Dropping In

[swoopyhair]

Once he'd gotten word from Noah that it would be safe, Peter was eager to visit Central City and see Claire. It was nice to hear she'd finally settled down, and something he expected to happen sooner or later. What he didn't expect, however, was to hear she'd gotten herself into a relationship. At least not so soon after moving in.

But he understood all too well what it was like to fall in love with someone at first sight. He was glad that it seemed to be going much better for his niece than it had for him.

There was also some lingering curiosity about the dream he'd had. The one where he was in that weird room with Claire and a bunch of people he didn't know - her friends, he would later learn after talking with Noah. He assumed he'd meet them eventually, though maybe not today. It would make sense if she wanted to introduce him slowly and let them build up trust in him. She'd never been so open with her relationships that he could remember - the last one he knew anything about had been with Gretchen and even then he barely had met the woman. Peter didn't want to push too hard and end up distancing himself from Claire all over again. He was all too aware that his involvement with Sylar had put a strain on them, and he wanted to use this time to try and set things right.

Claire had texted her address just after moving in, so he knew right where to go. But rather than teleport directly into the apartment, Peter popped into the hallway. He was planning to surprise her, and now that he was there, he hoped she was home so he didn't have to text her and ruin the surprise.

He knocked twice, then waited for her to answer.

Comments

[iamnotuptight]

"We aren't going to send you into a situation like that without all hands on deck. I'll be on comms with Cait and Harry for sure, so I'll have to hear that sorry bastard's voice." He grumbled. And despite the offer from Peter, he behaved himself, only wincing and wiggling a bit as he wrapped his hand, almost like a kid.

"That's my voice too, you know." Harry griped.

"Kinda... but not?" Cisco argued. "Same vocal cords, but you two just sound different. I don't know how to explain it." Cisco shrugged. "You sound like Harry. He sounds like a psychotic murderer who kicks puppies in his spare time. At least I'm pretty sure the puppy kicking is limited to Thawne." Harry threw a roll of gauze at Cisco.

"Hey! That was sterile!" Cait snapped. But she let it go mostly because it seemed like Cisco's mood was looking up after getting bullseyed by the soft roll. He was grinning again. Between that and Claire's distraction, he was right back in full spirits.

"Oh, dude, we're totally testing so many things! You have no idea! I have so many cool things you'll like! If this V-9 works, I can even mod a quick injection system for you in your s--" suit! He snapped his mouth shut, eyes darting to Peter in a panic. "Imeanwe'llseeifitworks." He fumbled over his words rapidly.

[swoopyhair]

Claire shut right up when it came to the topic of how Thawne sounded. Cisco was right that Harry sounds like Harry, but she didn't really get the full brunt of Thawne's... crazy.

The voice memo came to mind, how hurt he'd sounded. Almost vulnerable. And how, when he was showing off his powers and gently chiding her for being so reckless, he almost sounded sweet. It was just part of the manipulation, she reminded herself, again. But... when he lifted her chin and said she was remarkable, it felt like he meant that.

She quickly pushed all those thoughts away, instead jumping on Cisco's lifting mood and hitching a ride. "Hell yeah! It's gonna be so freakin' cool. I can't wait to--"

"For your what, Claire?" Peter couldn't sound as stern as Noah, but there was still a clear tone of concern in his voice. "You're not really getting... weapons or something, are you?" He knew how reckless and vengeful Claire could be. She didn't need that kind of power.

"My suit." He was going to find out eventually, anyway. "I dunno about that weapons, but running at those speeds... you saw how Jesse had to change into that special suit. Regular clothes will burn off once you're going fast enough. If I'm gonna be borrowing speed, I'll need to be protected. You might too, actually, since you already picked it up from Barry." She looked to Cisco, uncertain.

"I... I guess you have a point." The Speed Force could protect a speedster's health, but they were on their own when it came to the wardrobe. He supposed that made sense. It didn't fully ease his worries about Claire, though. "Promise me you'll be careful."

"As careful as I can be." It was the best she could do.

[iamnotuptight]

Cisco clapped his uninjured hand over his mouth when Peter put on his best attempt at a dad tone. He wasn't quite Joe or Harry, but it still made the young genius squeak. He hadn't meant to get Claire in trouble!

