#fd: barry

[raging-violets]

The Flash: The Christmas Campaign | One Shot

Summary: Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin try to teach Averey how to play table top board games with a Christmas Campaign. The agenda: Rescue Santa Claus from his abductors. Second agenda: Listen to what the dice rolls tell you, and don’t rage quit.

A/N: AKA, I saw "Red One" and now have an idea for a Red One fanfic, but thought it'd be fun to help me work out my ideas with a Flash fanfic. I also, clearly, don't know much about Dungeons & Dragons and how it all works. Happy Holidays!

-Rhuben

-

Barry was usually twitching to move due to the lightning running through his body. Whether it was him itching to take down the meta-of-the-day; or bursting out of his home to rush to work because he was late (again); or just to stretch his legs. Now, he was just waiting for his next turn to roll his D20 to see how much further he could get into the Christmas-themed story he was playing. Being able to run at super speeds was really fun but he also prioritized the slower times where he could hang out with his family and friends. Sometimes, though, the slowness was just too slow.

He alternated between rapidly tapping his finger on the table, and rolling his D20 between his fingers, and clasping his hands in his lap before sitting up straight again. His hot chocolate with marshmallows had long been finished, and it wasn’t time for another snack break yet. Even though he knew he could get to the S.T.A.R. Labs kitchen and back before the next round would start. (Or in this case, before the last round even ended.) But it would be rude to have everybody’s papers fly all over the place with the speed he moved at.

“Would you just roll, please?” he asked, his antsy-ness reaching a peak. His voice echoed around the high ceiling of the Cortex. He, Avery, and Caitlin were seated in the chairs behind the main desk, facing Cisco who sat at a pop-up table in the center of the room, facing them. Caitlin and Cisco, who was hunched over their tables, popped their heads up to look at him. “Either your prepared speech will work or it won’t. But we won’t know until you roll.”

Despite all the Christmas lights and the holiday decorations that adorned the streets of Central City, and what Caitlin and Cisco managed to hang up around S.T.A.R. Labs, he wasn’t exactly feeling the Christmas spirit at the moment. Not even the smell of warm cinnamon could calm him down. And that was usually the smell that kick started him into “holiday mode.” But not right now. Not when Santa Claus’s plight rested on his, and Cisco’s, and Caitlin’s, and Averey’s shoulders. Especially not when it was taking Averey ages to finish her turn.

Averey changed her glare from the character sheets, notes, and maps in front of her, to Barry. “Don’t blame me,” she said, “I said that that a press release would work better than a speech. But noooooo.” She mockingly waved her hands in the air. “This stupid game—”

“Don’t blame the game,” Cisco, who was seated behind a divider, instantly spoke up. “Blame the dice.” He then pointed a pen in her direction. “Actually, don’t even blame the dice. That was my lucky set for a while.”

“I blame the bloody dice, too,” Averey said, scrunching up her nose in mock childlike petulance. “You lot are just making this up as you go along, yeah? So why can’t I just say that I give a press release instead of a speech, and it works?”

“Because that’s not what the dice said,” Caitlin reminded her.

“This game is stupid!”

“Hey!” Cisco said with a deep frown. “Rude! I spent months coming up with the idea of this campaign.” His frown deepened yet turned into a frown of sadness. He put his cheek to his fist and started drawing small circles on the table with the index finger of his other hand. He stuck out his bottom lip. “And you said you wanted to learn how to play.”

“That’s pathetic,” Barry said with a laugh.

“Don’t give me that look, mate,” Averey grumbled. Yet, as she shook her head, she had a smile of amusement on her face. She grabbed her emerald-green D6 (after stumbling over the D12 and D4, guided by the coughs and headshaking cues from Barry) and clasped it in her hand. She shook the dice a couple of times before dropping it onto the table. It clattered over the counter, some of the buttons, and the keyboard keys on the desk, landing in between her and Barry’s hands.

“Two,” Barry announced, reading the number upside down.

“Oooh,” Cisco winced. He made a clicking sound with his tongue. “Sorry, but your speech fails to inspire the elves to continue working at their stations, and some have defected to join the Candy Cane Picket Line.”

“Oh, come on!” Averey dropped her head down onto the table and repeatedly hit her forehead against it. “Seriously? I’m…” She lifted her head enough to look at her notes again. “I’m the head of Santa’s PR team, and have heaps of marketing experience, but I can’t make some of the elves listen to me to continue working to get the toys ready for Santa’s return?”

“If he returns,” Cisco corrected her. “Our attempts to save him from his abductors might not work.”

“Fair go, mate, you wrote the game, you could make it work,” Averey pointed out. Grumbling under her breath, she snatched back her d6, adding it back to the pile of dice by her hand.

The campaign was simple: Santa Claus has gone missing and it was found that he had been abducted. It was up to Barry, Caitlin, Cisco, and Averey’s characters to track down the metahuman and safely return Santa to the North Pole in time to deliver Christmas gifts.

Barry: The Flash (Monk, but really as himself The Flash) had been notified and rushed to the North Pole to lend a hand in the unfolding mystery of “Who Took Santa Claus?” Captain Cold or the Marden Brothers was one of his first guesses, but promised Mrs. Claus, the elves, and all the creatures at the North Pole that he would do everything he could to help save Santa. He also offered his services to deliver any and all gifts across the globe in Santa’s absence. (This had led to a fifteen minute conversation where Barry and Cisco attempted to calculate who was faster: Santa Claus or The Flash.)

Caitlin: Dr. Solstice (Sorcerer) who worked in Santa’s Arctic Research and Development in the Magic and Innovation Department where she helped test the safety and efficiency of Santa’s magic on Elves, and Half-Elves alike. It is her lifelong goal to determine at what age not only does Christmas magic appear to disappear from children, but the Christmas spirit that adults seem to stray further away from each year. She also works with the Reindeer-In-Training as they went through the rigorous process to become one of Santa’s chosen and checks to see how Santa’s magic affects them over time.

Cisco (Game Master): Blaze Yuletide (Bard) a North Pole native who came from a long line of storytellers who specialized in archiving everything about the world’s greatest myths and legends. He found his niche in the Arctic Research and Development in the Toyshop Department creating all the toys that are gifted to all the children of Earth. Through his connections, he also has security clearance to look at all the names that appear on the Naughty List.

Averey: Dolly Noelle (Rogue) is head of Santa’s Public Relations team whose sole purpose is to project the jolly image of Santa that the world knows and loves. Attempting to keep the Christmas magic alive in a world where the rise of social media has given attention to the Santa-Skeptics, Dolly wants everyone to continue believing in the spirit of Santa Clause. From photoshoots to advertisements, to mall appearances, Dolly helps project the image of the jolly gift giver, all while keeping his real identity a closely guarded secret. Her role is threatened when more and more videos of “proof” of Santa being a fake goes viral over the years.

As Cisco had explained to Barry as he helped set up S.T.A.R. Labs earlier that day, it wasn’t one that would last that long. It was mostly a fun idea to introduce Averey to the world of tabletop gaming.

“Don’t underestimate the power of the dice,” Cisco said cryptically. He then clapped his hands loudly together. “Now!” He cleared his throat. “This isn’t catastrophic. 99% of the elves are still working at their stations and haven’t been deterred by the growing #SantaIsntReal and #SantaTraps trends on social media. A few have even finished their tasks early and have agreed to give some of the Shelve-Elves a break and will take up the mantle of watching over the children in their assigned homes. But we’ve got a long way to go before the big night, and we need to act fast.”

“Weather Wizard and Captain Cold have worked together to sabotage Christmas before,” Barry spoke up. “They arctic storm may be used as a cover up to help them. I’ll go to Iron Heights to see if they’re still in its manifests or if there’s any news of a breakout. I’ll see if I can get any information that may help us.”

Caitlin thrust her hand into the air, stopping Barry from reaching for his dice. Cisco nodded in her direction, signaling that he had her attention. “In the meantime, I’ll check on Rudolph’s team and the Reindeer-In-Training. If those who took Santa are still at the North Pole, they may target the reindeer; make sure we don’t have a way to deliver the Christmas gifts all together. I’ll also run some tests and prepare them for a flight just in case,” she said. “Or if we need to evacuate.”

Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco then all turned towards Averey.

“Reckon, I��ll, uh…” Averey’s eyes darted around the room as she tried to think of a plan. Barry started tapping his foot on the floor, the sound bouncing off the hard floor. “I’ll pop down my office and update NORAD on any potential aircrafts that may come to their attention.” She had given a statement, but the end of her sentence sounded more like a question to Barry’s ears.

“And I’ll go through my files and prior years in the Wish List Database to see if there’s any toys made in the past that we can quickly produce and use to our defense,” Cisco said.

“Blaze,” Caitlin gasped, “some of those wish lists had requests that were strictly taken off the record.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Some things that Santa would never think about producing and gifting to children.”

“And I just might know how to access those records.” Cisco gave a toothy smile. “Off the record, of course.”

“OK, wait.” Averey buried her face into her hands. “How is this all able to happen, but because of a bloody dice roll, I can’t get the elves to go back to work? Nonaya rolled any dice for anything you just said.” She dragged her hands down her face, stretching her skin beneath the pads of her fingers. “This game doesn’t make any sense!”

“Relax, Ave, it’s just a bunch of fun,” Barry said, leaning back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head.

Averey settled back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s not fun when you’re losing,” she shot back, practically pouting.

“You’re not losing,” Caitlin gently protested, albeit with a laugh. “You’re just having bad luck with your rolls. It’ll turn around. It always does.”

“And you’re doing better than Iris and Joe,” Barry replied, lowering his hands to his stomach. He crossed his legs at the ankles. “I was on break at CCU one year and I thought they’d be up for it. They were both into it at the start – or at least I thought they were. Probably just trying to humor me, honestly.”

He felt a smile come to his face at the memory of Joe sitting on one side of the table at the West home, glasses perched at the end of his nose, eyebrows pulled together in a constant look of confusion. “Anyway, Joe couldn’t accept how the game was played and tried to talk his way out of everything. Like, ‘The dragon won’t eat us, because I’ll talk him down. He doesn’t have to do it. We can all leave the situation peacefully. We can all go home safely.’ Like he was talking to a cornered criminal or something.”

Caitlin, Cisco, and Averey started laughing. “Then, when I called him out on it, he kept reading through the rule books trying to find a loophole. And you know Joe, he reads everything, line by line. And Iris, had a lot of questions. ‘My character would like this dice set better than this one, right?,’ ‘What’s this NPCs name? ‘Why can’t this NPC join our group?’ ‘”

“So yeahhhhh.” Barry gave a close-lipped smile. “We started the game, and barely got through the first encounter before I gave up.” He shook his head back and forth and muttered a quiet, yet amused, “Unbelievable.”

“Have you tried playing with them again?” Caitlin asked.

