You Bring Out The Worst In Me~
Sep. 16th, 2025 05:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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flashpoint_heroesIt had been some time ago that Thawne had gotten the results of Claire's blood. He messaged her and to his surprise the text kicked back. A phone call told him the number had been disconnected. It only took a little bit of research with Gideon to get her address from this time period only to find out she'd moved. Recently. And where had she moved to? Of all places in the world but Central City. The hometown of his foe. A place he spent fifteen years of his life. It was time to visit his old rival.
Silent observation was key. He kept his distance, but immediately, he felt something interesting. Barry Allen was having trouble handling the Speed Force. The fumbles were small, but enough that he could feel them when Barry faltered. Ahh, so this was around his encounter with the Chameleon. That made sense. What drove a dagger into his heart though was to see Barry Allen and Claire Bennet together. After he'd shared everything with her. Told her how Barry ruined his life. Even if he never said Allen's name, he called him the Flash, and she clearly knew who he was. How could she betray him?!
Just one more reason to hate Barry. One more thing Barry stole from him. One more reason to destroy The Flash. He'd have to teach them both a lesson.
There was a knock at Noah's hotel door. Harrison was standing politely on the other side, waiting for Noah to answer.
Silent observation was key. He kept his distance, but immediately, he felt something interesting. Barry Allen was having trouble handling the Speed Force. The fumbles were small, but enough that he could feel them when Barry faltered. Ahh, so this was around his encounter with the Chameleon. That made sense. What drove a dagger into his heart though was to see Barry Allen and Claire Bennet together. After he'd shared everything with her. Told her how Barry ruined his life. Even if he never said Allen's name, he called him the Flash, and she clearly knew who he was. How could she betray him?!
Just one more reason to hate Barry. One more thing Barry stole from him. One more reason to destroy The Flash. He'd have to teach them both a lesson.
There was a knock at Noah's hotel door. Harrison was standing politely on the other side, waiting for Noah to answer.
Not at all surprised that a fic like that exists! lol
Date: 2025-11-01 10:55 am (UTC)"Eddie was talking about asking Eobard for help, actually," Claire replied with a shaky sigh. The part about Eobard saying he was been trying to do better, that was haunting her. "I shot that idea down. Figured he'd find out one way or another eventually so I told him I know Eobard. but I didn't tell Eddie anything about our plans. I just said I didn't know if Eobard would help more than he already has, and mentioned a message from the future. I didn't go into details."
Claire pulled back to meet Barry's eyes with a worried frown. "I didn't just put Eddie in danger, did I? Or Iris? He just-- there was this look in his eyes, like he really didn't want to leave. And he seemed genuinely concerned when I mentioned my life was in danger, so I thought it'd be nice. Two birds, you know? He gets a little more time with Iris, and maybe his detective skills can be of some help." She tried to smile again, but she was still worried. "And we can definitely double-date."
If that went well, maybe she could show Iris a trick or two in the kitchen. It'd be nice if they could be friends, and if Claire could let go of all those jealous feelings. That'd stick it to Eobard, combating all his hate and conflict with love and friendship. The prospect of two different double-dates was exciting too. Barry had turned her into such a romantic, she could swear - now love was in the air!
"Did you know Eddie looked me up when he heard we were dating?" she asked, trying not to laugh.
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Date: 2025-11-01 04:49 pm (UTC)"What? No. You didn't put anyone in danger. Eddie's the kind of guy who probably already had his mind made up to stay. Let me tell you something about Eddie; before he even knew I was the Flash, he wanted to arrest the Flash. He hated the idea of a masked vigilante. Afraid I could just use my powers to turn against the people I was helping since I hid my face because there would be no repercussions. But when I was fighting Snart and Rory, Snart had me dead to rights. I was on the ground and Snart and Rory were over me with the Cold and Heat Guns about to finish me off and Eddie jumped in with a ballistic shield. He blocked their fire and saved my life. He didn't know who I was, he didn't even like the Flash, he could have died there. But he did it anyway. Eddie impulsively acts on his desire to do the right thing. He would have helped anyway."
Her next admission made him laugh. "You know, I'm surprised Joe didn't do the same thing. He was Joe's partner. Detective Pretty Boy Joe used to call him before they actually became friends. But he tried to treat us like family."