"It's a tri-polymer. Friction-proof and fire-proof. I make one for all my speedsters. Running naked just seems unhygienic. Barry has to run below a certain speed when he's wearing street clothes or carrying someone so he doesn't accidentally burn their clothes off. He uh... learned that the hard way. But it was a memory none of us will forget. Poor Felicity." He wouldn't mention the actual weapons he was making for her. That seemed like a topic neither of them were ready to broach just yet.

"She's in the best hands. We may get dinged up quite a bit, but we're more careful with others' lives than our own." Harry offered as he lifted his now stitched and bandaged arm. "The suit is also a layer of body armour to an extent." Not enough to impede motion, but enough to hold up. It survived most of Barry's regular abuse.

Cait returned to Peter's side and sought out his hand this time with a smile. "We'll take good care of her, I promise."

"And I can totally make a suit for Peter, too, if he's gonna be using that speed!" Cisco said with a grin.

[swoopyhair]

"I'm sure as hell not running naked," Claire said with a laugh. "And I'd rather keep my wardrobe from being singed." She found plenty of other ways to ruin her clothes, thank you very much.

Ways that would no doubt earn her a look from Harry, just as they had from Thawne, so she was keeping mum about that.

Peter relaxed some at Cisco's explanation. If it was good enough for the 'real' speedsters, Barry and Jesse, then he and Claire should take the same precautions. And he really did trust that they were in good hands. Not just because he liked the way Caitlin sought his hand out to hold. He gave her hand a squeeze, returning the smile warmly.

"I'm usually more careful with others than myself," Peter admitted, but he wasn't going down on that ship alone. "Claire, too."

He should have expected his niece to be ready for it, because of course she was. "Yeah, no regard for your safety whatsoever when you dove off that balcony to save me at Homecoming. You didn't even know me. You didn't know you'd heal."

A flush rose across Peter's face, and he quickly waved off her words, smiling sheepishly. "I just knew I had to save you. Save the cheerleader, remember?"

Fortunately, she decided to be merciful and not press the issue. "Cisco's very good, he'll make you something amazing. So... about this quick injection system. Do you mean something that could help me use V-9 on the fly?" Keeping him talking about tech was probably the best distraction.

[iamnotuptight]

"Let's not take any more swan dives off tall surfaces, shall we?" Harry pointed looked between Claire and Peter. "I thought you were the sensible one." He scolded.

Cisco grinned and hopped off the medical cot, walking across the room to the counter. He picked up the red vial of V-9 Caitlin had lying out for testing and the injector gun Harry crafted. "We usually inject V-9 with this," He loaded the vial into the gun, which almost looked like a high tech glue gun. It clicked in place and he pressed it to his wrist but didn't depress the trigger. "You administer it into your wrist or arm. But I can wire a quick shot into your suit so you can hit it on the go if you need to. No clunky gun required. It's how you'll get away from Thawne if you need to. After Barry's trained you, of course." He put the loaded gun down smiled at her like a proud kid looking for praise.

Caitlin giggled at Cisco's excitement and found herself leaning into Peter's calming presence. "But he'll wait to make that modification until after you've trained with Barry, right?" She sounded like a teacher. He reluctantly nodded.

"Right. Your suit's pretty much done. Still working on the gloves, but other than that, it's a go."

[swoopyhair]

"Sensible? Might be the first time anyone's accused me of that." Peter laughed softly, then faltered. "I'll... do my best. Swan dives usually are a last resort, but I also can't fly anymore."

Claire had a look on that was almost accusatory, but playfully so. See? It wasn't just her.

They watched, Peter with clear interest, Claire with unabashed delight, as Cisco demonstrated the injection gun.

"That's so cool! Thawne will get suspicious if I meet with him suited up, though," she said thoughtfully. After all, she'd literally told him she wasn't about to put on a suit and go play hero. Maybe she could suit up under her street clothes. "Gosh, I can't wait to see it. I bet whatever you come up with is gonna be brilliant." Finally, she wouldn't just feel like a victim, which meant way more than she could say without getting all emotional about it.

"It's still just for special circumstances, right? Like Thawne and the God of Speed? You can't just... Put yourself out there like that, Claire." Peter was putting his foot down as gently as he could. "It's too dangerous."

"What, it's okay for you, but not me? My friends are helping me be safe and feel empowered to protect myself. More than anyone else has, except my dad. And Meredith." That was a blow, and it was meant to be. How many times had she begged Peter for guidance and protection only for him to keep his distance?

