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Warning: mature language and contentthird personword count: 6,60011:45 pm | you didn't even know his name — but it didn't matter

Love was a word that did not exist in your vocabulary. It was not a word taken lightly in your mind, it was not a word that was played around with. These days, the word had lost its meaning. Everyone said they loved everyone, and it meant absolutely nothing.

The first time you discovered the insignificance of the word was when you were holding your best friend's hair back as she threw up the night's regrets. She had drank too much, she had kissed too many guys, and she was in your arms in the aftermath.

"He said he loved me," she whined. "He said he loved me."

The second time you discovered the unimportance of the word love was when you were yourself in a moment of heat and desire. You had drank a lot at the party that night, but you were not drunk. You still had your senses even if you couldn't stand too well on two feet. And you were dancing, and you were kissing, and he was handsome.

"I love you," he whispered, licking his lips as he drank in the sight of my body. "God damn, I love you."

You were so tired of the people playing with others by using those three words so easily. Love was not easy. Love was scary and two-faced and a cold-hearted bitch. It wasn't fair.

It was cold. Really, really cold. It must've been thirty degrees out, and you could see your breath in front of you as you walked. It was quiet in Central City. Tuesday night. It was dangerous to walk the streets this late. It was dangerous to be a woman by yourself. It was dangerous to be alone. And although you should've been afraid, you weren't. You were never afraid.

"You're gonna have to start paying me for this," a soft voice said beside you. You smiled, pulling your scarf tighter around your neck.

"I don't ask for you to watch over me," you said matter-of-factly. You turned to see him. Flash was walking in the shadows, but it was him nevertheless. You smiled a little to yourself. You noticed his eyes sparkling with red, something you liked. The unique part about Flash was that energy seemed to just radiate off of him, and you liked it.

"Well, you know I can't help it."

"I can take care of myself."

"They all say that."

"All of the others damsels in distress? All of the other girls?"

Flash sighed, his eyes shutting for a moment. You lost the red. "T-That's...not what I meant."

You smirked a little, biting your lip to keep it from growing. "Sure. Whatever you say."

The hour was late. You knew it wasn't a good idea. But you had to get home, you had to sleep. You had to get up early for work, you had to rest. You just decided to keep your finger on your phone and one eye on the back of your head. You would be okay, you concluded. You had walked home this late before.

The crime rate in Central City was rising. Although the Flash was a fierce competitor, it only made the criminals rise in determination, skill, and plan. They had to try harder to get what they wanted, and they were up for the challenge. Especially other metahumans; they loved a fight.

Tonight, though, you knew Flash wouldn't help you. Flash dealt with bigger things. Bank robberies, shots fired, burning buildings—that was more his market. Flash wouldn't come for you if you got in a tangle tonight. It wasn't personal, it was just reality. Nothing to get mad about, but some heroes just can't be in two places at once.

You made sure your steps were quiet. You were wearing heels. It was a bad idea. So your steps were slow and soft, the only sound was scraped pavement against the soles of your shoes. You gripped your phone tight. Anyone would be able to sense your tension from a mile away; your posture gave it away.

"Pretty girl, it's a little late to be out in this part of town."

Your heart sunk in your chest. Whatever you were trying to avoid was catching up to you. You kept walking, a little faster. The sound of your heels was more evident now.

"Where you goin', little lady?"

A different voice this time. The panic in you was rising. You were almost running now. Your breath was quick. You didn't know much about self-defense, but you slid your keys out of your pocket and held one between your fingers.

"Slow down, baby. Come here, let us warm you up."

You felt sick by now. You dared not to turn around. You needed to keep walking. You needed to keep going. They would have to leave you alone eventually. The panic in you was in your throat by the time you felt a hard hand grab you by the arm. You spun and jabbed your key into his hand, drilling it deep. He cried out in pain, darting back away from you and cursing.

"You bitch! You're gonna regret that."

There were three of them. All bigger than you, all much scarier than you would ever be to them. You let out a shaking breath, licking your lips. You gripped the key tighter, the fresh blood on it oozing down your back of your hand. You put up your hands. If things were going to go south, you were going to put up a hell-of-a fight. They could take you, but you'd be kicking and screaming the whole way down.