Barry pulled the corners of his lips downwards, closing his eyes,. He gave big, slow, shakes of his head from side to side. “No, I figured it was better for all of us if we just pretended like it never happened,” he replied upon opening his eyes.

“Hey, Hey,” Cisco said loudly. “Dungeon Master waiting to get back to the game so I don’t wind up crying myself to sleep at night at the hours I wasted on this amazing idea!”

Bzzz-Bzzz.

Barry reached for his phone as it vibrated on the desk.  “Oh, that’s Iris,” he said, quickly looking over the text he received. “We’re going to have to put a Ho-Ho-Hold on Santa’s rescue.” Averey made a show of rolling her eyes at his joke. Caitlin laughed. “Food’s on. Let’s roll.”

“Egg-nogg time!” Cisco clapped his hands together before rubbing them together, licking his lips. “Now the holidays have really started.”

“Weren’t you just complaining about getting back to the game?” Averey asked with a startled laugh.

“Sorry, nothing beats Grandma Esther’s egg-nogg,” Cisco said with a shrug.

“Just take it easy this time, Cisco,” Caitlin said, starting to pack up her notes and her steel gray dice. “I mean, I enjoyed your Mariah Carey-oke last year. You know you killed it.”

“Naturally,” Cisco said placing a hand to his chest, lowering his chin in gratitude.

“But you need to pace yourself this time.”

“You can’t put that back in the box, after you opened the box!”

“We would never dream of it,” Averey agreed. She then lowered her voice, leaning closer towards Barry to mutter, “We will take a lot of pictures, though. Just for the posterity, hey.” Barry quickly turned his laugh into a cough as he got to his feet.

“Cisco, can I have some of those protein bars?” he asked, carefully packing up his belongings. “I can’t expect Joe and Iris to make so much food, or you all to bring stuff over.”

“My shout for Belly Burger,” Averey said, reaching for her coat hanging on the back of her chair. “I can stop and get some for you. I need to collect mum and Daniel before heading over, anyway.” After sliding on her coat, she reached behind her neck to free her hair from the collar. “Though, I’ve got my sights set on Iris’s macaroni cheese, so you all might want to get your portions before me.”

“Between Cisco and you two, I don’t know how there’s any food left for the rest of us,” Caitlin said. “That’s the real Christmas miracle.”

“Yeah, nah,” Averey said, shaking her head. Hands shoved into her coat pockets, she gestured with the material back to their abandoned chairs. “The real Christmas miracle is if we can safely rescue Santa and have all the prezzies delivered on time. I’ve asked for a Power Wheel every year since I was five, and I’m going to get one!”

The group laughed as they finished gathering their belongings and headed towards the elevator, exchanging stories on the one Christmas gift they asked for every year. Barry settled against the back corner as they headed towards the main lobby and found himself smiling as he watched Caitlin, Cisco, and Averey talk and laugh with each other.

He felt a swell of warmth in his chest, warmer than the temperature he preferred his hot chocolate to be. Not that long ago, Christmas was a quiet affair with just himself, Joe, and Iris. Now the West Home was annually filled with more and more people as his found family grew. There had been highs and lows over the past few years, but he knew without a doubt that they had each other’s backs; no matter what. And that realization, from a little boy who had once lost sight of what the holidays meant in the wake of his mother’s death and father’s imprisonment, made him feel like the luckiest man on earth.

And as for being the “Fastest Man Alive,” it was these moments that reminded him just how important it was to take the time to slow down and enjoy every minute that ticked by.  (Even if those minutes felt agonizingly slow.)

[staytrueblue]

All Actor Barry Sloane clips & content:

Scenes broken down by show: contains spoilers

Just for fun because I really love how he portrays emotion as an actor. Some analysis is included.

2002 Brookside

2003 Pleasureland

2007 Hollyoaks

2010 Holby City

2012 Revenge -pending

Aiden Mathis trained alongside Emily under Takeda. Eventually, the two became involved in a romantic relationship. (Wikipedia)

2013 Father Brown- completed

Simeon Barnes, the local blacksmith is the first suspect, but it's his wife who confesses the murder!

2013 Penthouse North

2015 The Whispers -pending

Wes Lawrence, a high-ranking Defense Department operative Wes is Lena's estranged husband, Minx's father, and Claire's former lover. (Wikipedia)

2015 Saints and Strangers-completed

Edward Winslow, a sweet very religious man as one of the first pilgrims landing in the US and facing all the turmoil there is.

2016 Shameless-completed

Ryan. A house flipper rich dude.

2017 Longmire-pending

Zachary "Zach" Heflin (seasons 4, 6), a new deputy hired by Walt, who later becomes romantically involved with Cady. (Wikipedia)

2018 SIX: Currently ongoing

Joseph “Bear” Graves. Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator. Joe "Bear" Graves a.k.a. Foxtrot Delta 1/FD (Wikipedia)

2019 L.As Finest-completed

Dante Sherman. The brother of club owner and gangster Ray Sherman who knows Nancy McKenna from her criminal past/childhood. (Wikipedia)

2019 Bluff City Law-completed

Jake Reilly, a senior partner at Strait & Associates. Defense attorney. (Wikipedia)

2023 The Bay-pending

Chris Fischer. High school teacher and main character love interest.

2023 The Company You Keep-completed

Connor Mcguire, Patrick's son involved with the Irish mob. (Wikipedia)

2024 Passenger-pending

back to masterlist

kiss divider by @firefly-graphics

[sunskate]

IAMO 2024-25 Schedule

2024 NextGen Competition and Camp (Gatineau, QC July 26-27, 2024)

Veillon/Brandys 2nd place🥈 (2nd RD, 2nd FD)

Lake Placid Ice Dance International (Lake Placid, NY July 30-31, 2024 Madison Hubbell and Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Hensen/Lickers 12th place (11th RD, 16th FD) Dozzi/Papetti 14th place (13th RD, 15th FD) Robinson/Portz 15th place (16th RD, 12th FD) Ritter/Brykalov 19th place (21st RD, 18th FD Shilling/Baeten 20th place (20th RD, 20th FD) Roberts/Alis 21st place (19th RD, 21st FD)

Corneil/Emery 8th place jr (8th RD, 8th FD)

USFS Champs Camp (Norwood, MA, August 12-16, 2024. Madison Hubbell for IAMO)

Carreira/Ponomarenko

Sectional Series August (Waterloo, ON August 16-18, 2024, Sheri Moir, Cara Moir for IAMO)

Hensen/Lickers 🥇1st place (2nd RD, 2nd FD) Dozzi/Papetti 🥉3rd place (3rd RD, 1st FD) Robinson/Portz 4th place (5th RD, 3rd FD) Ritter/Brykalov 6th place (6th RD, 6th FD) Roberts/Alis 7th place (8th RD, 7th FD) Shilling/Baeten 8th place (7th RD, 8th FD)

Veillon/Brandys 🥇 1st place (1st RD, 1st FD) Corneil/Emery 5th place (5th RD, 6th FD)

Skate Canada High Performance Camp (Mississauga, ON Aug 28-30, 2024)

Hensen/Lickers

ISU Junior Grand Prix Czech Republic (Ostrava, Czech Republic, Sept 4-7, 2024, Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Veillon/Brandys 🥉3rd place (3rd RD, 2nd FD)

Lombardia Trophy (Bergamo, Italy, Sept 13-16, 2024, Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Dozzi/Papetti 9th place (9th RD, 9th FD) Ritter/Brykalov 12th place (12th RD, 11th FD) Roberts/Alis 13th place (14th RD, 13th FD)

Nebelhorn Trophy (Oberstdorf, Germany Sept 19-21, 2024)

Carreira/Ponomarenko 🥈2nd place (2nd RD, 2nd FD) Dozzi/Papetti 10th place (11th RD, 11th FD) Ritter/Brykalov 16th place (17th RD, 15th FD) Roberts/Alis 17th place (16th RD, 17th FD)

Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 2024 (Astana, Kazakhstan Oct 2-5, 2024 Sheri Moir for IAMO)

Hensen/Lickers 11th place (10th RD, 11th FD)

JGP Ljubljana Cup 2024 (Ljubljana, Slovenia Oct 2-5, 2024 Cara Moir for IAMO)

Veillon/Brandys 6th place (6th RD, 6th FD)

Budapest Trophy 2024 (Budapest, Hungary October 11-13, 2024 Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Carreira/Ponomarenko 1st place🥇(1st RD, 1st FD)

Trophy Metropole Nice Côte d’Azur 2024 (Nice, France October 16-20, 2024 Justin Trojek for IAMO)

Ritter/Brykalov 11th place (15th RD, 11th FD)

Skate Ontario October Sectionals (Barrie, ON October 17-20, 2024)

Robinson/Portz 🥇1st place (2nd RD, 1st FD) Shilling/Baeten 🥈2nd place (3rd RD, 2nd FD) Corneil/Emery 5th place jr (5th RD, 5th FD) Anderson/Dawson 4th place jr (4th RD, 3rd FD)

IceChallenge 2024 (Graz, Austria November 4-10, 2024 Justin Trojek for IAMO)

Dozzi/Papetti 3rd place🥉 (3rd RD, 5th FD) Shilling/Baeten 8th place (8th RD, 8th FD)

2025 Skate Ontario Junior and Senior Sectional Championships (Oshawa, ON November 7-10 Sheri Moir, Alma Moir for IAMO)

Robinson/Portz 1st place 🥇(1st RD, 1st FD) Veillon/Brandys 1st place 🥇 jr (1st RD, 1st FD) Corneil/Emery 7th place jr (8th RD, 7th FD) Anderson/Dawson 4th place jr (5th RD, 4th FD)

ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy (Tokyo, Japan Nov 8-10, 2024)

Carreira/Ponomarenko 2nd place🥈(2nd RD, 2nd FD)

ISU CS Tallinn Trophy (Tallinn, Estonia Nov 11-17, 2024 Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Hensen/Lickers 9th place (10th RD, 9th FD)

ISU Grand Prix Cup of China (Chongqing, China Nov 22-24, 2024 Madison Hubbell for IAMO)

Carreira/Ponomarenko 3rd place🥉(3rd RD, 3rd FD)

Santa Claus Cup 2024 (Budapest, Hungary Nov 27 - Dec 2, 2024 Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Dozzi/Papetti 5th place (5th RD, 4th FD) Ritter/Brykalov 9th place (10th RD, 8th FD) Shilling/Baeten 10th place (8th RD, 10th FD)

Skate Canada Challenge (Winnipeg, MB Nov 28-Dec 1, 2024 Alma Moir, Cara Moir for IAMO)

Hensen/Lickers 1st place🥇 (1st RD, 2nd FD) Robinson/Portz 2nd place🥈 (2nd RD, 1st FD) Veillon/Brandys 3rd place🥉 (3rd RD, 3rd FD) Anderson/Dawson 9th place (13th RD, 9th FD) Corneil/Emery 17th place (19th RD, 16th FD)

