The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive (Male Reader Insert)

6.8 All Roads Lead to Zoom

The group at S.T.A.R. Labs all mourned the loss of Hunter. To commemorate his sacrifice, they put up a small glass case containing his jacket. Next to it sat his wedding ring alongside the photo of he and his wife. The group all stood there in silence, taking in the man they had lost.

It had been two days since Zolomon's sacrifice. Wells was in the cortex chamber with the others. He sighed, looking over their data spreadsheets.

Wells: Zoom is gone. There's been no sign of him since the attack. 

Joe: But he's bound to return. It's Y/N is what he wants. Now we need to be prepared. Dr. Wells, you're always the one who has a plan. What do we need to do?

Harrison looked down at his hands. He was fiddling with the dimensional extrapolator. His mind was stuck on the man he chose not to trust and who proved himself better than what he suspected.

Wells: I... I don't know. 

Cisco: That trap should have held him. I don't understand why it didn't work.

Wells: Zoom must have vibrated at the same frequency as the barrier. With that he could just walk right through it.

Cisco: Yeah, but...

Cisco trailed off, still feeling unsure about things. He felt like he had failed. The barrier was something he helped to create. How did Zoom see through it? Barry looked around the room, noting a particular absence.

Barry: Where's Y/N?

Caitlin: He's at Hunter's memorial.

Joe and Barry walked out of the cortex chamber and down the hall. They found Y/N standing in front of the memorial case. The young man was staring at the jacket with bloodshot eyes and crossed arms. He was visibly upset at the loss of a new teammate that he was beginning to trust. 

Joe: How are you doing?

Y/N shrugged. Joe and Barry stood on either side of him. All three looked at the memorial, taking in the sacrifice the man had done to delay Zoom and save Y/N. After a moment of long silence, Y/N spoke. 

Y/N: It should have been me. This is all my fault.

Joe and Barry turned to look at Y/N. The young man continued to stare blankly at the memorial in front of him.

Y/N: I let my emotions get the better of me. I wasn't thinking clearly. I should have led Zoom out as soon as he walked out of the barrier. Instead, I kept him here. Hunter paid the price for my mistake.  

Joe: Y/N, listen, as someone who's experienced the loss of a partner before, you can't stay hung up about this. Alright? No one is blaming you.

Y/N: I am. 

Y/N turned and walked away from the memorial. Joe sighed and followed him. Barry was about to turn but decided to look back at the memorial. He admired the photo of Hunter and his wife. The two looked happy together. However, while admiring it, he noticed something odd about the photo. The lighting on Hunter was different from the lighting on the woman next to him. It was barely noticeable, but Barry could see the slight contrast. It was almost as if... 

Barry then remembered the small detail he had noticed at Hunter's apartment. Reaching into his pocket, Allen pulled out his phone. He dialed the number and put it up to his ear.

Barry: Patty, hey. Listen, I need you to look into something for me.

The next day, the team were still in a glum state. Barry and Joe had gone back to work, leaving the four scientists to mope in their own self pity. Y/N was still trying to get over it all. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see Hunter standing above him, a hand plunged through his chest. It was horrific. He was scared to sleep anymore, afraid he'd revisit that moment in his dreams.