They were drunk. That's why you dodged the first few punches. But there were three of them, and you couldn't keep track of them all. A good right hook hit you upside the jaw, and you stumbled back a little. You spit out blood onto the sidewalk. You were not confident.

Just as another punch was going to come your way, you closed your eyes to accept it. But the only thing you felt was the wind against your hot cheeks. No pain ever came your way. Instead, you let out gasps of air as you felt hands caress your face softly. You opened your eyes and you were met with glowing emerald ones.

"Are you okay?" Flash asked. You stiffened in his hands. "I-It's okay. You're safe now. I-I've got you."

Your breath was sporadic and heavy now. You leaned forward and fell into his grasp, your arms going around his neck. You let out a few whimpers, holding onto him tight. He didn't hesitate to embrace you, his arms around your waist as he pulled you close to him.

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay," Flash repeated. You pulled away from him, smiling.

"I had that," you joked. Flash grinned down at you.

"I know you did."

You reached up and kissed his cheek repeatedly.

"Bless you," you said softly. Flash closed his eyes at the feeling of your touch. "Bless you."

You slowed your pace. It was nights like these that you cherished your time with him. You didn't see him much; he always had better things to do. He had much better things to do than spend time with you. So you cherished the moments when you were alone, even if it was just him beside you walking in the shadows. Because it was just you and him, and you appreciated his company.

"You know, there are a lot of other places you could be," you commented, stopping when you reached a busy street. Even so late at night, there was traffic. You pressed the pedestrian walking light, waiting. Flash stayed behind.

"Nothing more important than escorting a civilian home at such a late hour," he replied. You turned to look at him. You thought it was incredibly sweet, him walking you home. It said a lot about his character to you. A hero, a loved vigilante of sorts, with a soft spot for a woman who walks alone at midnight. It was cute. It was admirable.

"I like you," you laughed. You turned back to the street, seeing the pedestrian light flicker white. You started walking, making it to the end of the street. Flash was already waiting for you. Your smile never faded.

"You like me?" He chuckled.

"I like you," you repeated. Flash was grinning stupidly now, a little skip in his step. You couldn't see it; he was too far in the dark. You reached the end of the block, letting out a sigh. "I think I can manage from here."

Flash leaned against the wall, the vines cascading over the edges casting his shadow far along the sidewalk. The light came from the streetlights, yellow and fading in color. It was an ugly light, but you looked beautiful nonetheless.

"So soon?" He breathed. You tilted your head at him, crossing your leg over the other.

"If you weren't a superhero in a mask, I'd think this could lead to a date," you teased. Flash chuckled. He stood up a little straighter. You could see his eyes despite the dark.

"If you weren't such a beautiful girl standing there, I'd think I'd actually have a shot," he replied. You let out a good laugh, biting your lip to cease the giggles. Flash was grinning so wildly; he loved the sound.

"I'll see you around, Flash."

"Goodnight, (y/n)."

"Don't be a stranger."

"To everyone but you, sure."

4:45 pm | the following evening

You leaned over your desk, your head in your hands. You had a deadline to meet at midnight, so you were slaving over your computer to finish your article. Your eyes were burning; you had been staring at the screen for hours. Your work day usually ended at three, but you weren't even half done with your article. It had to be good, and you hadn't even written five paragraphs yet. It would be on page six; it had to be good.

Your office door was closed. It was dark inside. You had shut the blinds, and it was making you more tired by the minute. You were hungry; it was getting later. Your day was getting more boring every moment that passed. Would anything pull you from your zombie-like trance?

"I can hear your stomach growling from outside," someone laughed. You shot awake in your seat, letting out a yell. You threw your stress ball that sat on your desk in the voice's direction. Your mouth formed an O when it hit the lightning bolt emblem on Flash's chest. He pouted.

"Oh, my God, I'm so sorry!" You breathed a sigh of relief. You rubbed your eyes awake, standing up. Flash shut your door behind him, careful not to let anyone see him.

"It's okay," he assured you. You ran a hand through your hair, rolling your eyes.

"You can't just do that," you grumbled, sitting atop your desk. You glared at him a little. He had a sly smile playing on his face.

"Do what?"

"Sneak up on me all the time."