Maybe he was more sensible than he gave himself credit for, because instead of arguing with her, he fell silent.

"I'm... gonna get a brownie." Claire excused herself to go back to the Cortex.

[iamnotuptight]

Cait hated the fighting and the tension. She understood both sides. She'd originally been completely against Barry suiting up and fighting crime but he'd argued, just like Claire. He'd been dead set on saving lives and stopping others with powers now that he had powers himself. Now that he could make a real difference. Claire's argument had been so similar in feeling to Barry's. And Barry had even fought dirty in the argument too, just like Claire.

She rubbed Peter's back softly. "She's a lot like Barry." Cait said when Claire left the room. "We won't let anything happen to her, whatever she decides to do. But pushing her will only make her do something rash without a lifeline to fall back on." It happened with Barry once. They'd pushed him too far, trying to make him see things their way and he ran without the team's help. Thawne warned them it would happen and what would happen if it did and Barry got hurt. She didn't want to see that for Claire.

"I made her a mask too. It'll protect her identity." Cisco said quietly. "We're kinda used to this whole superhero thing, y'know." He stepped out into the Cortex with Claire and bumped his shoulder into hers in a subtle playful way. "Hey, Bestie. Any brownies left for the wounded?"

[swoopyhair]

Peter knew how she could be. And didn't let himself forget what a wonder it was that she didn't go down the wrong path out of rebellion when he pushed her away. He'd all but abandoned her. Caitlin's support was just the thing he needed. His arm looped around her shoulder for a quick hug as she rubbed his back.

"You're right. She's done it before. It's better that she has your support where she didn't have mine." As much as it pained him to admit it. He could at least try to explain, though. "There was this alternate future. Claire was... changed. Evil. She hated me, tried to kill me. So when I got back to my present, I distanced myself from her. I thought me teaching her how to protect herself was the reason she went down that path. I didn't see the irony in it until later, how pushing her away would be so much worse..."

Claire quickly rubbed at her eyes with one hand as Cisco bumped her. She was ready to say she definitely hadn't been crying, just dust in her eye or something. "Hey. There's plenty left. I made a big batch." She nudged the container in his direction. "I'm... sorry about Peter. It's not you guys he doesn't trust, it's me. He watched me hijack an airplane to save him and a dozen other crazy things. He was there for the Ferris wheel jump. I'm sure he thinks I'll be trying to do more of that if I suit up."

[iamnotuptight]

Cait returned the hug, offering as much support as she could. She'd never been good at that side of things, but he needed it. "She needs you now. And I think you might need her. Neither of you should do this alone. No matter what future is thrust our way, we'll face it and conquer it together. That's how we work here at Team Flash and it's worked pretty well so far. She won't be going evil and she won't be dying."

"Allen's rubbing off on you, Snow." Harry grizzled but it held no actual bite to it. There might even be some hidden fondness in there somewhere.

Cisco plucked a brownie from the container and looked it over like he'd never seen one before, giving her her dignity. "You know, you're allowed to cry if you need to. You didn't judge me for it. And don't worry about it. He's worried about you. He's allowed a bitchy pass for that." He broke off a corner of the brownie and popped it in his mouth, chewed and swallowed before continuing, "Does someone need a hug?"

[swoopyhair]

He did need her. Always had. It was a blessing that she had pushed so hard to stay connected, for him to visit and be part of this new life she was building. Now, more than ever, he understood why.

You're totally my hero, she told him in that Odessa holding cell after Homecoming. She still needed him.

"Going it alone didn't work out so well for me," Peter admitted. He hadn't been completely alone, Sylar had been around some. But... The more time he spent with Team Flash, the more he was reminded of the importance of having support. Claire needed it, for sure, but so did he.

"Yeah, we'll take care of her. And each other. You're pretty good at it already." He smiled at Caitlin. She was better at offering support than she gave herself credit for. The hug alone helped, but her words went a long way, too.

"I didn't even like letting Barry see me cry," Claire admitted with a huff of a laugh. But she'd never judge anyone else for it. Even if seeing Cisco cry broke her little heart nearly as much as when Barry did.

She finished the last bite of her brownie then turned to hug Cisco gently around the middle. "If I ever turn down hugs, and I'm not, like, covered in slime or something, assume I've been body-swapped." Besides, she wouldn't be surprised if he might need another one after all the Thawne talk.