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Date: 2025-11-01 05:20 pm (UTC)"I told him about visions of me dying, keeping it vague. He said he knew someone who could change the future, about figuring out how to get ahold of him. I immediately guessed Eobard, 'cause who else could it be?" Her expression darkened some, and it seemed she was trying not to get choked up. "I think Eddie knows the Reverse-Flash saved him. He... he mentioned something about Eobard saying he was trying to do better. That was the way he was with me, when he thought I could help him. But I don't know what he told Eddie, beyond that."
The trail of manipulation just never ended, and it kept creating new paths to make her feel guilty. She couldn't feel too guilty about Eddie's life being saved, but if anything bad happened now, she would feel at least partly responsible.
"There's not a ton out there about me, but he did find the footage of my Ferris wheel jump," Claire admitted, trying not to cringe. "Rebel helps a lot to get the worst stuff deleted - not that I'm really trying to cover anything bad up, but there are a bunch of mean articles that have been written about Evos in general, not just me. My friend Becca has a blog she uses to put out good stories about us. She also writes about crime stories, spooky stuff, and anything weird. Which... reminds me, I gotta send Cisco her info."
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Date: 2025-11-01 06:18 pm (UTC)"Hey, I'm not worried. I don't think there's anything in your past that would make me think poorly of you." Barry kissed her softly. "You're everything to me."
"You might give her Cisco's number too. If I know Cisco, he'll probably assume he's not good enough and never message her."
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Date: 2025-11-01 06:52 pm (UTC)Claire melted as Barry kissed her, then snuggled in once again. She still couldn't bring herself to talk about that part of the timeline out loud. What was the point, anyway? Barry wanted to be with her, that much was obvious. It wasn't fair to expect him to prove that to her over and over, just because Eobard kept getting under her skin.
"I've told you most about what I worried about telling, anyway." The whole Building 26 mess was slightly concerning, but she took comfort in Barry's reassurance. Fortunately her distrust in the government - and to an extent, law enforcement - didn't run that deep.
"Yeah, I was gonna swap their info. It's funny, she'll probably think the same thing, but she'll be way too curious not to message him," she said with a chuckle. Once they got talking, Becca might think she didn't deserve someone as nice as Cisco, but Claire was confident they'd complement each other well. And compliment, for that matter. She softly kissed Barry's neck. "I think it's spaghetti time, and I think somethin' sweet, too. Wanna bring some goodies to the lab to share with the gang tomorrow."
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Date: 2025-11-01 09:31 pm (UTC)Barry smiled, with a little shiver, lifting his shoulder to hide the goosebumps the kiss to his neck caused. "Looking out for my best friend, my foster sister, me and the rest of the gang? You're just too perfect! You sure you're not an angel?" He teased and lifted them both off the couch, setting her down gently on her feet. "Do you need me to grab any ingredients from the store? Then I can help you bake. Which really means I'll just get in the way and get covered in flour or powdered sugar while looking adorably helpless because I don't really bake."
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Date: 2025-11-01 10:01 pm (UTC)"I could be asking the same thing about you," Claire teased, filing his reaction to her kiss in her memory for another time. "You take such good care of me."
She headed into the kitchen, poking around in the cupboards and fridge for the things she'd need. "Looks like we've got everything we'll need, actually. How about brownies? It's hard to go wrong with chocolate."
Her gaze turned back to Barry with a cheeky grin. "Watch it, babe. I already want to kiss you enough without covering you in sugar." She giggled as she washed her hands, then got started on the meatballs. "Pretty sure you're just about the only person who could get in my way in the kitchen and I won't get annoyed. And... I'd rather you were close, I'm still kinda anxious after everything today. Is that okay?"
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Date: 2025-11-01 10:22 pm (UTC)That little 'threat' made his warm smile turn more mischievous. There might totally be some spilled sugar in the future. But for now, he looked around and watched her preparing meatballs. His grin widened. A little gust of wind and he'd washed his hands, dashed around the kitchen, prepped all the meatballs for her, having just watched her make the first one, and set them out for her. "That's perfectly fine with me. So long as you don't mind sharing the kitchen with me." He said and held out the plate of mixed and formed meatballs like a proud kid.