"Even when I brought you this?" Flash held up a bag of fast food, and a smile rose on your face. You licked your lips, making your way towards him. "Cheeseburger, no onions or lettuce, extra ketchup?"

You grabbed the bag out of his hand, opening it. The sweet smell of fries greeted you. You let out a sigh, shutting your eyes as you took in the scent. "Smells absolutely amazing."

Flash watched as you sat down at your desk, pulling the carton of fries out. You popped out into your mouth, saving your article and shutting your laptop. You kept your gaze on Flash as he sat down in a seat across from you, his hands on his knees. He cleared his throat, and you noted the awkward tension in the air. You stopped chewing.

"How many people have you brought dinner to?" You asked. Flash opened his mouth to answer, but you corrected yourself. "Sorry, I meant, how many girls have you brought dinner to? Do they all kiss you?"

"(y/n)—"

"Do they all somehow end up in your arms, or like fall to their knees?"

"I really hope you're joking."

You broke into a smile, shrugging your shoulders. Flash relaxed, letting out a nervous laugh. He never wanted you to think he was doing this to other girls. In fact, he had forgotten about anyone else. Every time he went out in his suit, he wanted to pay you a visit. You had something in you that kept him coming back, and you weren't complaining. Something about being the Flash's beckoning call made you feel important. Something about you made him feel so incredibly safe. With you, he could speak free.

You made eye contact with him. There was a nice silence. You stopped chewing, swallowing. You couldn't look away. A spark of electricity went through the green of his eyes, and you bit your lip. Flash was undeniably becoming a significant part of your life, but every time you got closer to him, you also became more afraid. You had no idea who he was. You had no idea what he was up against everyday. And you had no idea who he pissed off everyday. Flash noticed the change in your expression.

"There's something on your mind," he said. It wasn't a question or an idea, it was a statement. You looked away. "What is it?"

"Why do you keep coming back to me?" Flash tried to smile, but you answered before he could reply. "And don't say it's 'cause I'm pretty, or some sappy shit like that. Why do you keep coming back to me? Isn't this dangerous?"

"I haven't thought about this being dangerous."

"I'm a reporter. If I found out who you were, my story would be the front page."

"Is that a threat?" Flash's voice was a tad bitter now. You shifted your jaw.

"No. But I'm the last person that someone in a mask would want to talk to. But that's not what I asked. Why do you keep coming back to me?" You asked. You stood up from your chair, circling the desk. You sat down in the seat beside Flash, leaning over on your shoulders. You let out an exasperated breath. Flash put his hands together in his lap.

"I...Well, I like you."

You crossed your arms over your chest, narrowing your eyes. Flash was standing there awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. You threw your jacket onto the ground, shaking your head.

"You're a real headass, you know that?" You whined. Your brand new Italian leather jacket laid on the ground, burnt quite thoroughly. You pointed at it, letting out a frustrated growl. "Do you even know how much that jacket costs?"

Flash smiled nervously. "Uh, more than I can pay you back for?"

You huffed. "You got that right."

"I'm sorry! I forgot to tell you, the friction makes things, you know...poof?"

"Yeah, thanks for the advice!"

You sat down on the curb, pouting. "You know, if you wanted to impress me, it's not getting off to a good start."

Flash tried to come up with a witty thing to say. "I mean, I did get you here in .39 seconds, which for the record, means I had a very good start."

You picked up the jacket, sniffing it. It smelled of charcoal and smoke. You set it back down, throwing it into the gutter. Flash paced behind you, twiddling his fingers.

"How can I make it up to you?" He asked. You held out your hand, looking up at him.

"About $500," you replied matter-of-factly. Flash frowned, and you smiled bitterly. He snapped his fingers, continuing to pace. "You're making me dizzy."

"How about a kick-ass story?" He suggested. You raised an eyebrow, dropping your hand at your side. You bit your lip in thought, and Flash began to smile a little. He thought you looked adorable.

"What kind of story?" You pressed. Flash tilted his head from side-to-side, chuckling a little.

"How about an interview with the Flash?"

"On the record?"

"Only for you. And I'll even let you get a few pictures. Nothing of my face, of course, but I'll let you get a few action shots."