[iamnotuptight]

"Then stay here with us. I have contacts at Central City Hospital. They're always looking for staff. I can put in a word for you." Totally not her trying to spend more time with him. Nope. But Claire would probably like having him around too.

Harry glanced at Caitlin but didn't say anything. He seemed surprised but not displeased. He just hadn't expected that of Cait of all people.

"This is a safe space, chica." Cisco happily hugged her back, big and tight, trying not to get brownie crumbs on her clothes. He definitely needed it too. "I'll keep that in mind. You, me, and Barry, we're all three pretty huggy. Cait and Harry, not so much. Cait is more than Harry."

[swoopyhair]

That hit him out of left field. He would've expected it from his niece, once she was done being upset with him, but... Man. It was hard enough to say no to Claire, and now here was Caitlin with an idea that made perfect sense. One he couldn't help wondering if there were ulterior motives lying underneath. Not that he minded, if so.

Of course Peter wanted to be able to spend more time with Cait and get to know her better. He just expected to move a little more slowly about it.

"I'd have to think about it," he said honestly. Really, though, any potential roadblock he could think of, there was an answer for it. Staying in close contact with his mother was important, but he could literally just teleport to her. And it was likely she'd be spending more time in Central City working on setting up the New Company, anyway. "It's awful tempting."

As Cisco hugged her tight she hugged back just as much. Brownie crumbs were the least of her worries. Barry had gotten sugar on her making the dang things. She peeked toward the Cortex as she pulled back, giggling. "Oh, I dunno. Looks like Caitlin's been pretty huggy with Peter..."

It was unexpected, but she truly didn't mind. Caitlin looked so happy that it gave her warm fuzzies. "I wasn't even trying to play matchmaker with them. Guess I just know such awesome people there's bound to be a little magic when we all get together."

[iamnotuptight]

"Of course! It's a huge decision. I was just putting the thought out there so you know it's an option." She was still keen on moving slowly, but she was also willing to call this a romance at this point.

Cisco laughed as he spared Caitlin a glance. "Like I said, twitterpated. I'm surprised. After Jay broke more than her heart, I thought she wouldn't be ready. But looks like she just had to meet the right guy." He finished his brownie and leaned against the console.

"So, you hijacked a plane, huh?" He sounded impressed.

[swoopyhair]

He'd move as slowly as Caitlin wanted. It'd been a long time for him, and knowing what he knew of her history now, he wanted to be extra careful. For both of their sakes, but mostly for her.

"It's a good option, I can't lie. I know I'll be splitting my time between here and New York, anyway. Depends on how much my ma and the New Company need me." But the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to stay. Not just because of Caitlin, but the whole team. And Claire. He had to learn to trust in her, and he couldn't do that if he kept distance between them.

Claire blushed, waving a dismissive hand. "I climbed up through the wheel. And like, up inside. Peter and a bunch of our friends were on board, and other evolved humans. The government basically kidnapped them. Arrested without Miranda rights, no due process..." she explained, frowning. "Nathan thought he was doing me a favor by giving me a free pass, as he called it. I was spared, but not his own brother. But that was Nathan's mistake. I used my free pass to save them."

She looked toward the Med Lab again. "He better be the right guy. Family or not, he'll never hear the end of it from me if Cait ends up hurt." Her expression softened. "But I think he'll be good to her."

[thefutureflash]

"Well, I can say Claire won't be the only one happy to see more of you around if you do decide to. But even if you don't move here, we can always catch up whenever you're in town." This was how you flirt, right? She was always so clumsy with flirting.

"That sounds totally badass!" Cisco exclaimed. "And you said you felt helpless. That doesn't sound helpless to me!" He nudged her with his elbow. "You're just as kickass as any hero I know! And I know a lot of them." Facts, Claire.

"No offence, but there will be an ass-kicking line if he hurts her, I'm sure." Cisco nodded firmly. Sure, they all seemed to like Peter, but Cait had been through enough in his very loud opinion. "I like Peter and all, but--" He didn't get a chance to finish that thought. An alarm started to sound in the Cortex and he jumped. Not five seconds later, his cell rang. He ran, scrambling to the consoles as he answered his phone.