Spanish National Figure Skating Championships (Logroño, Spain Dec 13-15, 2024 Romain Haguenauer for IAM/IAMO)

Roberts/Alis 4th place (4th RD, 4th FD)

Italian National Figure Skating Championships (Dec 20-22, 2024 Varese Italy)

Dozzi/Papetti 3rd place 🥉 (2nd RD, 3rd FD)

Sofia Trophy 2025 (Jan 9-10, 2025 Sofia, Bulgaria. Justin Trojek? for IAMO - no k&c)

Ritter/Brykalov 7th place (7th RD, 6th FD)

Canadian National Figure Skating Championships (Laval, QC Jan 14-19, 2025)

Hensen/Lickers 5th place (5th RD, 5th FD) Robinson/Portz 8th place (7th RD, 8th FD) Veillon/Brandys 3rd place 🥉(3rd jr RD, 3rd jr FD) Anderson/Dawson 8th place (11th jr RD, 7th jr FD)

US National Figure Skating Championships (Wichita, KS Jan 20-26, 2025 Madison Hubbell for IAMO)

Carreira/Ponomarenko 2nd place🥈 (2nd RD, 2nd FD)

European Figure Skating Championships (Tallinn, Estonia Jan 28 - Feb 2, 2025 Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Ritter/Brykalov (25th RD)

2025 Egna Dance Trophy (Egna/Neumarkt, Italy Feb 8-9, 2025 Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Dozzi/Papetti 4th place (5th RD, 5th FD) Shilling/Baeten 11th place (11th RD, 11th FD)

Challenge Cup 2025 (Tilburg, Netherlands, Feb 13-14, 2025)

Shilling/Baeten 8th place (8th RD, 8th FD)

Four Continents Championships (Seoul, Korea Feb 18-23, 2025)

Carreira/Ponomarenko 4th place (4th RD, 4th FD)

Road to 26 Trophy (Assago, Italy Feb 19-20, 2025 Adrian Diaz for IAMO)

Dozzi/Papetti 7th place (7th RD, 6th FD)

World Figure Skating Championships (Boston, MA)

Carreira/Ponomarenko 5th place! (6th RD, 5th FD) Ritter/Brykalov (33rd RD)

[phoenix-before-the-flame]

Stuck between wondering bout those covered FD covers and the cursed Barry B Benson "you like jazz?" Just pie facing me

Oh lmao the FD covers are hidden bcus as is tradition @kiliinstinct is not allowed to see anything of them as theyre being made :] all they ever get is cryptic messages n teasings

The you like jazz meme is just gonna be Gajeel is his white jazzy suit. Its gonna be a powerful meme image

[aibagence]

Le Gouverneur du Plateau Central encourage les forces combattantes à Mogtédo

  Burkina-Ganzourgou-Nouvel-FDS Le Gouverneur du Plateau Central encourage les forces combattantes à Mogtédo Mogtédo, (AIB)-Dans la nuit du 31 décembre 2024, le gouverneur de la région du Plateau Central, Madame Sy Assétou Barry/Traoré, s’est rendue à Mogtédo, à 85 km à l’est de Ouagadougou, pour galvaniser les Forces de défense et de sécurité (FDS) ainsi que les Volontaires pour la défense de la…

[macaroni-rascal]

Okay, I only have time for a quickie this week. What in the Barry Manilow Copacabana mess was that from the Georgians? Is the 80s theme infectious so it's spreading to the pairs? It was comically atrocious, you'd think Max would have a brain cell or two to advise them against this but I guess it's too much to hope for. All the other juniors are off the hook because they were delightful. The black/teal dress has a bit too much going on but it's the best one yet, I'm glad someone is learning from Ashley Wagner.

Has Lia missed a throw before? I don't think she has. They need to lock Trennt in a room with 4 sports psychologists as soon as he lands home. I worry all the shit he went through has messed with his sense of worthiness to be here. They set a BV world record in the free in France, so they should inch ahead of at least the second Italians, and if my prayers are answered, this soulless "Hungarian" team too. Both panels took a nice little nap during this event, bless them. I'm worried that Annika and Rob will quit ☹️.

I kinda understand why Minnie and Nikita are getting the push but also kinda not, their skating is quite clinical to me? I know they're a new team still but I'm very meh on them. I also don't understand what's going on with Rebecca and Filippo, they should be better than they actually are? She has some classic pair lines and positions yet it never seems to come together, so I get why they're good friends with MT/M. The clipped forward skating into the twist is awkward as all hell. Poor Maxime was holding on for dear life out there. I can't fully get behind them because I despise their coach and everything she represents.

The men! What an event! Shoma really is That Bitch, huh? The only gripe I have is that I'd rather Kazuki were here over Kao because he's still so underdeveloped artistically, but good on him for squeezing out a combo. But omg Ilia's costume. How is the ISU supposed to market this boy when he's clearly shopping at the circus surplus store? There are two types of skating parent/coach: the likes of those of Yuma and Matteo, who know the value of a slow build and not burning out 2-3 years out of an Olympics, and the likes of Ilia's and the Mokhov's, who are clearly frozen in time and are trying to relive their glory days through their kids (yuck), and are throwing in the technical kitchen sink at a time when it doesn't matter. Adam is really testing me but I understand why he might be dead on his feet at this point.

I hate that there's no stream from Golden Spin, Amber landed two 3A in practice (check nora_bruckner on IG for the clips). S/F seem to be reusing their Charles Aznavour FD from 3 years ago (sigh). I'm curious to see how this Aussie team develops under IAMO, they've been struggling for so long and seemed to have no resources at all. It's interesting how teams' skating skills have improved at IAMO but all the MIDA teams still have basically the same ones they arrived with (and weaker material. And barely any political push). I struggle to understand what that school's selling point is and wonder what the first team to jump ship will be (prayer circle it's G/Pa).

A perfect message, Fashionista Nonny, you continue to be an icon. I agree on all accounts about all things, amen.

[affableboar-zero]

I'm coming up with more story stuff for Rail Line #001

And I think I've come up with the semblance of an ending?

Basically the idea is we follow three storylines that are all connected at the beginning and then meet up back together in the end.

It ends with River going back to the Domes to get people out. It ends with Flint and the Flower Dome finally breaking free, almost literally shattering their dome to do it. It ends with Barry flying back with Wyatt after showing him he doesn't need to live a life he doesn't want. And then most of the Domes descend into chaos. Fire. Destruction. They're set ablaze to make a point. To show the RSA and everyone in the FDs that they cannot survive without Steele Industries.

For one very brief moment, all three of them get to meet up. Wyatt shows them the final remaining piece of the puzzle: The Train Track to the ROA, the oldest Rail Line still in use; Rail Line #001.

And then they get split up again. River, Flint, Liam and Wyatt explore the train, while Barry goes with the Resistance members to try and find his partners. They realize they're getting attacked and have to split, and Flint makes to decision to cut the cars. River and Wyatt fly off into the distance, while the back of the train slows down. Flint and Liam essentially get used as bait (because them two are very very wanted), giving River and Wyatt the time they need to speed off. Flint has the idea to blow the track up, ensuring that River and Wyatt are given time, but basically giving themselves up in the process.

The story ends with River looking out the window of a train, like she's done plenty of times before in this book, and Wyatt finally seeing a part of the world that was kept from him. The train stops, and when they step off, they are greeted with the sounds of eerie silence, as towering, ruined buildings stand before them, as they have finally step foot in the Ruins.

[arrthurpendragon]

Hi! I’m Jess. I write for Barry, Ghostbusters, Marvel (Avengers and Moon Knight), Star Wars, Stripes, Succession, Ted Lasso, Veep and possibly more who knows. My writing blog is sexy-skeleton. Here are my OCs and my fics. I have a habit of adding Desi!OCs to all my fandoms. Current muse is Ash Rajul (Hannah Simone) from The Eye of the Moon—my Moon Knight fic. Thank you, Kass. I adore you and all my OC community friends. ❤️❤️❤️

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 9: Killer Frost

Pairing: Barry Allen x OFC  // Fandom: The Flash

Story Masterlist • Previous Stories: Rise Up • It Had To Be You

Belén’s Masterlist • Fanfic • Ao3

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​ @arrthurpendragon​ @anotherunreadblog​ @maaaaarveeeeel​ @stareyedplanet​ @foxesandmagic​ @frostandflamesfanfic​

Belén and Joe desperately tried to see the force that held Barry against the wall but try as they might, they just couldn't. Anais, on the other hand, was terrified and awed. Her eyes glowed her golden hue and she directed heat beams at the metallic armor of the unknown enemy but it was like a minor cut. If anything, it just agitated the enemy even more. In a flash of a second, it was in front of Anais, grabbing her by the neck. She was thrown across the room, landing on a table which then turned and crashed on the ground.

The armored enemy returned for Barry in less than half a second. Barry could say he didn't even feel when he was briefly let go for Anais. "What the hell are you?" Despite his struggles, Barry couldn't free himself from the grasp around his neck.

"You may serve the speed force, Flash, but I rule it," the metallic armor responded. "You are only a man, but I am a god. Your god. I am Savitar."

Kill us! Get it! Or get out! Belén struggled to breathe in regularly. The voices - sentient as ever - were squirming with the fear of death and wanted to make it known.

"Alchemy!" Joe, at this point, didn't know where to aim his gun but Alchemy made it easier since he was making an escape with the stone that crystalized Wally.

"STOP!" Belén screamed, however for the others it was on behalf of Barry, but she really needed the voices to be quiet or she would lose her sanity there and then.

"Let's go for a run, and give her some space," Savitar said to Barry then zoomed out of the place with him.

Belén dropped to her knees and looked around at the mess they'd created. She screwed her eyes shut when the voices echoed for them to leave.

~ 0 ~

From the cortex, the others tried to get ahold of Barry but were stumped to find him virtually all over the city.

"The suit's tracker must be malfunctioning," Cisco tried to get in touch with Barry himself. "It says he's appearing and reappearing all over the city at once, and that's impossible. He can't be moving that fast."

"Well if he can't, maybe something else can…?" Iris nervously watched the blinking dot meant to be Barry go in and out of appearance in every corner of the street map.

"What about the others?" Caitlin murmured as she switched to the comms. They might not have visuals on the subway but their communications were still intact. "Belén? What's happened over there?"

"I-I messed up, Caitlin!" Belén was quick to respond and let her frantic state be felt from across the city. "S-something took Barry! And it hurt Anais! Wally too - I don't know! I just don't know!"

"I got it!" Cisco cheered with his arms in the air. "Whatever it is, it stopped at the waterfront!"

"We have to get to him," Iris looked between the two considerably.

"Anais is down and I...I don't think I can reach them," Belén sounded on the verge of tears. They had yet to know what happened to Wally because she messed up.

"Cisco, you can open a breach and get you both to the waterfront," Iris thought of instead since this was a clear emergency.

