Timeless ❄️ColdFlash⚡

Chapter 4: Died A Hero

Len was a night owl by nature, partially out of desire and partially necessity. That didn't mean he never made an early night of things.

Lisa had been bugging him to spend more time together now that he was back in town and planning to stick around for the foreseeable future, so given the current climate with Kid Flash and Barry "The Scarlet Speedster" Allen, he'd decided to make good on that promise and get her opinion on the matter, since Mick's take had been to fry them all and save himself the grief.

He'd decided to give Mick space to play around with his new heat gun, but also so he could mull over the situation in calmer company. Lisa was intrigued and up for some fresh fun, though she had pouted at Len for not having a gun for her to even the load. He'd get her something nice to make up for it.

The point though was that while dinner with Lisa had been nice, a good chance to catch up and get an opposing opinion on how to proceed with this new game of meta humans, Len was exhausted and wanted to sleep on it. In his current safe house, with Lisa curled up on the sofa watching some syndicated TV show or another to lull herself to sleep, Len headed for his bedroom to call it a night.

Nearing the kitchen, however, he froze on full alert, his more than astute senses tingling. Someone was in there. Soft clanking and shuffling gave away the intruder that Len could tell was not Mick, and Lisa was behind him.

Len backed up for the table where he'd placed the cold gun case, carefully removing it as he kept his ears attuned to the kitchen. Someone was lurking about alright, but he didn't want to worry Lisa unless he was certain.

Inching forward, gun close to his chest as he moved in-closer, closer-he finally spun in front of the doorway poised to fire.

"Barry?" Len's arm dropped in surprise.

Indeed, Barry Allen was making a sandwich in his safe house kitchen.

How the hell had he found him?

Back in STAR Labs sweats, barefoot, looking comfortable and ready for bed, Barry peered over his shoulder at Len with a warm smile. "Want one? Sorry I'm so late. Patrol took forever tonight."

Patrol? Len had to remind himself that Barry was likely not speaking of present day or aware of where he was, but then the last thing he'd said to Len had been, "I'll be home for dinner later."

Aiming his weapon once more but unsure of the need to charge it, Len kept the kid in his sights as he stalked cautiously into the room. Barry was a speedster, after all, dangerous and unpredictable. "Want to tell me what you're doing here, kid? And how you found me?"

"What's funny," Barry looked right at the cold gun without flinching, "is I finally figured out your secret."

"Yeah, and what's that?"

"You'd do anything to protect your sister."

Len reared up taller, aiming the gun more squarely. "Are you threatening-"

"The thing is, I am fast enough to just hug you without you knowing, so you may as well let me."

"What?" Edging back a step, Len feared Barry might actually attempt a lightning fast hug, but he was still preoccupied with the threat against his sister.

"Lisa's safe," Barry said as if plucking the thought from his mind. "I guess I've just gotten a little caught up with being able to help people, you know. It feels good." He kept on making his sandwich, innocent as he pleased.

He hardly made sense, Len didn't know what to think, but against his usual snap-judgment to distrust anyone who wasn't Mick or Lisa, he didn't believe Barry meant him any harm. This kid was a safe to be cracked not an enemy to overcome.