"Joe! Yeah, I got your SOS! ... Hang on, lemme pull up security cam footage in the area!" He held the thin cell to his ear with his shoulder as his fingers danced across the keyboard. He hacked into the security feeds and the image that came up on the big screen TVs in the Cortex was of Joe, Wally, a couple guys in robes wearing plague doctor masks, and Barry, rather, The Flash. He was pinned to the ceiling by an invisible force. Hell, if Cisco didn't know better, he'd think the main robed guy was holding Barry there like Darth Vader. But Barry seemed to be grabbing onto something. "Shit! ... Yeah, I see it! I mean, no, I don't see it, but I see the scene."

Just then, Jesse zipped into the room. She gasped. "Is that him? You said he was a big metal monster, right?"

"Wait, you can see him?" Cisco asked.

"Yeah. You can't?" Jesse was focused intently on the screen. "He's holding Barry by the throat! Cisco, he's gonna stab him!" Jesse ran. She entered the camera in just a few short seconds but was thrown across the room by an invisible force. She didn't get back up.

Suddenly Barry disappeared. Cisco swapped stations and was watching the city map. "S-something's wrong. Something must've fried Barry's suit. There's no way he's moving that fast! It's like he's teleporting all over the city! He's almost in multiple places at once!" Cisco watched in helpless horror until the tracker stopped moving. "He's on the pier!"

"Ramon! Cold Gun!" Harry snapped.

"Containment Unit 6!" He tossed Harry a set of keys.

lmk if I should change anything, if her reaction to it is wrong :3

[swoopyhair]

"Don't worry, you'll be seeing plenty of me." Peter smiled, soft and warm.

Claire knew Cisco was right, though she was reluctant to admit it. For as much badassery as she'd accomplished, she'd been made a victim just as often. She wanted to weigh the scales more heavily toward the badass side, and it was hard to do that without the means to fully defend herself.

The alarm made her jump too, and all other thoughts vanished except one: Barry was in danger. Her first, worst fear was confirmed when Cisco answered his phone. If Joe was calling, it had to be about Barry.

She looked in horror as Cisco brought up the feed, seeing The Flash pinned to the ceiling. Jesse's arrival and mention of the big metal monster only made things worse. Her heart sank. His suspicions about the plague mask guy being connected to the God of Speed were right. Everything was happening too fast for her to keep up, and it was endlessly frustrating. Jesse was there and gone, on the screen then tossed aside before Claire could even let out a startled yelp.

Barry was being bounced around the city like a damn pinball, and all she could so was stand there, frozen. Except... there was something else she could do, wasn't there? She looked up at the map, studying it for as long as she dared. The pier was a location she knew, having explored there not long after arriving in town. Her gaze shifted to the Med Bay, and there was the answer.

While the others were scrambling and preparing, Claire made a beeline for the injection gun that Cisco had just demonstrated for them. She picked it up and held it in her right hand--

"Claire, no." Peter's voice was pleading. "I can 'port you. I can help."

"You can't teleport faster than the God of Speed," she countered. To her credit, she stayed strong and didn't break down, even though she was more afraid than she had been in a long time. "I have to--"

Claire didn't hesitate anymore. Cisco's devices were thankfully intuitive enough that she didn't have any trouble with the injection. It was just what came next that she didn't know how to prepare for. The rush of, well, speed. But she remembered enough of what Barry told her that she didn't let herself become overwhelmed when her heart started racing. Her regeneration would keep her going, she was sure of it. She was at a hundred percent now, no more Chameleon venom. There was the rush of lightning, sparks in her veins, but instead of absorbing it from the outside like she has with Elle, now it was within her. Borrowed power, but still hers to claim.

Now wasn't the time to revel in it, she enjoyed the rush all the same. This was how she'd save the love of her life, how could she not be appreciative? She finally moved from where she'd been rooted in the Med Bay, bursting into the Cortex like a little blonde thunderstorm.

Barry's words resonated in her mind, running for love, and damn it, she was. In that moment, her love was the single driving force behind her every move, every breath. Yellow sparks gave way to... red. No. Too pale. Pink. But she didn't notice, she was too focused on the map.

"Is he still at the pier? 'Cause I'm going. Y'all can yell at me later, Barry needs me."

There is no right or wrong. XD It's RP! <3

[thefutureflash]

"Claire--!" Cait tried to stop her, but it was too late. She held tightly onto Peter and watched Claire rush off in a whoosh just like the other speedsters in her life. Pink. She heard Harry yelling for the Cold Gun and her heart sank further. She couldn't let him go. She desperately looked up at Peter. "Can you teleport me there?" Cait was clutching the snowflake pendant in her left hand. "You said even my power can be useful. I can't let Harry face that thing. It'll kill him."