"Guys, I can't," Caitlin gulped just by looking at her hands. "It's too dangerous."

"I'm begging you. Please!"

~ 0 ~

"Still alive down there?" Savitar's taunt came through the raspy, drawling voice of his his armor. Even as Barry tried getting up, Savitar forced him to stay put with a foot on him. "You are only a shadow beneath my throne. You are the past, whereas I... I am the future, Flash."

A breach opened up across them and out jumped Cisco and Caitlin. Cisco lost his balance with the source of energy he just pulled for the breach.

Caitlin wiggled her fingers and looked up ahead but all she saw was Barry in midair. "I can't see it!"

"Just do it!" cried Killer Frost in Caitlin's mind. Even as she shivered from it, she fired a large quantity of ice, probably more than she ever created since she got the powers. It encapsulated Savitar's form and made it visible for her and was able to feel the deep cold through Savitar's grasp.

Barry heard the cracking of the ice and the next he knew, he dropped to the ground. Savitar had disappeared. Cracks of ice sprawled underneath Barry's form, but otherwise he felt he would manage to pull himself up with Caitlin's support.

"Oh, boy. I'm gonna feel that tomorrow. Ah," Cisco groaned as Caitlin helped him stand. "That was a new and painful use of my powers." Caitlin rubbed his arm and looked back to Barry. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just cold," Barry nodded them. "Thanks for coming."

~ 0 ~

"Barry, you're already healing. You should be fine soon," Caitlin moved over to the x-rays she'd taken from Cisco, the man lying on a bed with a hand on his forehead. "Um, Cisco, the MRI I did of your brain shows changes in the capillary morphology similar to that of a mini-stroke. I wouldn't try an intra-dimensional breach like that anytime soon."

Cisco nearly went pale as he sat upright. "Okay, okay. Mini-stroke? You can't just gloss over that like that, okay? What does that... what does that mean? Am I gonna have this migraine for the rest of my life?"

"It means you should take a few aspirin and you'll be fine," Caitlin reassured him his health.

"Oh. Well, just lead with that next time!"

"Cait, I know what a risk you took using your powers," Barry stopped her just as she was leaving the side room. "Thank you."

"I didn't do anything..." Caitlin said sheepishly.

"Well, you saved my life."

"You've saved mine plenty of times. I'm gonna go check on Wally," Caitlin turned to finally leave. As she walked on, her eyes flickered silver to dark. Let me out, Caity…

~ 0 ~

Shortly later, Belén and Anais had joined the group in the cortex, each one looking worse for wear in their own way.

"Anais, you're okay?" Cisco asked, much kinder than before now that he knew where his dampeners had actually gotten to.

Anais knew this and scowled at him in return. "You care?"

Cisco figured he had that well earned. "I said I was sorry—"

"Keep saying it, then," she walked past him to her folded suit left on a chair.

"What are you doing?" Barry asked, curiously watching her get the suit.

"I'm leaving," she announced sharply.

"What - now? You're choosing to leave now?" Cisco blinked. Just when he was beginning to like her a bit more.

"Caitlin said I finished with my tests and Barry said I could leave whenever I wanted to after that. Well, I want to leave now," Anais informed them and walked up to them. She didn't quite care for the group's reaction. "No offence, but I didn't come here to sign up for another war."

"Uh, no, you just stole the passageway of another man," Cisco reminded him but it did no good for the case.

"Here," Anais handed Barry a card with a number on it. "I'm not disappearing, but I...I just don't want to be here anymore. I just got out of a war, I can't get into another one. You understand, right?"

Barry gave a nod without the intention of pleading her to stay. Unfortunately, he could understand what Anais was trying to say. In the end, this was their problem with Savitar and Alchemy, not hers.

"Iris got me the cellphone, I will answer if you call, I swear," Anais stepped around Barry and stopped by Belén. "Please take care of yourself, okay?" Belén meekly nodded and rubbed her arm. Anais was sure there was something Belén wasn't saying but who was she to start asking questions? All Anais wanted to do was get the hell out of there before something targeted her next.

"Well, there's your daughter!" Cisco gestured after Anais once she was gone, eyes set on Barry and Belén. "You're not going to stop her!?"

Belén shrugged at Cisco. "What do you want us to do? Call her to come back and fight a battle that's not hers?"

Barry tucked the card with the number inside his pocket. "Maybe she's making the right call, alright? Let's just give her some space."

Cisco wasn't even going to waste more breath on the matter. "Fine, whatever. So what was that thing in the waterfront, anyways? All frozen and whatnot."

"I don't know. But now we know Alchemy is just the lackey," Barry said. "Whatever that thing was, it's what we're really up against."

"So why couldn't any of us see it?" Belén asked. "Joe and I, we-we tried but...there was nothing." Of course maybe she would have seen more things if she wasn't dealing with the insanity going on in her head.

"Maybe it was a speedster thing?" Cisco offered, even though there was no clear explanation for it. "I mean, Anais saw it, right?"

"Maybe, but I think he's more than a speedster," Barry admitted. "I mean, when he had me, it wasn't like we were even moving; it was just like, 'bam!' we were instantly somewhere different, even from my perspective."

"Did he say anything else?"

"He said his name was Savitar."

"Nice name," Belén said distractedly. She felt the echo of pain on the side of her head.

"Bells…" Barry stepped towards her but she sniffed and nodded to the threshold.

Belén blinked at Barry, her face flushing when she realized she wasn't paying attention again. "Uh, Wally's still...I'm so sorry." She shook her head and rushed out of the cortex.

Barry was exhausted and yet this single moment felt even worse than him getting punched by Savitar. Whatever was going on with Belén was distancing them again and the last time that happened, Belén almost didn't come back from it.

~ 0 ~

A few hours had passed by since they brought Wally back and since then, Caitlin had performed a series of tests to see his condition. Her news wasn't relatively the best except that Wally wasn't entirely dead.

Belén heard the whole news and couldn't take the guilt. She cooped herself up in the greenhouse room and tried her damn best to meditate. It wasn't working. In fact, it was perhaps one of the worst meditation attempts of her life. Belén felt like sobbing at one point. That was when Barry found her.

"Bells, c'mon..." Barry had no sophisticated strategy to get her to open up. He was too tired for that stuff today. He sat down on the floor directly in front of her, crossing one leg over the other as if he was going to meditate with her. For the first couple of minutes, he didn't say anything to her. He just looked at her.

Belén did the same. Somehow, the silence between them was even more difficult to manage than when Barry actively tried to find out what was going on with her. In the end, she gave up. "It's my fault," her confession was a quiet whisper.

"Your fault?" Barry repeated. He hoped that it was glaringly obvious how eager he was that she had finally said something to him. Hopefully it would pave the way to her revealing what was really the problem.

Belén swallowed hard. "Yeah," she nodded. "I messed up. I messed up so badly. I let Wally walk right past me to that stupid stone! He was right in front of me and do didn't do anything!"

Barry was still, honestly, stumped about that moment. Even though there was still some fuzziness about what happened there, he knew something prevented Belén from stopping Wally. She was right. He had walked right past her and she didn't do anything. That wasn't like her. Lately, she wasn't acting like herself. "Bells, you have to help me out here, what's happening? I-I am being patient, but...look at yourself. It's like when Datura was getting to you and...and you shut yourself off from everyone, including me."

Belén bit on her bottom lip nervously. As hard as things were getting, she was scared to tell Barry what was happening. "It's scaring the living crap out of me right now," she admitted.

"What is?" Barry gently pushed for the answer. He reached for one of her hands on her lap, enveloping it between his hands. "You can tell me anything."

"I'm afraid how you'll take it," Belén said, watching him carefully. Already, she saw a spark of guilt in Barry's eyes. She couldn't imagine how he would take the news that his changing the timelines truly affected her and Caitlin in the worst ways. She couldn't do that to him. "But it's okay. It's okay. I have it under control."

"But, Bells—"

Belén leaned forwards and pressed a kiss on Barry's lips. She smiled softly at him, eyes looking at him fondly. "I really love you, do you know that?"

Barry recognized a tactic when he saw one and he was ashamed that it worked. Belén was purposely keeping something away from him and he couldn't force it out of her. The only thing left to do was wait and tell her that he loved her too.

~ 0 ~

"Alright then," Veronica settled a folder of evidence on the interrogation table and watched the lone acolyte of Alchemy's shift nervously in his chair. "Now that you lost the monk disguise, we can talk. Let's start with Alchemy."

The man gave her almost a sneer.

Veronica raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't test these waters," she warned in a deadly tone. "Why don't—" the door of the room burst open with Joe.

He let the door slam behind him as he walked over to the table. "Tell me about Alchemy," he commanded. "What he does, how he does it. Say it now."

There, the man repeated his sneer. However, he spoke this time. "His powers are beyond human understanding."

"Try us," Veronica leaned back on her chair and motioned him to get a move on.

The man merely smirked. "Oh, you will be tried. All of you. When my master rises, the human race will be judged. From where I'm sitting, you will not fare very well."

Veronica was about to tell him how delirious he was when Joe reached out and grabbed the man by the nose, almost threatening to break it. Veronica, startled, straightened up on her chair.

"You think I'm playing with you? My son is in one of those cocoons, and you're gonna tell me how to get him out. Now talk!" Joe ignored Veronica's attempt to get him to stop. He was beyond words at this point. The only salvation was the relentless knock on the door.

"Please just stop," Veronica warned him when she went to go answer. "Caitlin?" she blinked then looked past her to see if she was alone.

"It's Wally," the brunette said, immediately catching Joe's attention. The man hurried over. "He's out of that thing. He's fine."

"And he's okay?"

"Yeah. He's fine. I promise."

"Oh, thank God. Thank you, Caitlin," Joe glanced back at the suspect.

"You should probably go see him, then," Veronica smiled at him. "I can take care of this joke in ten minutes."

Joe laughed and merrily went on his way.

"Actually, Belén is waiting for you in the reception," Caitlin informed Veronica. "She said it's something important."

"Oh, wonder what it is now," Veronica smiled again and walked out of the room, leaving the door to close on its own.

Caitlin struck a boot just before it did close. She waited until Veronica was out of the way then walked in, backwards, and shut the door. Her eyes flickered to the security camera up on the ceiling and shot a hand up at it, freezing it completely.

"Where is Alchemy?" she revealed her silver eyes. The white streaks of hair were already making its presence on her head. "Tell me where Alchemy is."

The man eyed her with curiosity. He was not afraid, merely interested like he expected this to happen. "I sense great fear in you. You fear your power, your own greatness."

"I don't fear anything anymore," Caitlin's voice overlapped with Killer Frost. "Where is Alchemy?"

"The only one I fear is that whom Alchemy serves, the dark lord Savitar."

Caitlin regarded that with some amusement. Her eyes became a stronger silver as she rose her hand with threatening ice. "Maybe it's time you started fearing me."