You stood up, reaching over and taking his hands in yours. You squeezed his gloved palms, shaking your head in disbelief.

"You realize what this means, right?" You breathed. Flash put a thoughtful expression on.

"No, what does it mean?"

"You're gonna be my ticket to an office. A freaking office!" You cried. Flash shook his head, confused. He didn't understand.

"I'm confused," he said. You put your hands on his cheeks now, making him smile a little. You ran your thumbs over the skin, smiling so dumbly.

"There's only one way to get an office in the journalism world. You either must be somebody's kid or you know the friend of a friend of a friend who knows a friend who knows people like you. And this time, I'm the friend."

"The friend of a friend of a friend who knows a friend who knows people like me?"

"No, Flash!" You laughed. "I am the friend who knows you. And that's...that's gold."

You kicked up your feet onto the desk, grabbing the carton of fries again. You offered Flash a bite, and he gladly accepted. He grabbed a handful, and you watched happily as he ate it.

"I'm glad we like each other then," you said to him. Flash smiled, but it faded when an inaudible voice rang out in the air. He put a hand up to his ear, and his expression dropped. You ate the rest of the fries as he spoke softly. When his hand dropped, you made a joking and sour expression. "You gotta go?"

"I gotta go," Flash echoed. You nodded your head in understanding. He stood up, leaning down towards you. You swallowed when his breath fanned the tip of your nose. "I'll see you around, (y/n)."

You bit your lip, afraid of the moment. Flash leaned down further, but you put a finger in between your mouths. Flash kissed the pad of your index finger, closing his eyes. You let out a shaky breath.

"I...I can't," you whispered, shakily. Flash shook his head.

"Why?"

"Because. I don't know who you are."

That made him laugh. You wondered what was so funny. "You already know me better than anyone else."

In a flash, he was gone.

9:23 pm | the following evening

Was it wrong to like him? Was it wrong to feel affection for someone behind a mask? Was it wrong that even though you didn't know him, he made you feel safe?

You tried to tell yourself that you were stupid. That the only reason you felt safe around him was because he was Central City's Flash, and no other reason. That the only thought of being anything with him was just a dream, and he was being kind to you because he was a hero and heroes were nice. You tried to tell yourself that, in order to put a barrier between the two of you. It had to be impossible. This just had to be impossible.

There would be no discussing of the matter any further with yourself. The whole situation was stupid. If you had told anyone about it, they would have told that you were crazy, that you were stupid, that you were playing with fire. They would have told you to stop being a little girl, they would have told you that it was dangerous. Heroes got hurt; it wasn't a surprise, it was just a fact.

You poured yourself another shot. It was your second one. You kept offering them to Flash, and he kept downing them, but it never affected him. It was starting to piss you off.

"So you can't get drunk?" You laughed. Flash shook his head, smiling a little.

"Nope. Metabolism burns right through this stuff. Still makes me have to pee though," he commented. You giggled.

"Can you even go to the bathroom right in that thing?" You asked. Flash rolled his eyes, and you began to swing your legs. You were sitting atop of Jitters, on the roof, looking out over downtown Central City. The night was cold; your heart was warm.

"Ehh, I manage," he replied. You downed the second shot, making a bitter face. The alcohol burned going down your throat. You coughed a little.

"Ohhh, shoot, that's gonna hurt later," you whispered. Flash laughed, a hearty laugh, a good laugh. "Okay, I have some questions."

"Ask away," Flash offered. You poured another shot, this time taking small sips. You pointed a finger at him.

"So, do you own a car? Or do you just run everywhere?"

"Do not own a car," he replied. You nodded your head, downing the third shot. Flash decided he would stop you after the next one. You were starting to feel a little dizzy anyways.

"Uhm, do you have a job? I can't imagine doing this pays a pretty penny," you wondered. Flash shrugged his shoulders.

"I get rewarded in hugs and kisses and good-ol' satisfaction," he chuckled. You made a face, and he cleared his throat. "But I do have a job. I gotta live."

"I'm sure you won't tell me what you do," you concluded. Flash pursed his lips.

"No, I won't tell you that," he said softly. You looked at him, narrowing your eyes.

"You won't tell me, or you can't tell me?" You asked. Flash shook his head.

"Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be hard for a reporter to figure it out," he explained. You raised your empty shot glass.

"Fair enough," you agreed. You set the glass down, scooting closer to him. There was an energy coming off of him that was so radiating and interesting. "Can I ask you a more serious question?"

"You can ask me anything," he replied. Your eyes met. His were so green and so pretty, even in the dark.

"Are you ever going to tell me who you are?" You squeaked. Flash managed a small smile, taking your hand in his. You watched as he played with your fingers, the silence growing. It was a comfortable silence.

"I won't hide from you forever," was all he said. You smiled, leaning closer. When he turned his gaze back on you, you were so close you could smell the musky oranges of his scent. Your eyes danced across his face, from his mask to his eyes to the exposure of his lips. You bit your own bottom lip, tilting your head.

"Am I hearing what I think I'm hearing?" You giggled. Flash's grin widened.

"What would that be?" He breathed.

"Is Central City's favorite superhero trying to catch me?" You asked. Flash tilted his own head, and you sucked in a breath when his lips brushed against yours.

"If that were true, don't you think I'd already have you?"

"No. Because in this race, Flash, I'm much faster than you."

You kicked your feet up on your desk, letting out a sigh. You hated thinking about Flash. You hated the fact that you were started to feel something towards someone you did not even know. It was crazy. It was stupid. It was ridiculous.

A knock came to your door, and you checked the clock. It was late. You called out for them to come in, and you smiled gently. Iris West made her way inside.

"Hey, (y/n)," she greeted you. You loved the coat she was wearing; did she always have to have a lovely sense of style?

"Hey, Iris," you replied, putting your feet down. "Can I help you?"

"You're doing that thing again," Iris said, an annoyance in her tone. You frowned.

"Doing what?"

"That thing where you talk to me like I'm just another employee here," she explained. She sat down on your desk, and you shrugged. "I've been your friend since college. I brought you home when you broke both your heels at that party sophomore year, I really don't like hearing your work tone especially when I've seen you naked before."

"Sorry," you breathed, putting your head in your hands. "I'm in a crisis. Wait, when have you seen me naked?"

"Not the point, it was at that same party when you ripped your dress getting out of a taxi, but crisis? Jesus, (y/n), you get page six for your article today, and you're calling a crisis?"

"Not that," you replied. Iris put her things down, her coat on the chair in front of her. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"What is it then?" She pried. You looked at her, biting your lip in thought. You didn't think you could tell her. But you didn't want to keep it a secret. "Spit it out."

"I'm friends with the Flash," you blurted out quickly. Iris didn't even flinch. Instead, she started examining her nails, shrugging. You were confused.

"I know," she laughed. You tilted your head, standing up. You paced around the desk, frowning.

"What do you mean you know?"

"Seriously, (y/n)? You have an office because of that interview with the Flash," Iris concluded. "And you don't get an intimate conversation like that with a simple quote over the phone. I don't live under a rock, you forget I'm a journalist, too."

You sighed. "Sorry."

"What you're doing isn't the safest thing," she said softly. You nodded your head, pacing slow. The tension in the room was light. Iris cared about you. "Not that the Flash is a bad person, but...I don't know. I don't think you should be meeting like that."

You stopped pacing, slumping down in the seat in front of her. You debated telling her the whole truth. If you told her how you felt about him, it could go two ways. She could support you and give you advice, or she could call you absolutely insane and stupid and also give you advice. You trusted Iris. You decided to tell her the truth. Maybe it would set you free from the burden you were carrying.

"I like him," you said. Iris frowned. "I mean, I think. I like him."

"Okay, you like him," Iris said in a confused tone. "He's a good guy, okay."

You shook your head, putting your hand over hers. Iris was biting her lip now; she didn't like where it was going. She was mentally chanting no. "No, I like him..."

"Okay, you like him," she echoed. "W-What's the problem?"

You pulled away from her, running a hand through your hair. "My problem is...I don't know, I feel something towards him, and I don't know who he is. And I don't like that."

"Then why don't you ask?"

"I have. I have, and h-he just says he will eventually."

Iris scoffed. "Well, don't take no for an answer anymore."

"What?" You breathed. Iris rolled her eyes.