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Date: 2025-11-01 10:45 pm (UTC)"Show-off," she laughed, getting a pot ready on the stove to cook them, and another one with water for the pasta. "But it's your kitchen too, now. C'mon, we'll get these cooked right along with the sauce." Nothing fancy, just a shortcut homemade recipe that was still better than the stuff in a jar.
Claire oiled up the bottom of the pot to sear up the meatballs, humming thoughtfully. "Ever since my family's house burned down in Texas, nowhere ever really felt like home. For ten years I kept looking for that feeling," she said, gently stirring in the pot with a wooden spoon.
"I finally found it."
Absolutely listening to "What are you Waiting For" by Nickleback RN. Sorry for sappiness. XD
Date: 2025-11-01 11:13 pm (UTC)"It's our kitchen. Our home. I couldn't be happier to share this space with you, Claire." He turned his head and kissed the line of her jaw softly. "I know this seems like it happened fast, but I've always been a believer of love at first sight. That probably sounds ridiculous. But I knew I'd love you. And I do love you. I will always love you." Says the Paragon of Love.
*never* apologize for sappiness. :D
Date: 2025-11-01 11:36 pm (UTC)"Nah, it doesn't sound ridiculous. I don't know about love at first sight, I just knew I'd regret it if I didn't go talk to you. And I knew right away this was something special. I mean... we had literal sparks fly the first time we touched." Claire giggled at the memory.
"I love you, and I love the life we're building together. I thought I might never get to have this. For all I talk about making my own future, and not believing in fate, I know this is where I'm meant to be."
When the world isn't burning down around him, Barry is a sap. XD
Date: 2025-11-02 12:04 am (UTC)Barry laughed a soft little huff of a sound. "You know, they say sparks fly when you meet your soulmate." He teased and nuzzled into the side of her neck. Now, he wasn't sure if he believed in soulmates, but it was easy to joke about.
"This is definitely where you're meant to be."
Claire didn't get to show it enough in canon, but I think she is too. XD
Date: 2025-11-02 12:26 am (UTC)Were they soulmates? She wasn't sure such a thing existed - not to mention that her belief in her own soul was in doubt sometimes considering how much she'd died. Still, she couldn't deny she felt a draw to Barry that was somehow bigger than herself, bigger than the two of them, from that very first day.
"Soulmate? Hmm. You're my Bear." She grinned as she kept on with the cooking. Having his arms wrapped around he didn't hinder her progress whatsoever.
This wasn't the 'normal life' she'd lamented about not having back when her regen had manifested. This was something better. A purpose, a place to belong, and people to belong with - not just Barry, their family - all entwined together.
They can be saps together! <3
Date: 2025-11-02 09:34 pm (UTC)"Your dad calls you ClaireBear, but I can't take that. You, Claire Bennet, are my Home. Right here." He nuzzled into her neck and kissed over her pulse. "The eye of my storm."
He's definitely making her even more of a sap. <3
Date: 2025-11-02 09:47 pm (UTC)"I can be something of a storm, myself," she said teasingly. "But I'm happy to be your home, just as you're mine, too. My everything."
There was a quiet beat before she added, giggling, "I could really get used to cooking this way, y'know."
XD I love it! I wanna use the Lightning Rod thing because it's canon but it feels like a cop out.
Date: 2025-11-02 10:31 pm (UTC)He laughed and hugged her a little tighter around the middle. "You mean with a love leach stuck to you?" He asked playfully. "That can certainly be arranged."
Some nickname will come in a thread at some point, I'm sure of it. XD
Date: 2025-11-02 10:41 pm (UTC)As he hugged her tighter, she just relaxed even more. Her arms were still free, and everything she needed was within reach, so she was utterly content. "If we keep with the bear theme, pandas can be cuddly. And they're almost as cute as you."
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Date: 2025-11-03 05:16 pm (UTC)"Well, Firestorm is taken, sorry." He teased playfully. "Ronnie Raymond, Caitlin's deceased fiance was part of Firestorm. Two halves make one hero. The other being Professor Stein. Who is now a member of the Legends with his new Firestorm half, Jax. You'll meet them eventually."
"Pandas can also be terrifying. Don't they kill people?" He asked with a concerned furrow of his brow.