GetHimGetHimGetHim, Killer Frost commanded and this time had the perfect control over Caitlin. Ice spread to the suspect's hands, causing terrible screams to erupt.

In less than a minute there was pounding on the doors. Caitlin's eyes briefly reverted to their normal chocolate brown. Caitlin herself whimpered as she felt the force that was Killer Frost trying to push her way out again. Her eyes flashed silver again and she filled the air with a cold fog then allowed the door to open. As the two officers hurried inside, she slipped out and shut the door, icing the doorknob as a measure of caution.

She was on her way out when someone called her back.

Julian Albert stood behind with an air of confusion as he heard his co-workers calling for help from the inside of the interrogation room. When he turned to Caitlin, he gasped at her very near proximity.

"I need you to come with me," she informed with her frost smoking up from her hands.

~ 0 ~

Joe came in a hurry into Wally's room and was stunned when he found his son was in the same condition as when he left. He met the others' confused looks and explained to them that Caitlin had assured him that Wally had woken up.

"What? I didn't even see her leave," Cisco realized that Caitlin had been out of sight for a while now.

"She said that?" Belén asked, focusing on the more important details of the story.

"Yes," Joe said, quite irritated to see that it was all lies.

"That's not like Caitlin..." Iris shook her head, thinking the same as the others.

Belén was the first to realize what was going on. Iris was right. Caitlin wasn't like that. Caitlin didn't lie to get officers out of interrogation rooms.

But she knew a certain metahuman who would do all those things.

~ 0 ~

The precinct was on red alert when Barry got there. Before he reached the offices, Veronica caught him on the side, startling him.

"You have got some explaining to do!" Her snap put him even worse for wear.

"What!? I—"

"Come here," Veronica grabbed Barry by the collar and dragged him into the bullpen, ignoring his 'what' again. She stopped by her desk and pulled up the security feed of the interrogation room where they'd kept Alchemy's acolyte. "Caitlin just attacked two officers, one suspect and kidnapped Julian."

"What?" Barry leaned closer to the screen just to make sure they hadn't made a mistake. He could only see Caitlin's side profile as she iced down the camera.

"No one's recognized her from the video but if Julian gets out first, he'll turn her in," Veronica warned him. "What the hell is going on?"

"I...I don't know," Barry rubbed his forehead. Killer Frost was making her appearance, that's what. Just like her earth 2 doppelganger, the ice made her bad.

"When did she get powers? And why would she take Julian?" Veronica's questions went unanswered.

Barry couldn't focus when the bigger issues were at hand. It would be a race to find Caitlin before the cops did.

~ 0 ~

As soon as she could, Belén fled to her greenhouse room to call a certain doppelganger to answers. She faced Datura on a video call while she paced back and forth. "What the hell is happening? Killer Frost is already taking Caitlin over! You said there was more time!"

Datura snickered on the other end. "I said there was only a question of who would end up taken first. Looks like I got the answer. Killer Frost was always a rowdy, annoying meta."

"Well now she's inside my friend and she's making Caitlin do things she would never do!"

"That's the point, stupid," Datura rolled her eyes. "Killer Frost wants access, and since Caitlin is probably getting more desperate, it's been easy for Killer Frost to take over."

"But she kidnapped a friend — Killer Frost kidnaps?"

"No," Datura said with some thought put into it. She looked to the side as she recollected patterns of the Earth 2 meta. "She kills. It's in her name. I think this little outburst might be Caitlin and Killer Frost together as a...mixture. One is just fighting the other."

"So, Caitlin is actively fighting back but losing?"

"Don't know. Look at her intentions and then let me know," Datura winked then shut off the call before Belén could say more.

Belén stuffed her phone in her back pocket then rubbed her face. "Caitlin, what are you doing?" She hated to think what Caitlin might be feeling - if Caitlin was feeling anything as herself at all. If what Datura said was true, then perhaps Caitlin was on her way to merging with Killer Frost to create a whole new person.

Who would that person end up, though?

~ 0 ~

"So, they don't know why she took Julian?" Cisco asked just to be sure. He was currently trying to locate Caitlin's location and a little stress might be making it more difficult.

"No, they don't. But more importantly, they don't even know that it's Caitlin yet, so we need to find her before they do," Barry couldn't hide the urgency in his words.

"Okay, let's say we do find her, then what are we going to do?" Iris made them stop for a moment. "It's obvious she's not thinking straight but have we thought about the reasons? Maybe something that could help us?"

"Killer Frost from Earth 2 is inhabiting Caitlin's mind," Belén walked in, her face expressing nothing but guilt. "Caitlin is literally having a battle with another person inside her own body."

"She's becoming Killer Frost. It's just like in the Vibe," Cisco shook his head.

"We don't know that yet," Barry reminded, but the doubt was still hanging over everyone's head.

"Her mother said the more that she uses her powers, the faster she's gonna go," Belén relayed what Caitlin once told her. "These powers aren't just powers, they're actual people that Datura siphoned. They're sentient and some of them are more forcible than others."

"How do you know that?" Iris now laid suspicious eyes on Belén.

"Because that's what Datura told me," Belén replied, hiding behind the technicality that she was not lying. "We just need to find Caitlin and make her see what's happening."

"I tried pinging her cell and Julian's, but she must have ditched them both," Cisco said with a groan of frustration.

"Stop thinking Caitlin is a regular person and start searching for another meta with cold powers," Belén moved over to him. "The answer here is not to ignore. Caitlin's powers, they're cold, so...could we use something we used for Captain Cold?"

"We tracked him using the satellite to scan for ultraviolet cold signatures," Cisco thought about it then snapped his fingers. "You're good!" he told Belén, making her smile, and got back to work. "Frozen food warehouse! That's where she is! Okay, I'm gonna isolate the feed so that no one else can see it!"

"Please do," Belén hurried after her suit.

"Figure out what she's making Julian do," Barry instructed as he went with Belén. The two would certainly need to know to help.

~ 0 ~

Julian worked incredibly fast despite the fear over his shoulders. Caitlin had him searching for acolytes of Alchemy and with a good motivation too. Find someone or be killed. She had already proven that she was willing to follow through by giving a deadly frostbite on his wrist, so...

"I found two individuals that have searched for the name Savitar. Here are both their addresses, both of them in Central City," he stopped working and looked at the woman. He still couldn't believe this was Caitlin Snow, a friend of Belén's who'd gone mad all in a week since the last time he saw her. "What exactly are you gonna do to them?"

"I don't know," Caitlin admitted as she walked a bit to the side. Killer Frost was screaming in her head to do something more fun, to use her powers. But all Caitlin wanted to do was silence her forever. "What am I doing?" She asked as herself. The noise of typing brought the more suspicious Killer Frost out. Julian had attempted - successfully - to send a message to the police. Angrily, she iced his laptop and destroyed it. "What part of "I'll freeze you to death" did you not understand?"

"Stop!" Barry sped in with Belén. Both were stunned to see Caitlin's appearance. It was half her, half Killer Frost.

Exactly what Datura said, Belén remembered.

"Get out of here," Caitlin warned them with one hand raised.

"You know we can't do that," Barry shook his head.

Belén swallowed hard and moved towards the woman but Caitlin brandished a frosty hand. "What are you doing?" Belén whispered in disbelief. "I know the powers are doing this but you have to fight it."

"Take her out. Take her out!" Julian frantically urged behind Barry.

"That's what I'm doing," Caitlin responded as herself, taking Belén by surprise. "I'm not trying to hurt someone—"

"You are wiring to hurt someone!" Julian was the first one to argue. "Knock her out!" he ordered the two known metas.

Barry didn't hesitate to knock him out instead. Belén threw Barry a look for that, eyes sharp with disapproval.

"Priorities," Barry reminded, though his lips did try to form a smile when Belén returned her attention to Caitlin.

"Cait, these powers, we can work with them—"

"I'm doing something about it!" Caitlin snapped at Belén. "I'm finding Alchemy!"

"We will find him. All right? Together," Barry misunderstood her intentions, as did Belén, and hoped to be reassuring.

"No. You don't understand. I don't want to lock him up. I need him to help me," Caitlin frantically argued.

"Help you what?"

"I need him to get rid of my powers!"

Both Belén and Barry paused in their tracks. Belén sighed at the brunette. "Caitlin... I'm not sure Alchemy can deal with...this sort of power," Belén felt sorry to say. She wished it would be that easy.

"You don't know that it doesn't," Caitlin very logically made her point. "I need her to stop talking to me! To stop controlling me!"

"Then let us help," Barry slowly reached out for her. "We all love you, and we will do everything that we can to help you. We've been through too much together to let each other down now."

Caitlin's eyes glimmered blue and silver. "Like you helped your mother?" Her voice vibrated with Killer Frost's. "Or Wally? Or me? You keep messing with everyone's lives, wrecking everything, and we're left behind to pick up the pieces from your mistakes. Some things you break can't be put back together!"

Barry, ashamed, took that with a hang of his head. "I can fix this."

Killer Frost had no mercy. "Oh, like you fixed Cisco's family? You didn't tell Cisco that you screwed him worst of all, did you?" she purposely spoke louder for the audience watching from STAR Labs. "You hear that, Cisco? Dante was alive, healthy and happy, until Barry created Flashpoint. When he reset things, that's what killed him. Barry is the reason your brother is dead."

"Caitlin, stop!" Belén ordered but Killer Frost was not done.

The best thing about accessing Caitlin's mind was getting a full view of her memories. "You're both—" she nodded to Belén and Barry, "—meant for each other, you know. Keeping secrets, it's what you do best. At least Datura was never a hypocrite about it."

Belén's anger was quick to form. "Be quiet!" she hissed, not entirely as herself, and nearly attacked if the police force hadn't arrived.

Before the bullets could reach them, Barry got them across the room towards another exit. "Bells?" he worriedly saw her holding her head again, reminding him of the last time they'd been like this.

Caitlin, on the other hand, saw a golden opportunity. She created an icicle and stabbed Barry on the lower part of his ankle, and smirked at Barry's cry of pain. "That severed your triceps surae. Even with your healing abilities, it'll take four hours to regenerate! Don't follow me!"

"Caitlin—" Belén didn't even move an inch before Caitlin threw another threat.

"Follow me and I'll say everything," Caitlin rushed out of there.

Belén pursed her lips together, guilt settling over her like layers of mountain.

~ 0 ~

Both Veronica and Joe walked into the cortex, Axel in tow behind his grandmother. The two detectives moved directly for the side room where they could see Barry. Axel, in the meantime, stayed behind with Cisco, chatting him up with questions over what was happening but Cisco barely regarded the boy.

"I'm not a good doctor so just...tell me if that hurt?" Belén slowly pulled her hands off the bandage she'd wrapped around Barry's ankle.

"It hurts as much as I deserve probably," Barry mumbled, feeling pain alright but it didn't exactly come from his injuries.