"I know it's asking a lot from him. He's a hero. He keeps his identity secret for a reason," Iris observed. "But if he's going to try to be anything with you, you gotta tell him that it's not right. Don't let him take advantage of you just because he's a hero. Because behind that mask and those powers, he's just a man. And you shouldn't let any man do that to you."

"Do what?"

"Play you."

"But he's not...playing me."

"I don't mean the kind of playing with other girls. I mean he's playing you with his reputation. He's a superhero, maybe his ego is up to a hundred because of it. But that doesn't mean he can just get you. You're a woman, and like any woman, a man needs to do right and fight for you. I mean, for God's sake, he fights for the city every night, I think he can manage to step it up for you."

"And if he says no?" You asked. You were almost too afraid to hear the answer. Iris leaned forward, putting her hand atop yours now. She looked at you and laughed.

"Then he doesn't deserve you."

11:56 pm

You locked the doors behind you, shoving your keys into your purse. You stared up at the sign, its red color turning off at the click of the lock. You turned to walk, letting out a breath. It was another night of walking home late by yourself. You knew you wouldn't be alone for long, and you decided to confront Flash. It was time. You were tired of wanting more, of feeling played. It was time to put your foot down.

You started down the sidewalk, letting your heels make sounds freely. You never hid your footsteps, never stayed hidden. You always knew Flash was somewhere nearby, somewhere watching over you. You always felt some sort of safe. You wanted to thank Flash all the time for that sense of security. He had given you something no one else could. You heard faint steps behind you, and you smiled.

"Like clockwork, Flash," you said aloud.

"I could say the same to you," he chuckled. You turned to look beside you. This time he was in the light, walking beside you. You pursed your lips. Flash noticed. "You have that look on your face."

"What look?"

"The I-wanna-say-something-to-you look," he replied. You shrugged your shoulders, letting out a sigh. He noticed the tension, too. "Is something wrong? Did something happen?"

"No, no, nothing happened," you assured him. You met his eyes for a second, and his expression dropped.

"But something is wrong," he said softly. You looked at your feet as you walked. Your heart was sinking in your chest lower by the second.

"Yeah, I guess," you agreed. Flash walked slower as you slowed your pace, shoving your hands in your pockets. It was cold again. So cold.

"Tell me," he urged. You stopped in your tracks, looking around. You pulled Flash into the shadows, between two stores. The area was dark, but you weren't scared. Never were you scared, not with him. "What is it?"

"It's you," you said sternly. Flash was taken back by the tone of your voice. He swallowed, and you put a hand on his chest, right beside the lightning emblem.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you," you grumbled. Flash shook his head.

"I don't understand."

"You said you liked me," you reminded him. Flash gritted his teeth a little.

"What are you getting at?"

"What did you mean when you said that?" You pried. Flash stepped away from you, but you kept your fingertips at his chest. He put his hand over your wrist, but you just balled the leather in your fists. "What did you mean?"

Flash sighed. "I care about you. I care about you a lot. Isn't it obvious?"

"Then why are you still keeping secrets from me?" You asked. He tried to look away from you, but you grabbed his chin and forced his eyes on yours. "You don't get to do this to me anymore."

"Do what?"

"Play with my feelings like this," you laughed bitterly. "Not anymore. Maybe before, but you've been coming back to me too much. So you can either be honest with me, or you can stop coming after me. I'm sick of this stupid game we're playing."

Flash looked hurt. You noticed it in the way he lowered his eyes, his eyelids closing. He loosened the grip over your wrist, instead taking your hand in his. You watched as he tangled your fingers between one another. You didn't squeeze his palm like he did to you, but you didn't pull away. He was taking your breath away already.

"I'm not playing a game with you, (y/n)," Flash said softly. "I'm just scared."

"What are you so afraid of?"

"Well, for one I'm really scared of spiders," he joked. You shoved him a little, but you couldn't help a smile. You tried to put a serious expression on again. "But I'm more scared of losing you."

"If you don't start being honest with me now, you'll just lose me," you warned. Flash shut his eyes in hurt again. "I really like you. I don't know why I do, I just do. I feel like I know everything about you and then nothing about you. No more secrets. Just let me in."

