Only Because I Need You Too

Chapter 7: Revenge

Sonny felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down his forehead. In his trembling hand was one singular card. The table in front of him was littered with them, mainly focused on a large pile at the centre. To his left, the Captain was staring blankly down at his own hand. A single card remained in it. Across from him was his mother, Joanna. Her face was pulled into a sour frown, in her hand three cards. Noise was ringing in Sonny's ears. The aimless ticking of the clock behind him ground on his nerves. The only light penetrating the dim room was entering from behind Joanna, illuminating her silhouette in white. The small dining room they were seated in was covered in glossy plants and wooden furniture. The floor below him was scratched and battered, but still functional. With a deep sigh the captain scratched his hat and laid down his last card, "I win." Tucked away in the corner was a small +4.

"Noooo," Sonny groaned as he pulled four cards from a neatly stacked pile at the edge of the table.

"This could be your one chance at beating him Joanna," the Captain hummed, wriggling his eyebrow at his wife. The woman rolled her eyes and slapped a mock pout on her face. Picking up a card, she confidently slapped it down onto their ever-growing pile with a cocky smile. Sonny heard it before he saw it. A loud crash and a sickening squelch. The sight before him prevented him from feeling the warm droplets that had splattered onto his skin. Hands still gripping his cards and legs still crossed beneath the table, Sonny watched, frozen as his father burst to his feet, gripping his wife and screaming her name. Eyes wide, he stared forwards at his mother. Her mouth hung open and her eyes glassed over. Protruding from her forehead was a long, streamlined, rocky spear. Sonny hadn't even taken a breath yet. Pressure built on his temples, his vision turned red at the corners.

"SONNY!" The desperate voice of his father finally broke through to the boy. Sonny inhaled sharply, banging erupted throughout the house. Blinking hard, the boy stared at the Captain with wide eyes. "Go find the Flash! Go get help!" The Captain screamed.

Dropping his cards, the boy hauled himself to his feet and tore his eyes away from his mother. Putting his hands out in front of him, a tiny blue rip opened in the air and slowly expanded into a portal. Sonny glanced back to his father, who had laid Joanna down flat on the floor and was kneeling by her side quivering. "GO!" The Captain yelled, not turning to look at his son.

Sonny flinched towards the portal, but his head remained on his father, "but Dad, I don't want to leave you." The Boy felt a warm lump form in his throat.

Finally the captain turned to his son. "Your mother and I will be fine and no matter what happens, remember we will always love you." Sonny opened his mouth to reply, but the paleness of the Captain's face made him think otherwise. "Now please, go."

Sonny felt warm, itchy tears track down his cheeks. "I love you too Dad." With that the boy stepped into the portal, only for a gut wrenching scream to follow him through. Staggering forwards a few steps, Sonny's breach sealed behind him. The child raised his head. Three pairs of eyes stared at him widely. He remembered this place well, the cortex. Barry and an unfamiliar girl stared at him with open mouths. The new woman had short brown hair and tanned skin. The way her face and nose were shaped was uncannily like Iris. Not to mention the wild look in her eyes definitely belonging to Barry.

"Oh my gosh," Iris called, running over to him in an instant, kneeling down to his level. "Sonny... what happened?" Her dark eyes raked the boy's shaking form as she placed two warm hands on his shoulders.

"It's my mum and Dad, they are being attacked. Please help," he begged.

"We're on it," Barry called, disappearing in a Flash with the other woman in whoosh of wind.

Iris stared at him with rounded eyes. Pulling the boy into a tight hug, she murmured softly into his ear, "it's okay. You're safe now. You're with team Flash."

*

Caitlin sat by the cortex desk. Her eyes were wide. The image displayed in front of her was mostly hues of red and pink. It's steady picture showed a cream wall with dark, inky red streaks on it painted in the shape of a lightning bolt. Caitlin leaned in closer to Ethan, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders gently. Cisco was peeking at the image from between his fingers, his face sheet white. Barry stood next to the screen, clenching his jaw and his entire form curved inwards. Iris had taken up residence not far from his side. Delicate eyes remained trained on her spouse. "I didn't get there in time to save Mr or Mrs Kirkland. All that was left at the scene was this symbol drawn in their blood."

"That looks like the Flash symbol," Caitlin noted, a cold shudder ran up her spine.

"A warning perhaps?" Iris asked with a shrug of her shoulders.

"A death sentence," Ethan's gravelly voice cut through the room.

Barry turned to his time remnant with a nod, "Medusa and Tate are out for revenge. The captain told us where we could find the fighting ring, betraying Tate in the process." The Scarlet speedster clench his fists tightly. "Now he has payed the ultimate price for it."

"And the Flash is next," Nora sighed, stroking her chin.

A moment of silence passed through the group. A cold chill webbed through the air. Caitlin's eyes drifted off to the medical wing. That was the first time she had met Sonny. Running a finger over an ear, she turned to her team, "What about Sonny?"

"I've already volunteered to take him in until the social workers can find him a more... permanent home." Cisco replied tucking a strand of hair behind his ear and sending his coworker a small smile. Caitlin mustered a nod. Once more the somber silence claimed the stagnant room.