What Brings Us Together (A Ralph Dibny/ The Flash Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Twenty-Seven: I Like The Sound Of That

Ralph and I went to the roof of STAR Labs. Nobody was there when we got there, but I wasn't really concerned at that point in time where they were. All I could think about was that Ralph had to tell me something that would answer my question, and I had a feeling that I knew what he was going to say. 

We sat side-by-side on the edge like we had before, our legs dangling over the side. Our feet would brush together occasionally. We sat there in silence for a little while.

"What do you need to tell me, Ralph?" I asked, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"A lot of things...I'm just trying to figure out...where to start." 

"Start at the beginning." He turned, looking out over the city.

"Ralph Dibny was born on-"

"Ha ha. Hilarious. Really, that was quite hysterical." He smiled at his lap, wringing his hands. He looked nervous. I put a hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me." He nodded.

"Well, I guess. the beginning would be your first day at CCPD," He stated, "I had heard a lot of the cops talking about the new CSI and how she was supposed to be hot, but that was all the information that I had at the time. Then you showed up on your first day, and you had your box of stuff for your desk, and you just looked star struck, the minute you walked through the door." I nodded, remembering the moment vividly. "They were right about you being hot, but...for the first time in my life, I looked at a girl and thought more than 'hot' I thought...beautiful." I smiled. "After that it was like you had some sort of magnetism. Every time you walked in the room I couldn't keep my eyes off of you or focus on anything I was doing. I watched, and I learned things about you just from watching you interact with others, because I don't know if you knew this, but you are so open and just undeniably you all of the time. You don't wear a mask, you're the same person no matter who you're around."

"What did you learn about me?" I asked, lightly tapping my foot against his.

"I learned that you get so attached to books that you have no problem re-reading them, despite the fact you already know what happens," This was true, "I know that you're the nicest person ever until someone messes with you or someone you care about," Also true, "And I learned that you see the good in everyone...even me." I furrowed my eyebrows. "I...I was so awestruck by this amazing girl, that...I started to develop a crush on her. This meant that I had started putting a lot of thought into what my life with her would look like. But I quickly realized that I...wasn't good enough for you. I was the type of guy that knew a girl's measurements just by looking at her, and was constantly offending women all over Central City, and I knew that you deserved so much more than that. But I also knew that if we were friends I wouldn't be able to control myself. So I treated you like I treated every other woman, by hitting on you and making suggestive statements. But I apparently got a little carried away."

I couldn't beleive what I was hearing. Ralph Dibny has had a crush on me all this time?

This thought was quickly replaced with an entirely different one.

"Why is it up to you to say what I do or don't deserve?" I asked. He looked at me, eyebrows furrowed.

"What?"

"Why is that your choice to make?" I repeated, "I am an adult who can make my own decisions, meaning that I get to choose what I deserve, no one else. So what gave you the right to think that you could dictate what isn't good enough for me?" He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He was speechless.

"I don't know." I sighed, looking out at the city. Ralph's fingers grabbed my chin, turning me to face him. "But here's what I do know. From just this short time of becoming your friend, I realize that you make me a better man." His eyes travelled down to my mouth, and my breath hitched in my throat. I found myself glancing at his mouth as well. I had never done this before. I had never felt like this before. He trailed his hand up the side of my face, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Ralph..." I hadn't intended my voice to come out in a whisper, but it did. "I..."

"You what?" He asked, meeting my eyes. It was almost as if he was searching them, looking for any sign that I didn't want this. He wouldn't find one. I shook my head.

"I don't know...I...forgot what I was going to say." I impulsively leaned in, pressing my mouth against his. I had never kissed anyone before, but if it always felt like this, I don't know why I hadn't done it long before now. I grabbed the lapels of his jacket, unsure of what else to do with my hands. His fingers began to tangle themselves lightly into my hair, and his other hand went to my waist, causing me to wince and pull away from him.

"Sorry! I'm sorry, I forgot. Are you ok?" He asked, pulling his hands quickly away from me. I nodded, gingerly touching my fingers to my ribs.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ok." I assured him. "So...How was...that?" I gestured between us.

"Honestly?" He asked. "It needs some work. I could give you some pointers-"

"Shut up." I said, both of us laughing. "I've never done that before." His smile fell and his eyes widened.

"You've never kissed anyone before?" He asked. I shook my head. "You can't tell."

"Really?" I questioned. He nodded.

"Yeah, that was...wow." I tucked my hair behind my ear again. "So I was your first kiss, huh?"

"Don't get cocky now, Dibny." I said, shoving his shoulder, lightly.

"What? No. I just...I kind of always thought that you and Barry-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop right there. Don't finish that sentence." I said, holding up a hand. "Barry is like my brother. That's...ew."

"Well, at least now I know that Allen doesn't get everything." I chuckled.

"So...what do we do now?" I questioned, "What comes after this?"

"I say we just...play it by ear? See what happens?" I nodded.

"I like the sound of that."