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Date: 2025-11-03 05:41 pm (UTC)She considered the question, trying to recall everything she'd read about pandas. "I think they're usually regarded as pretty peaceful creatures? They just chill and eat bamboo. But maybe they could get aggressive if pushed, like to protect their cubs or something. Bears in general have a reputation for being protective, and I'd say that's both of us, even if we're not quite as aggressive about it.
( I think this makes you supremely qualified to give nicknames! Probably because my cat Peanut is also Nutterbutter, Fluffernutter, Nutty Buddy, and anything else nut-related, lol. So I'm very much the same with names. XD )
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Date: 2025-11-04 11:49 pm (UTC)"You're right. We're both pretty protective of our own." Not just that. But protective in general.
[XD I love Nutterbutter and Fluffernutter! I legit would go the same route! I also have Kokoro (Japanese for Heart), Goblin's twin brother, who is Chocobo, Kokonut, and Kokobee. They're my fluffy Maine Coon boys.]
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Date: 2025-11-05 12:08 am (UTC)Hopefully, not permanently. They were all working on that part.
"No such thing as too sappy, 'specially when it comes to you," she assured Barry as she added pasta to the pot of boiling water. The way he nuzzled into her neck made her shiver. "I love that you're so open about your feelings, good or bad. But of course, that also means I'll be ready to fight anyone who upsets you..."
( Maine Coons are SO cute!! Peanut is an orange and white boy, I adore him. I also have a tabby named Terra who gets nicknames like Terra the Terror and Princess. She has two moods: antagonizing Peanut and demanding cuddles/pets from me. She's literally on my shoulder as I type this on my phone. XD )
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Date: 2025-11-05 12:50 am (UTC)He would absolutely not let her even consider a permanent death for him. That was out of the question.
"I've been told I over share." Barry laughed. "Joe didn't know how to handle Wally when he showed up because he wasn't used to raising a son." Yes, Joe had said Barry was like raising a second daughter. Not that it bothered him much. Just confused him. "Just... don't pick fights with everyone. That's a dangerous list of villains." He noted the shiver and kissed again with a smile.
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Date: 2025-11-05 01:05 am (UTC)Like Harry, though, she wouldn't want anyone to sacrifice themselves for her. It wouldn't come to that, she was certain of it. She wasn't alone, they all were doing whatever it took. Just as she would for any of them - she reminded herself it went both ways so she didn't tear herself apart with guilt that so many people were giving so much to save her.
"I don't see it as oversharing at all. You're honest and wholly yourself. I never have to guess where I stand with you, and if there are problems, we can always talk it out." Which certainly hinted at some of her romantic past, particularly from the last few years on the road. It also was doing wonders to ease her mind with the whole timeline thing.
Her head tilted slightly as he kissed her neck, shoulders relaxing with a sigh. "I'll try not to fight everyone." And then, clearly cheeky and teasing, "Just the ones I'm pretty sure I could take."
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Date: 2025-11-05 08:28 pm (UTC)Barry buries his face in her shoulder for a moment. "I'm glad you told me about your powers. About everything. It... made it easier for me to tell you about The Flash. Which is what makes it easy to be completely transparent with you. My life as The Flash ruined two of my relationships already. Because I couldn't be honest." Patty had given him an ultimatum. He'd wanted to tell her, but it had put her in danger just being near him. Knowing he was The Flash would've made it worse. She was safer and better off away from him.
Her teasing made him chuckle and he lifted his head back up to rest his chin on her shoulder again. "My Hero."
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Date: 2025-11-05 08:46 pm (UTC)She would've understood completely if he'd walked away after she told him about Thawne. It would have devastated her, but Barry would've been well within his rights to lose trust. Every day since, she was grateful he had been willing to hear her out.
"And hey, I've never met this Julian guy, but I could probably get a good shot in on him if he gives you too much trouble." Claire giggled. "No one even has to know it was me."
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From:Claire-y Pie! Like Cherry pie! Why did that take me so long?
From:Good things take time! It's SO cute. He can also use Cuddlebug, he gets that own for free. XD
From:He's def gonna keep using Cuddlebug too! Also, the foreshadowing!
From:I quietly cackled to myself as I wrote that foreshadowing. XD
From:XD
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From:There was no way in Hell I wasn't using that song.
From:It works just as well for them so why not!
From:It does and it's such a pretty song!
From:It's so sweetl perfect to use here
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