Chapter 6

"This is my place," Caitlin said as she opened the front door to her house, "I know it's a bit small but hopefully we can make you feel at home, Ronnie, uh, sorry, Ron," she corrected herself. 

"It's a beautiful house," Ron said as he looked around, "do you live alone?"

"Um, no. It's shared with my boyfriend, Savitar." 

"Ah, the one who despises me." 

Caitlin bit her lip, she wasn't aware that Ron had heard their argument. 

"It's no worries, he has every right to be suspicious, it's only human nature." 

"He's a good guy, he'll come around," Caitlin assured, more to herself than to Ron.

As Ron was eating some pie, Caitlin was catching him up on her life which he was oddly interested in. 

"So, after he died a hero, I felt like it was my fault in some way, you know. Now, I live everyday trying to make him proud and to prove that the world he saved is actually worth saving." 

"Did he know you have another persona in you as he died?"

"No, but," she looked down at her hands in a smile, "he always used to call us fire and ice, it was almost like he had always known." 

"And Savitar?"

"Ronnie was my first love; he taught me what love truly was and even after him I tried to fall again, but I never felt anything like the way I feel when I'm with Savitar. After Ronnie, I changed immensely and Savitar taught me that change is okay too."

"You love him, don't you?"

"Of course." 

"So, it doesn't make you feel weird that I have the same face as your late ex-husband?"

She shook her head, "it's more ... refreshing than anything. I never really got to say goodbye to him and apart of me always thought that he was still out there, but I've moved on. I'm sure that's not the same for you." 

"No. No, it's not. You look just like her," he said sadly.

"Doppelgängers. They're either the best or the worst, there's no in between."

Just then, the doorbell rang. Caitlin opened the door only to find Cisco and Barry on the other side. 

"Hey guys, what's going on?" She asked. 

They walked in and flopped on the couch beside Ron. 

"I'm pretty sure Iris doesn't want me at the apartment," Barry sighed. 

"Is Savitar-"

"With her? Yeah, so is Harry. I think they're trying to prove us wrong. I walked in and they looked at me like I didn't belong there. At my own apartment!"

"And I'm just here for moral support," Cisco explained. 

Caitlin went to get some blankets and the four watched a movie while bonding. 

"This is some great OG Team Flash vibes, huh?" Cisco smiled but then stopped when he came across Caitlin and Barry's sorrow expressions. 

Their eyes were glued to the TV, but their minds were drifted elsewhere and as their best friend, Cisco caught this.

"Guys, they'll come around," Cisco tried to uplift them. 

"I really hope they do," Caitlin said, missing Savitar and the rest of the team. 

*************

Back at the West-Allen apartment, Iris was typing away at her laptop.

"Urgh, God!" She slammed her laptop shut and put a hand through her hair in frustration. 

"Woah, what's wrong?" Savitar asked, looking up from a book.

"I can't find anything on this Ron guy!" 

"Maybe because you're just a bit tensed," Savitar said, trying to calm her down. 

"Or maybe, it's because there's nothing on stupid earth-98!" 

"I really do think it's because of the tension," Harry said, "you both are evidently not getting anything done because you're missing your significant others." 

"Thanks, Captain Obvious," Savitar sighed. 

"Maybe this Ronald isn't as bad as we think he is."

"It's just odd," Iris opposed, "why come to this earth out of an infinite numbers of earths? Why come to us for help? He's obviously been following us, but why would he?"

"Your earth is in the center of the multiverse and since his earth operates at a different time and has less technology, it could be possible that this earth was the one that attracted his transportation. And as for the following, he probably needed to know if we were good people, if we could truly help him," Harry explained. 

"You're starting to sound a lot like them now," Savitar said. 

"You two have seen Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin get hurt over and over again because of the people they trust. I understand you're just looking out for them, but if we take out past mistakes, is Ronnie or Ron really that bad? I know how it's like to want to get revenge on someone who harmed a loved one."

Iris sighed, "Harry's right." 

"He always is," Savitar mumbled. 

One thing the three were sure about is that they just never fitted in with Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin. Maybe it was because of their occupation or the fact that they're from a different timeline or earth. Whatever it was, Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin will always have a bond that they could never break. 

Iris, Savitar, and Harry spent the night at the West-Allen apartment while Cisco, Barry, Caitlin, and Ron were at Caitlin's.

*************

The next day, having to face each other was inevitable. Iris had found a new meta on the loose and though Savitar and Harry were by her side, she knew the team was incomplete. 

Cisco, Barry, Caitlin, and Ron walked into the cortex and were surprised to see Iris at the computers. 

"Iris, hey," Barry said softly. 

"Ahem, well this isn't awkward at all," Cisco said as he sat down.

"Look, I-after some time to think it over, I think we all owe you guys an apology," Iris started. 

She lightly elbowed Savitar who muttered, "yeah, an apology." 

"What she said," Harry added. 

Iris sighed, "I know the things we said were rude and we truly are sorry. I guess we just wanted to protect you guys. I mean after Zoom and Reverse Flash, you know?" 

"So, you're saying you trust Ron?" Barry asked, hopeful.

Iris pursed her lip, "we're willing to work with him. We owe you an extra apology, Ron." 

"Oh, it's alright. I know you three felt like you had to what you did due to the best interest of your friends. I admire that." 

Iris and Caitlin smiled and they embraced each other in a group hug. 

"Thank God," Cisco said in relief, "these two were just miserable without Savitar and Iris."

"The same with them!" Harry laughed, "I felt like throwing up." 

The team laughed it off and went on to fight a new meta, however the tension was still in the air. 

When fighting along others and putting your life in their hands, trust was the most crucial thing one could have and when they didn't trust their teammate, things don't always work out too well.

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QOTC: Favourite CW Flash villain?My Answer: I know a lot of people love Reverse Flash, but I personally love Zoom. From his fake persona to his traumatic childhood, I feel like they did a very good job with the character and I love how he had a personal connection with the team as well.