Cisco watched Claire crackle into the room with a mix of horror and excitement. He'd be more thrilled if things weren't so dire. "Wait! My lab! Your suit's on a mannequin! It has comms built into the mask, bone conduction tech! Go, Phoenix! Just grab him and get out of there!"

The monster on the pier could only be seen with the Speed Force running through your system... Fortunately, Claire had that now.

You are so right. <3

[swoopyhair]

"To Barry?" With clairvoyance, he didn't need to look at the monitor to know where Barry was. "I can do that. I have cryo, too, I can help. Let me, if you'd rather not let her out..."

They said Killer Frost was working with the God of Speed in those future visions. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to bring Caitlin right to him.

Phoenix, Cisco shouted, and that was the last motivation she needed. Claire raced to the lab he shared with Harry, aware that she was moving fast but honestly, how fast was beyond even her own comprehension. If she thought about it too hard, she'd falter, so instead she focused on suiting up. It fit perfectly, and as she slid the mask on, she truly felt the part. She felt like Phoenix. No gloves, but whatever. There wasn't time to worry about it.

Claire was a blur of pink lightning as she tore out of the lab, but the doors took precious seconds - she wasn't going to try phasing without Barry. The God of Speed was going to pay. Her first experience running like this should have been with Barry, not running to safe his life.

She skidded to a stop at the pier with crackles of pink around her, blonde hair swept back by the wind. Under the mask, pale green eyes blazed with defiance, to hide her fear. "Stop!" In her ears, her voice sounded like someone else's, somehow. Someone stronger. Someone who wasn't terrified of losing everything and everyone she cared about. And, for the first time, terrified of losing her life. But she wasn't going to give this monster the satisfaction of seeing it.

"I'm the one you want to kill, aren't I?"

[thefutureflash]

She didn't need mind reading abilities to know what he was thinking. She was a risk if she let out Killer Frost. "Y-you're right. Besides, you know how to actually use your powers." She held both of his hands tight. "Please be careful."

"The Rising Phoenix here seeking her fall so soon?" The metal monster's scratchy voice was almost harsh on the ears. Barry was lying on the pier by the edge, on his back, breathing heavily. He'd been batted around like a cat toy and was just desperately trying to catch his breath.

Cisco was nervously sitting behind the comms station. "Maybe don't piss off the super fast killing machine." He muttered worriedly into the mic. "We have no idea how long that serum is gonna last in your system."

[swoopyhair]

No way in hell did he want to put Caitlin at risk. If she wanted to let him help with her powers, they could talk about it later. Right now... Claire needed him.

"I'll be careful," he promised, giving Caitlin's hands a squeeze and ducking in to kiss her forehead. With that, he let go of her and 'ported to the pier, landing behind Claire.

"I'm just trying to save Barry," she said, in answer to both Cisco and the monster before her. She took a step closer. "Let him go. Take me if you have to but-- please. Let him go."

"Claire, no!" Peter shouted, hands up, air crystalizing around them as the temperature dropped with a singular thought: save Claire. "Don't touch her!" He knew the God of Speed was faster than anything, but he had to try - one arm reared back and lashed out sending a blast of cold toward the monster.

I'm gonna assume he reabsorbed the SF from Barry so he can see Savitar

[thefutureflash]

"No!" Barry yelled right along with Peter. He wouldn't have Claire hurt! He sure as hell wouldn't have her trade herself for him! Especially not to the thing that they saw kill her! His lightning kicked up around him as his only impulse was to save Claire, when the metal monster moved in a bright white flash, slamming him back to the ground with a heavy metal boot on his chest. After that things got... cold.

Barry watched as ice crystallised over the strange metal armour and Savitar slowed to a stop. But after a moment, the monster vibrated, the ice shattered, and he was just gone. Barry dragged breath into his lungs, struggling to get himself upright in case the monster showed up again.

He staggered to Claire and wrapped his arms around her. "You're vibrating." It was out of left field, but he was still trying to come to grips with what just happened. "Don't you ever try to trade your life for mine. Not with him." He couldn't feel the raw Speed Force aura anymore, so he had a feeling Savitar was gone for now. It was probably something even Claire and Peter with their borrowed powers would have noticed. When Savitar was around, it was like breathing during a deep SCUBA dive. The pressure made it hard to draw breath. But with him gone, it was much lighter. "Thank you. Both."