"They took Julian to County General," Veronica informed them both. "Mrs. Andrews is with him which is why I had to bring Axel around." Axel had given up on talking to Cisco and now directed all his questions to Iris.

"He's still out cold. How hard did you hit him?" Joe had to wonder.

"I don't know. I didn't mean to knock him out," Barry swallowed the pain he felt and he moved his legs to one side of the bed.

"Mhm," Belén's sharp eyes made him reevaluate his statement.

"Or maybe I did," he relented and got himself up. Belén rolled her eyes and let him move towards the cortex.

Barry saw Cisco crossing the cortex for the desks, and took his chance at a little explanation. "Cisco. Hey, man, um, what Caitlin said…"

Cisco stopped and sent him an scrutinizing glance. "Was she lying?"

"No. Um…"

Cisco almost rolled his eyes despite tears threatening to break free. "You're sorry? That you killed my brother? 'Cause he was here. He was alive—" he enunciated slowly, one hand jabbing at Barry's shoulder, "—until you created Flashpoint, until you did this!" he shoved the speedster backwards.

Axel scurried from Iris towards his aunt. "Why are they…" he stopped when Belén warned him to stay quiet with a finger over her lips.

"I don't even know how to feel right now. All I know is Caitlin is out there, and we need to find her. Can we do that?" Cisco backed to the desk, not giving much of an alternative. "I hacked Julian's computer. Caitlin had him look up two addresses: 16 Hawthorne Avenue and 1104 Truman Place. She's trying to find the acolytes, I was trying to say."

"What exactly would she want with Alchemy's followers?" Iris wondered out loud.

"Caitlin doesn't want her powers so... she thinks these acolytes can take her to Alchemy who would then take away her powers," Belén explained. It was exactly what Caitlin, in such a state, would attempt to do.

"We heard," Cisco muttered from the computers.

"Well, two acolytes, two addresses. Which one's she gonna hit first?" Veronica inquired, but knew there was no certain answer.

"We got to watch both," Barry decided. He was shot down before he even took a step towards his suit.

"You're gonna stay here. You can barely walk," Joe pointed him to the chair.

"We can take care of Hawthorne," Belén moved over to Cisco.

"I'll take Truman," Veronica volunteered.

"I care about Caitlin, but I don't want to leave Wally," Joe admitted.

"Dad, Barry and I will stay with Wally," Iris offered instead. "You go with Detective Greene."

"Alright," Joe sighed and moved with Veronica.

Belén started for her suit in the meantime.

"Cisco, if you find her…" Barry trailed off when Cisco directed a cold glare on him.

"I won't call you. You've done enough," Cisco mumbled and went on his way.

Belén came back but before she even called for Cisco, Barry motioned her to stop. "Just be careful," he told her and limped his way to Wally's room.

"Look after him, please?" Belén asked Iris quietly. Iris assured she would, allowing Belén to go on in a relative peace.

~0~

"The acolyte's on the second floor," Veronica settled her eyes on the apartment across them. She picked up her coffee cup then offered the second one to Joe. He shook his head and simply stated ahead. "I understand how you feel about Wally but he's going to be okay."

Joe's face said something else. "How would you know?"

"I think logically," Veronica shrugged. "If they wanted him dead, then that would've happened yesterday."

The manner in which she said it was so...carefree. There really was no trace of concern in her. "How do you do that?" Joe asked incredulously.

Veronica gave a small smile. "You're forgetting my own children have been affected. My eldest is in prison for murder and theft, my son is dead and my youngest...just won't stop fighting. After a while, you catch on that no matter how many times you attempt to stop them... they won't."

"So, what? I'm just supposed to let them do what they want even when my gut tells me something's off?"

"No. You use that intuition to help them. At the end of the day they're young and don't have the same experience that we do. That's why they need us," Veronica said with the utmost certainty. She exchanged a smile with Joe after. "So next time, just follow your intuition."

~0~

The first acolyte had been signaled out as the one chosen by Caitlin. She was sneaky like Killer Frost, but cautious like Caitlin as she waited for the acolyte, named Craig apparently, to come out of his bedroom. Just as the he went for the temperature controller, she let the hiss of her ice scare him into turning around.

"Both of my parents are doctors. It's all I ever wanted to be. Growing up, I used to practice the Hippocratic Oath. I was obsessed with it," she started moving towards the nab who only plastered himself against the wall. "If anyone was even gonna step on a bug, I would say, 'Do no harm'. It's built into my DNA." She raised a finger at him, letting ice encapsulate around it to create a perfect icicle. "Unfortunately, my DNA isn't what it used to be. So, believe me when I say answer every one of my questions, or I will harm you and your family." This left the acolyte with no choice. "Who is Alchemy?"

"I don't know. I've never seen him without the mask!"

"I know he can give people powers. Can he take them away?"

"Yes. But you can't make Alchemy do anything. He's just an acolyte, like me," the man admitted, his eyes constantly flickering to the icicle threatening to claw his eyes out. "We both serve the speed god, Savitar. He's shown us the future. I saw you there." Caitlin's eyes turned back to their regular color, even the icicle disappearing from her finger. "You were glorious and powerful. My lord has special plans for you. He will come to you and speak to you. The honor of that is..." his laughter only brought out Caitlin's fear even more. "He will call you...the Bringer. After all, only you, Caitlin Snow, can bring Her."

Caitlin backtracked, her eyes going back and forth between blue and brown. She was terrified. She needed to leave - now! She hurried out of the house, but by the time she managed to get out, Killer Frost was surfacing again. The light rain made for an eventful night, at least that's what Killer Frost kept saying in the head.

"Caitlin!" Cisco's voice stopped her across the road.

She smirked at him. "Really? You brought your toys?" she nodded to his goggled which he had yet to put on.

Cisco's hand gripped around hid goggles. "I'm hoping it won't come to that."

Caitlin raised her icy hands. "It won't."

"Look, I'm not leaving you out here. I want to help you."

"There's only one person who can help me."

"Really? You really think seeking medical advice from someone named Dr. Alchemy is the way to go?"

"Why not? My name is Killer Frost," Caitlin threatened to shoot frost from her hands.

Cisco moved a step forwards. "Your name... is Caitlin Snow.

"Can Caitlin Snow do this?" Caitlin's eyes glowed stronger. Killer Frost commanded her to start firing, and so she did. Icicles stormed towards Cisco and since he couldn't bring himself to attack yet, he ran for cover behind a tree.

Caitlin pulled back a hand to fire stronger but a vine latched onto her wrist, preventing her from moving it. Belén stood behind her, very much in the same cautious state as Cisco. "Caitlin, please!"

"My name is Killer Frost!" Ice zoomed up Belén's wrapped vine, forcing her to let it go before it reached her. Caitlin then whirled around and blasted a powerful mass of frost at the other woman. "Why fight me? We could be a killer team, you know."

Belén motioned Caitlin to calm down. "Caitlin, I know it's hard. The voice is strong but you are stronger. Don't let her control you."

"I'm doing fine, thanks! Can't say the same for you!" Caitlin swung icicles like boomerangs at Belén, forcing the meta to fight back. She moved forwards as her poison swished forwards along with pieces of vines trying to trap Caitlin but it wasn't enough to keep her down. The frosty meta engaged Belén in hand combat.

"Belén! Move!" Cisco put on his goggles, figuring that the best thing would be to bring Caitlin back to STAR Labs...and for that she needed everyone to help.

"I can't!" Belén was in the middle of dodging Caitlin who was probably drawing on Killer Frost's combat skills.

"Unleash those powers," Killer Frost taunted in-between punches. "You know they're itching to play!"

She's right. Let us out! Belén heard the voices begin to scream. With that distraction, Killer Frost backhanded her to the ground.

"Come on out!" she practically demanded, going as far as putting a boot over Belén's back.

Belén screwed her eyes shut but this time the voices weren't going away. They were doing the same thing Killer Frost said to. They wanted to come out.

Caitlin was drawn back by the noises of a zip. She caught Barry's light as he charged towards them. She froze the roadside and watched as the speedster slipped over and rolled on the ground. She walked over to him, glaring down. "How's the leg?"

Barry hated her sense of humor at the moment. He saw her boots from the corner of his eyes and retaliated in the simplest way. He swiped his arm across her legs and knocked her down beside him.

"I'm sorry, Caitlin," he heard her groans beside him and truly felt bad for her. Everything she said was right. It was his fault.

"That was cold, Flash," she gave him his due. "But this is colder." She jumped to her next move and straddled him, planting her lips over his for a frosty kiss.

Cisco knew it was time to act no matter his feelings. He could practically see Barry's blue face thanks to Caitlin. Belén was still on the ground once again raging at herself to 'stop' ... again. Cisco put on his goggles and struck Caitlin with a vibe energy that knocked her over a car. Cisco then came running forwards.

"Start vibrating. It'll warm you up," he left that advice for Barry on the ground.

Caitlin was just attempting to get up when she felt a hand curl around her ankle. "Oh let go you pathetic plant girl," she hissed with a raging icy hand.

"You wanted me out? Now I'm out," Belén had an unusual glare on her face, her eyes glimmering colors.

"Bells, just hold her!" Cisco ran up to them with the intention of knocking Caitlin out.

"I've got a better idea," Belén smirked. Heat erupted from her free hand and sent Cisco back against the same car that Caitlin had rolled over.

Start killing! Get them all out! Let us be free! The voices chanted in unison. Belén felt herself slowly lose against them. She didn't want to be like Caitlin, she wanted to control them...but she was so tired. The stronger they got, the less pain Belén felt, the less stress and ache.

"Well, you came out to play," Caitlin as Killer Frost looked down at Belén with a smug face.

Belén held her head in pain. "Leave me alone, Frost!"

Caitlin circled the woman, taunting her to come out and match her powers. "We could have some fun, can't you see? I hadn't thought about it before but, after all you were the one who wanted me to come out with Caitlin."

"I SAID STOP!" Belén screamed and whirled around to deliver a punch across Caitlin's face. She raised her hands above her head and let white energy blink into existence around them.

"Belén?"

Belén lowered her arms but kept the moon energy stirring between her hands as she turned to face Barry. He was stunned to find Cisco outcold over a car, Caitlin pretty much under the same state on the ground and... Belén being the cause of it. Her white eyes made him fear that perhaps Killer Frost wasn't the only one who was affected by the siphoning device. Had he done that to her as well?

"Shoot," Belén commanded, but as herself trying to regain control. The power around her hands struggled to keep itself going. "I don't want…" her white eyes flickered to Caitlin, "...I don't want to be...like her...knock me out!"

Barry couldn't believe his ears. Belén stumbled towards him, begging him to do what she asked. "But Belén—"

"KNOCK ME OUT!" she screamed at Barry, eyes flickering to gold. The sight terrified him. "DO IT!"

Barry shut his eyes and absolutely hated himself. He streaked forwards and knocked Belén down as cautious as possible. A smack would be enough, he hoped.

