your tongue may slip at any time.

I was sitting at Barry's lab, looking into some records of the past cases when my phone blew up.

"What the hell Iris" I shouted in a shock

"What?" she said "I thought you'd want to grab some coffee with me"

"Coffee? With you? Now?" I responded "But I'm working, you know Joe.."

"Don't worry about dad just tell him I needed to talk." She said in urge

"Wait Iris; Are you really okay? Your voice seems a little bit unsettled." I asked with a worried tone

"You need to be here in 5 minutes" she said as she hang up.

"guess I have to deal with Joe alone." I whispered to myself.

I entered Jitters, looking out for Iris, "Here you a-" I said as I saw someone familiar with her. I felt my heart racing again, I stood there frozen, with my eyes widened.

"Tia," I heard him saying. He came and hugged me. I didn't move; I haven't done anything; I was just staring at the blank space around us. The time has stopped when I felt his hands around me. 'This is not one of your dirty games?' I whispered to myself.

Barry pulled away watching me carefully, "Tia?" he said with a concerned look.

I could feel his warmth. "you're real" I whispered with tearful eyes. "Barry you're alive" I added as I hugged him.