Fumbling through it as we go along with how it works for Peter tbh. XD

[swoopyhair]

Once the monster froze, Claire's first instinct was to rush forward and grab Barry. Before she could take a step, the ice shattered and the monster was gone. She slumped into Barry's arms with a choking gasp. It was easier to breathe now, but her body apparently hadn't gotten the memo yet, because she was in such a panic.

"I- I took the V-9." Which, of course, he probably guessed, but he probably also would have expected her to fess up to him immediately like she did with everything else. "I'm sorry. I was desperate," she said, her voice much smaller now than it had been mere seconds before. "You would've done the same for me, your life for mine."

"Maybe slow it down on the dramatic self-sacrifice," Peter chimed in, as if he was any better about not sacrificing himself. He didn't react when Claire snorted a laugh. "We found another way." The Speed Force was pulsing through him again, he could feel it. His heart had begun racing faster, but it felt weaker this time. Maybe there was a limit, or maybe he needed to practice more.

"You guys good to run, or should I 'port us back to the lab?" None of them knew how long the V-9 would stay in Claire's system, but it had only been a couple of minutes, and it looked like she was still vibrating.

"I'm okay to run, but babe..." Claire looked to Barry with a frown. "You got pretty banged up out here. Should we just 'port?" She didn't have to say it out loud to make her intentions clear: she wasn't running again without Barry at her side.

XD Fair!

[feelthelightning]

Barry laughed weakly. "Yeah, I can tell." He held her close and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Breathe." He gathered her hands into his and brought them to his heart so she could feel his own fluttering pulse. "I'm good to run. I'm bruised more than anything. If he wanted to kill me, he could have. It seemed more like he wanted me to know I was powerless." Besides, he wanted to take that moment to run with Claire and keep an eye on her.

"Any of you heroes got any speed left in the tank? Joe's got a sich." Cisco asked over the comms.

So much for a casual run. Barry pressed a hand to his comm over his ear. "On my way. I saw both Jesse and Wally go down. Alchemy had this... stone. About the size of an orange; glows bright blue. Wally touched it and collapsed. If you're coming with me, don't touch the stone."

Peter doesn't have a clue yet, but I think I got it. :D

[swoopyhair]

"If you need backup, I can 'port to you once you're there. I... don't think I can run." His connection to the Speed Force had weakened, and he couldn't figure out why. It was something they could experiment with later - people needed them now. "Otherwise, I'll just go back to the Lab."

Claire leaned in more with a few slow, careful breaths. Between that, and Barry's comfort, she stopped vibrating. But she was still fidgety. Anxious.

"Don't touch the stone, got it. I'm with you." She nodded decisively. As far as she was concerned, nothing in the world could make her leave Barry's side at that moment, so she was glad he didn't try to stop her or tell her to go back to the Lab.

The Flash and Phoenix. If it weren't such a tense moment, the thought would have made her smile. Once Barry was ready, she'd be running right beside him, streaks of yellow and pink lightning through the streets of Central City.

Oh?

[feelthelightning]

"You should be able to run with us." Barry said carefully, watching Peter curiously. "You could see him, right? So you're channelling the Speed Force. Only Jesse and I could see him. Joe, the other cops, Wally, none of them could see him. I'm sure it's linked to the Speed Force. Unless..." Peter didn't hook into Savitar's speed, right? That'd be crazy! Didn't he say he needed an emotional attachment to borrow a power? "I'd you don't feel comfortable with it, I'll let Cisco know when we're there." He said and took Claire's hand.

Yellow and pink lightning. It was breathtaking together. He was so elated to be running with her that his own fatigue and aches were forgotten. He held her hand, just in case Velocity wore off mid run and he needed to extend the Speed Force to her, but it didn't happen. It was an amazing rush to be running with her.

When they arrived, Joe had a gun pointed at the robed figure with the plague doctor mask. The figure was holding an unconscious Jesse with a dagger to her throat. Wally was encased in some amber coloured organic chrysalis with the glowing blue stone near by. There was an open stone box with an empty inset that looked to be about the same size as the glowing stone. The scene was frozen around them thanks to their speed.

"Get the stone in the box without touching the stone. I'll get Alchemy. Then we'll call Peter about Wally."