~0~

The next time Caitlin awoke, she found herself inside the pipeline with the group, save Belén, staring at her from the other side with sympathy. "Phew, guess I just needed a little sleep. Thanks, guys. I'm feeling much better now. It's okay. You can let me out. I promise I'm not gonna hurt anybody." Her eyes blue eyes scanned the group to see if anyone faltered, but they knew better. "Hmm. Guess you're all smarter than I thought. You know, that was some blast there, Vibe boy. It kind of hurt."

Cisco's eyes were still glossy with tears. He couldn't believe this is what they were reduced to in the end. "I didn't want to hurt you."

Caitlin's face contorted to disgust. "You're pathetic."

"Alchemy can't help you. But we can. I promise," Barry couldn't stop staring at her, hoping that she would come out of her trance.

Caitlin scoffed. "Oh, like you promised Eddie? And like you promised Ronnie? You know, for a hero, Flash, you sure let a lot of people around you die."

"This isn't you talking. It's the powers. They're messing with your mind. You're sick—"

"Killer Frost might be in my head but Caitlin is broken, Barry. And that's all your fault," Caitlin tapped her finger against the wall. A smug smile spread across her face, almost threatening to laugh. "But this time around, justice came through. You're not getting away with a happy ending this time. You hurt the person you supposedly love most. Belén? She's going to become just like me and then we'll take this city together."

Barry swallowed hard, the guilt he felt once now too hard to push with words of comfort. "We're not letting this happen…" He reached for the controller's to close the pipeline up.

"You did this to me!" Caitlin raged from the inside just before she was lost behind the pipeline.

"Do you have any idea how we can reverse this?" Barry turned to Cisco, hoping for anything at this point. "How we can get her back?"

Cisco refused to look at him. "It's like Caitlin said: sometimes when things get broken, they can't be fixed."

~0~

Belén sat at the edge of the medical bed with her head held low in shame. She couldn't stop staring at the meta dampener cuffs adorning her wrists. Cisco must have put them on her after being taken back to STAR Labs. The voices were dead silent in her head. It was as if everything was normal again.

Except she wasn't. She was far from it.

The sound of footsteps rose her head. She was mortified to see her friends and mother staring at her with...pity. She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head over her knees.

"I'm sorry," she said, not that it mattered. She had punched her friend and thrown the other over a car. One apology made no difference.

Barry asked with a pleading look to let him talk to her first.

"Do not let her become like Caitlin," Veronica warned with the same hostility she once showed him when they first met. She was angry. Hell angry.

Barry cleared his throat and walked into the side room once the others had gone. "This was it, wasn't it? The thing that you were hiding? It was about this and Caitlin."

"I could never say anything about Caitlin. It wasn't my secret to tell," she rose her head once more. "And I just didn't want you to think it was your fault."

"But it is," Barry said grimly, "This is all my fault. In the other timeline, this didn't happen to you. It didn't happen to Caitlin either."

"It does no good to think about that anymore," Belén said, letting out a heavy sigh, "You can't change it anymore. If I could, I would have tried to fix this on my own."

"But you shouldn't have to," Barry said, coming over to sit down on the bed with her, "This is my fault so please let me help to fix this. We're a team, right? You and I, we're partners above everything and everyone else. Please, trust in me that I will fix this."

"There's not much to work with," Belén said, "The voices are just getting stronger now."

"These voices... there's more than one?"

Belén nodded. "There's three. One who controls earth, the other controls the moon elements and the other has heat abilities. They're some of the victims Datura siphoned and killed. They're mad and they want to be free. Datura said that it's only a matter of time until I lose it. She was right about Caitlin, so…"

"Datura?" Barry raised an eyebrow at her. "You've been speaking to that woman?"

"Yeah, she called me one day because apparently she can now see the future sometimes. I visited her too," Belén said, deciding it was best to put it all out there now that the truth was out. "We, uh, we made a deal. She said she'll help and in return, she'll get Frost's power back. But being honest...I don't think she'll be able to reverse it. And I certainly don't want to wear these," she raised her cuffed hands. "If I have to live with these powers, then I want to control them. I don't want to hide them."

Barry ultimately knew she wanted the cuffs off. He could already hear Veronica shouting that it wasn't the safest thing but...he had already messed up by creating this situation. The least he could do was give Belén her choice. It was all he had. He reached over and unlocked the cuffs. Cisco had placed a password on it just in case Belén switched personalities again. Belén was a bit awed that he was listening so easily. Anyone else would've told her absolutely not.

"I'm sorry for doing this to you, but I swear I will do anything and everything I can to help you," Barry promised her. "Just please don't feel like you need to be sorry. This isn't on you."

"Yeah, well, it doesn't exactly help to hear you continually blame yourself. There's nothing you can do by that," she leaned her head against his arm.

"I should have just followed you inside the house," Barry deeply regretted that night he changed the timelines. He had everything and he didn't see it. It would probably be his biggest regret.

"But you didn't, and that's the fact. I'm sorry you feel this way but...there is nothing you can do to change it. There is no fixing. We are not projects," she shifted her head to look up at him. "We are your friends and we need you."

Barry wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer. "I've been the villain of this story, Bells."

"Change the course," Belén said, resting her head on his shoulder.

Their moment was cut short when the lights mysteriously malfunctioned in the building. The only possible source of power had to be from Wally. The two metas hurriedly rushed towards Wally's room and found Joe in the middle of breaking Wally out of his cocoon.

"Joe! Hey! What are you doing?" Barry frantically urged him to stop but Joe had already made the decision long before. "You can't cut him!"

"I have to!" Joe argued back. He didn't want Joe to follow in Caitlin's footsteps, nor Belén's. With the help of a power saw, the cocoon was opened in half but along with it came an odd noise.

Barry figured what it was and sped the others away from the cocoon just as an energy exploded from it. Smoke filled the room over the tipped over furniture. There was only s familiar vibrating noise heard and it wasn't from Barry.

Wally stood in the middle of the room, his entire body vibrating. His gaze slowly went around the room but he never made a noise. Then, just like that, he zipped out of the room.

The group quickly intended on finding him, as well as seeing what exactly the cocoon made him.

"No sign of Wally. I've got the satellite scanning the entire city for rapid movement," Cisco called from the desk.

"If he's a speedster, he could be halfway across the country by now," Iris remarked, still unable to believe what they'd seen mere minutes ago.

"Barry, we have to find him," Joe felt the urgency of a parent but also knew it was his fault. He had only wanted to help his son before something bad happened.

"I'm more worried about what happens when we do find him," Barry admitted. "He didn't seem like he was all there."

"I shouldn't have cut him out of that thing," Joe put his hands over his head.

"If we have no way of knowing what effects Wally did under...should we really try to find him first?" Belén asked. "We need to be smart about this and the only one who could possibly know is…"

"Caitlin," Barry exhaled. "We need a biochemist."

"And how do we break her out of...whatever is in her?" Veronica inquired, accusing eyes landing on her daughter. She had spotted the clean wrists.

Belén sucked in a breath and walked to the desk. "Killer Frost from Earth 2 expects us to fix Caitlin by erasing the powers, her mind. If we want Caitlin back, then we need to remind her who she is."

"Remind her who she is? I think I can do that," Barry decided to play one last card and headed for the pipeline.

Veronica quickly took her daughter by the wrist to the side. "What the hell are you doing? Where are the cuffs?"

"I'm not wearing them," Belén pushed her mother's hands off and returned to the desk.

"I knew we shouldn't have given Barry the password," the woman came after her.

"Mom, you can't just lock them up! I mean, that's exactly what Caitlin tried to do and look where she is right now?" Belén turned to Cisco with the most sincere face possible. "Cisco, I swear I am so sorry that I threw you over a car! I'm sorry that I lied to everyone but you cannot force me to shut my powers away!" she shouted. "Like I said to Barry I am not a project to fix!"

Get them. Make them fear you, Belén closed her eyes and leaned on the desk. The others exchanged cautious glances.

~0~

Caitlin was smug when Barry reopened her prison. It was going to be difficult convincing her but Barry was not planning on stopping.

"We need your help, Caitlin. Wally... he's... he's out of the cocoon, but his biochemistry is all out of whack. He went AWOL."

Caitlin casually leaned against the back wall of the pod. Her lips formed a mock pout. "So?"

"So, when we find him, he's gonna need your help. He's gonna need your medical expertise, your experience with metas. What he needs is Caitlin Snow, MD."

Caitlin gave a mocking laugh. "So, you came to try and talk some sense into me."

"No. I came to let you go," Barry moved to the controls again and opened up the pod.

Caitlin waited a second fir any trick he might be holding back on. Barry just stood there waiting for her. She mocked him and walked out. "For a smart guy, that was an awfully dumb move."

"Like I said, you're free to go."

"What's the catch?"

"You have to kill me," Barry answered in a matter of fact tone.

From the cortex, Iris was deadlocked on the plan, thinking it stupid. "What is he doing!?"

"He's bringing Caitlin back," Belén shushed her, she and Cisco being the only ones not as worried. She had faith that their friend was still there, and if Barry really wanted to help them then he needed to be the one to take the leap. He was faster; he could move if he needed to.

Caitlin raised an eyebrow at Barry and moved up to him. He didn't move an inch. "You want to fight, Flash?"

"No. I'm not gonna fight you," Barry continued with his nonchalantness. "But if you want to leave this room, you're gonna have to kill me."

"Don't think I won't," Caitlin warned, Killer Frost lacing every word spoken.

"Then do it."

Caitlin turned her palm over and created one lone icicle.

Barry braced himself and didn't move an inch. Caitlin, for some reason, only raised the icicle to his chest. "What are you waiting for? What's the big deal? Come on! Live up to your name, Killer Frost. I want to see some killing!" he grabbed onto her wrist holding the icicle and yanked her forwards. "You want to be the villain? This is what they do. They kill their friends, because nothing matters to them anymore, right?"

Caitlin seemed to struggle to push the icicle. Killer Frost raged to do it already so they could go. I can't, Caitlin was the one to think. She's not in control.

"Kill me, Caitlin!" Barry practically ordered to the still woman. "You can't do it. You can't, because underneath all that cold, you're still you."

Caitlin released a shaky breath, Killer Frost's rage was being sealed away at least for the time being. She was not a killer. Killer Frost could not make her become that. Absolutely not.

The blue in her eyes faded away and were replaced by tears. She dropped the icicle in her hand and broke into sobs. "Barry!"

Barry hugged her with no hard feelings. "It's okay. I got you. It's okay." He held her tight and sighed of relief to have her back with them.

~ 0 ~

Caitlin felt a huge relief having the meta-dampeners back on her wrists. Her mind was clear again, there was just her and only her. It left her entirely focused on Wally's current state, the latter still unfound. She'd taken a couple of bits left over by the cocoon to see where exactly Wally's structure was at the moment. And because of it, she was able to form an injection that might help him.

