Alter Egos

Caitlin Snow: Tie Specialist

Description: Caitlin Snow: Doctor, scientist, Bio-Engineer, meta-human...and Tie Specialist. Or alternatively, five times Caitlin tied Barry's tie for him.

Hello all, so this was just a really random concept I got from a story I read in another fandom and it grew from there. I hope you guys enjoy. :D

...

Caitlin Snow unconsciously shifted in her seat, eyes scanning over the computer screen. Steadily, she scrolled down the page, trying to soak up every detail. The team was after a meta-human, one that could hold the key to defeating Zoom. Which was why Caitlin found herself going over old reports before they left for the art gallery. She was trying to make sure they were as prepared as possible.

Absently, she listened to the sounds that drifted through the otherwise quiet lab. There was Cisco in his shop, rigging her up a last-minute com device. Harry was a few rooms away, scribbling down equations and muttering to himself.

Then there was Barry. Barry had been sitting across the room, struggling to tie his tie for the past 10 minutes. Caitlin had been watching him from the corner of her eye, tying and untying it for the umpteenth time. Though he appeared calm, she could tell he was getting frustrated with it. The doctor glanced over her screen one last time before closing the tab and shutting it down altogether. With a quiet sigh, she stood, smoothing out her blue dress.

"Need any help?" Caitlin offered, her voice echoing a little in the empty room.

"No," he said, a bit too quickly. "I mean, it's okay. I...I got it," Barry added, calmer this time. An instant later, his hands became a blur as he used his speed to tie it once more.

"There," he presented it with a proud smile. The tie was a crooked and uneven jumble of fabric. Barry's expression fell as soon as he saw the monstrosity. He let out a defeated sigh, his shoulders and head slumping.

Caitlin only smiled. "Here, let me," she spoke softly, already starting to untangle the mess of a knot.

"Thank you," Barry replied, sincerity in his tone.

He stood straight and tilted his head upward, allowing her better access to his shirt collar. As Caitlin began the process, the familiar motion brought back memories. Memories of her father and his illness, memories of tying his tie on the days he had not been able to. Her mother had never been particularly good at it, so Caitlin had taken it upon herself. One day, she had sneaked away an old tie and had spent hours practicing in the mirror until she got it just right.

Caitlin quickly pushed those memories (and the sadness that came with it) aside, focusing on the task at hand. She went through the process like she did with all her procedures and operations. Steady and methodically, taking time to make sure every detail was in place.

"I'm sorry," Barry stated quietly, his voice breaking her out of her reverie, "I don't usually wear one, and tonight I'm just..." he trailed off.

"Nervous," she supplied, eyes briefly flickering up at him.

"Yeah," Barry nodded.

"It's okay," Caitlin assured, pulling the tie taught. "I get it. We've all been a little nervous lately."

She returned her focus to the cloth, putting the finishing touches on the near-perfect Windsor Knot.

"There," she announced, stepping back to examine it one last time. "All done."

Barry thanked her once more.

"Don't mention it," she said lightly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Caitlin then moved away, intending to go check on Cisco's progress.