"I think extracting Wally early from that cocoon left him in a fugue state. His synapses aren't used to functioning at super-speed, so his mind and muscles are misfiring," she stopped by Barry with the serum ready to go.

"I mean, will this stuff help?" Joe eyed the serum with weariness.

"I've synthesized a neural compound that I think will get his mind and body running at the same speed. We just have to find him first."

"Well, computers aren't doing a damn thing," Cisco muttered from his spot at the desk. He rubbed his face then dropped his hands and turned to the group. "I don't know what else to do."

"But maybe Joe does," Veronica gave the man a glance, knowingly smiling. "Father's know best. "What's your intuition saying?"

Joe had to smile, but didn't disregard her attempt that fast. He got to wondering if perhaps Wally wasn't lost. What if he had just...gotten nostalgic in that state he was in? When nothing made sense, what kept him together?

"The house that he grew up in," he said before he could even solidify the thought. "He used to go there when he missed his mother. In Keystone."

"Let's go," Barry got ahold of him and left together.

As soon as they were gone, Caitlin moved towards Cisco and Belén with that face that spelled utter guilt. "I, uh... I just wanted to…"

"It's okay," Cisco got up from his desk and hugged her tight. "You scared me for a second, getting all Mother of Dragons on me with that hair."

Caitlin managed to chuckle but she was still feeling pretty bad in regards to Belén. "I shouldn't have said anything, b-but I...I wasn't…"

"You don't need to explain anything to me, Cait, I know exactly what that feels like," Belén raised her hands. "I guess they had to know sometime…"

"Still freaked us out…" Iris was heard mumbling from her spot. "I nearly went reporter on you two earlier."

"I know," Belén mocked a putout face. "But it's a scary thing, and that's why we kept quiet. But rest assure—" she placed a hand on Caitlin's arm, "—that we will find a way to help you. Datura said she wanted her power back, so...she's on board."

"Woah, woah, we're letting psycho-Belén help us now?" Cisco went wide-eyed at the news, something that both Iris and Veronica shared.

"You can't be serious," Veronica shook her head. "Tell me you're not serious."

"Who's psycho-Belén?" Axel looked up from the tablet he'd gotten from home.

"No one, go back to your games," Veronica shushed him with a pointed finger.

"It's okay, we're on the same boat - believe it or not - so she's helping," Belén made it clear this was something that had already been decided.

"But did she ask for something in return besides her power?" Caitlin had to wonder. Datura, while Belén, was still dangerously ambitious.

Belén cleared her throat and shook her head. "Nope, just Frosty back." There was no point in telling Caitlin that she would also have to give up her powers to Datura as well. Caitlin felt terrible enough.

That would just remain her little secret till the end.

~ 0 ~

"Oh, so she got back to normal?" Belén rolled her eyes at her doppelganger's disappointment of Caitlin triumphing over Killer Frost.

"Please, don't try to hide your goodness…" Belén sat down on the edge of her bed and glared at Datura on her phone screen.

"Can't hide what I never had," Datura snorted and put a finger to her chin. "Though I do have to express my disappointment of getting this prediction wrong."

"What prediction?"

"I saw Killer Frost in all her frosty glory," Datura shared the vision she'd gotten that day, earlier, but nonetheless about Killer Frost.

"So your psychic abilities aren't always correct, then?"

"Well of course not, the future is never written in stone."

"So...right now, what do you see about...me?"

"Ooh, scared are we?" Datura was quick taunt before laughing. Belén hated her, she really did, because it was fear that was constantly coursing through her. Datura leaned closer to the screen. "I see nothing."

"I know you see something you—"

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Dream about that," the doppelganger spat and ended the video chat.

Belén growled and tossed her phone over her shoulder. She buried her face in her hands and thought about the possibilities if she did not learn to control these powers. She already made it clear to her friends that suppressing them was not an option for her - it never would be.

When she heard the front door unlocking, she quickly jumped up from the bed and ran up to the mirror. She didn't want to look so distressed when they had oh-so many problems as it was.

"Yikes," she whispered at her reflection. She combed through her hair with her fingers and walked out of the room to see how Barry did with...getting Julian not to say a word about Caitlin. She offered to go herself but Barry decided that he needed to, because it was part of him owning up to his mistakes. Barry had a somber face until he saw Belén coming out of the hallway. "So, how did it go?" she leaned against the hallway threshold. "Is he going to tell? Do you need me to try?"

How could Barry tell her that one of her closest friends had forced him to quit his job so that Caitlin could avoid jail? He couldn't. At least not tonight when Belén was already looking far too tired to deal with something else. "He's not going to say anything," he informed her with a the tiniest of smiles.

A big relief washed over Belén, even making her laugh towards the end. "Oh my God that is so good to hear!" she walked over and hugged him tight, swaying them a bit.

"Yeah," Barry rubbed her back and rested his chin over her head. Keeping his sudden departure from his job wasn't going to last a day, probably not even a week, but for tonight he would like to give Belén a moment of peace.

After everything, she deserved that much.

[hogwarts-is-my-wonderland]

To Be Human

She was told her life wasn’t supposed to go like this, but in a world shaped by Speedsters, Karen Starr was lucky enough to be heading right where she should. Even if the journey took longer than the first round.

Chapter Six│Cold, Cold Heart

Chapter Summary: While a certain IT girl makes waves in Central City, Karen remains unaware that her enemies (new and old) are closing in on her. 

"Is this really what I think it is?" she muttered.

The scientist came close, standing over her shoulder and leaning down to murmur in her ear. "Yes. It is, my dear. Perhaps not it, but the stone's source is the very same as the one that saved your friend fourteen years ago."

"Meteor rock," she breathed. The acknowledgment forced her to step back—right into the man's chest.

Mattie was aware of this particular brand of meteor rock's existence. It had been covered at Midvale High by a boring teacher, a woman who droned on and on about the meteor shower that almost destroyed Smallville, a town at the edge of Kansas and mystifyingly close to Midvale, her hometown. She knew, like every classmate of hers did, that many organizations had come knocking on the town's door, wanting to get a glimpse of the mysterious green stones that the government had decreed to be a danger to society.

What no one else knew was that green was not the only color to exist. There was red, gold, white, and the same shade of blue that had haunted Karen Starr for years. The very same blue as the strange liquid her body sweated out in those feverish months after Wells' particle accelerator nearly annihilated the city... and whose samples she'd sent to the man behind her.

It was like dealing with the green meteorite all over again. But this time, she felt the chill of foreboding creeping up her bones.

She'd committed a grave mistake. A big one.

ffn / wattpad

[raging-violets]

⚡️The Flash and the Flame Series 🔥 : Flash Fire • Crossfire • Fuel to the Fire • Friction

Chapter Thirty-Nine

“Grandma!”

“Oh God.”

Barry immediately moved in front of Cadence before Maya could hear her daughter’s remark. Maya brought Brady and Connor to her in a tight hug, kissing the two of them on top of the head before sweeping into the apartment. Brady closed the door behind her, eagerly following her across the floor of the apartment where she wrapped Barry and Cadence in hugs as well.

“Hi, Maya, what are you doing here?” Barry asked. He stepped back to Cadence and put his arm around her. Partly to ensure she felt comfortable with the impromptu visit from her mother, but also so that he could move fast enough if he needed to calm his fiancé down at a moment’s notice. “We were just headed out the door.”

“Yeah, it’s not really a good time, mom,” Cadence added.

Maya waved her hand. “Oh, I don’t mind staying a few hours in here. I can entertain myself. And besides, it’s been a little while since I came to visit my favorite daughter.” She thought for a minute. “Is my other daughter still here? The other Earth one?”

“Jesse and Harry went back to their Earths as few days ago,” Barry explained. “After the bachelorette and bachelor parties. They needed to ensure things were going smoothly over there. But they’ll be back for the wedding.”

“Oh.” Maya pouted for a second. Then her sunny demeanor was back. “Well, we can always visit later. And I want to hear about how your parties went when you get the chance. But I’m also here in Central City on official wedding business.”

Cadence stared at her blankly. “What business.”

Maya mimicked her look, blinking back at her daughter. “Your wedding dress? I got the message that it came in.”

“What do you mean? My dress isn’t due to be in for another week.”

“Oh, I mean the dress I chose!”

Barry felt Cadence tense up under his arm. He felt her muscles tense and, all at once, a rush of heat radiated off her body that made beads of sweat appear on his forehead. Reaching over, Barry grabbed a nearby dish towel and wiped the sweat away. He exchanged glances with Brady, whose eyes shifted back and forth between his mother and grandmother.

“I already have a dress, mom,” Cadence said. “Remember, you and the girls are going to come see my do my reveal in it soon.”

“Oh, I know.” Maya carefully placed her purse on the counter, after brushing muffing crumbs off the countertop. She glanced at her hand, running her fingers over her palm, then turned her attention back to her daughter and future-son-in-law. “This is just a favor for a friend. We’ll go and look at some dresses and then tell her that you were thinking of one from another store. Honey, you remember Erika, don’t you? Erika Van Horn?”

“Vaguely.” Cadence’s nose wrinkled.

Tag List: @foxesandmagic​  @witchofinterest @hogwarts-is-my-wonderland​  @darknightfrombeyond​ @saiilorstars​ @itsjustgracy​ @ocappreciationtag​  @arrowverseocs​  @the-witching-ash

[tessasarrowverse]

oops another oc: tara merlyn in “the queen’s gambit”

unable to remember her mother and growing up with a hellish man for a father had done a number on Tara Merlyn, especially since all she’d heard growing up was how much she resembled both of them. Her father’s intelligence and her mother’s beauty. A lethal combination that always made her feel inadequate, especially when it came to Malcolm’s ‘lessons’.

All she had left in life was her brother Tommy and the Queen family, although Oliver and Thea Queen were always more of her brother’s friends than hers. 

But when the Vigilante crashes into the Starling City Gala and saves her dad’s life, her newfound knowledge regarding who Oliver Queen truly is taunts her, and she can’t give up until she knows more.

 taglist: @perfectlystiles @witchofinterest @randomfandoming1 @vivis-ghost-wife

[witchofinterest]

asdfghjkl i forgot sam’s costume just includes sun glasses. their fixed not to fall off and to help her see with all the air rushing around her/temperature changes, but they just look like ray-bans.

[mystic-scripture]

“You are the cutest nerd I know.” 

Mystic’s 400 Follower Giveaway 6/?

Cassandra Merlin and Barry Allen for @the-october-reviewer

[bluebell-winter]

Barry was broken after his friends decide to stop being his friend after he created Flashpoint. His teenage god-sister, Madeleine Summerton, was broken after being orphaned in a car accident and being addicted to painkillers a year prior. After battling her addiction, Barry has to step up and take care of Madeleine. But can two broken people put each other back together again? Season 3. AU.