It was silent. You suddenly slid your hands up Flash's chest, wrapping your arms around his neck. You walked yourself backwards until your back hit the wall behind you, and you let out a laugh. His breath was against your upper lip, his mouth already brushing against yours. You had never kissed him, but you were tempted every time you saw him. Something sexual and good and loving between the two of you was growing quickly.

"This is gonna change everything," he whispered. You shook your head, and you let out a shaky breath when his arms went around your waist.

"I don't care," you replied. "I'm tired of being in love with someone that can't show me their face."

Suddenly, the both of you froze. You opened your eyes wide, and Flash raised one hand, pulling the mask off. You didn't know what made you want to scream first—the fact that you had said you loved him, or the fact that Barry Allen was staring down at you.

"Oh, this is not happening," you breathed. Barry's hair was disheveled and undone from the mask, but you couldn't care less. He was real, he was here, and he was the stupid speedster you had grown to love. "This is most definitely not happening."

"I told you this would change everything," he said soft. You still had your face incredibly close to his, your breath was still against his. You bit your lip hard. "And wait, you love me?"

You held your notebook in your hand, patiently waiting in the lobby of Central City Police Department. You had just begun your internship at Central City Picture News, and you were required to investigate a metahuman crime scene. You needed to talk to officers that responded to the scene, and you were directed to a Mr. Barry Allen, forensic scientist. Iris West had told you much about him, but you had never met him before. You hoped he was as lovely as Iris had said.

You clicked your pen, sticking in the space above your ear. You tried to avoid biting your lip; red lipstick was the hardest to get off of white teeth. You crossed your legs, letting out a breath as you waited. You looked down at your notebook, repeating the questions in your head to prepare for the interview.

"(y/n)?"

You looked up and smiled. A young man stood in front of you in a dark button-up and joggers. He looked casual and nice, and he was holding out a hand to you. You stood to shake it, and he grinned down at you.

"I'm Barry Allen. Iris has told me a lot about you," he greeted you politely. You were mesmerized by the green of his eyes. They were lovely.

"Y-Yeah, she has...said a lot about you, too," you replied slow. Barry laughed.

"I'm sure it wasn't anything too embarrassing."

"Only the parts about your high school girlfriends."

Both you and Barry were laughing now, and you fought the urge to bite your lip again. Barry motioned to the stairs, and you let him lead the way.

"My lap is upstairs. You want anything to drink? Coffee? Water?" He asked. You shook your head.

"No, I'm okay. Just want to get started," you replied. You stepped into Barry's lab, looking around. Barry pulled out a chair for you, and you accepted it politely. He sat down across from you, beginning to spin a little in his chair. You tilted your head at him, wanting to laugh. "Do you not get many visitors up here?"

"Not many as pretty as you," Barry said casually. You laughed a little, and Barry shrugged his shoulders, a small grin still playing on his face.

"You're cheeky, Barry Allen," you commented.

"Iris said I would love you."

"Ohhh, love is not a word to take lightly," you warned him playfully. Barry tilted his head. "Love actually means something in my world. You're gonna have to earn that."

"I'm gonna have to earn your love? Well how am I supposed to do that?"

You leaned over a little in the chair, laughing. "You're a smart man, Barry. I'm sure you can find a way."

The coolness of the air around you was the only thing keeping your body temperature normal. Tangled up in Flash's—Barry's—arms was more than enough to get your heart rate racing. You pulled him closer, but you could feel the stiffness in his touch. You were avoiding his question, and he didn't appreciate it. You could understand. He had just revealed to you his biggest secret, and now you needed to be honest, too.

"You love me?" Barry repeated.

"Listen, Barry, I—"

"You always used to say to never use that word lightly," he commented. You looked up at him, meeting his eyes. They were bright and fiery, still green and sparkly. You licked your lips.

"Then you know that I mean it," you finally whispered. Barry stopped tempting himself, instead just closing the space. He kissed you soft, tilting his head to have more room to deepen the embrace. You sighed in his grip, shutting your eyes as you tasted him on your lips finally. "This is not what I meant when I said you had to earn my love."

"Oh, it's not?" Barry joked. You laughed, shaking your head.

"You cheeky son of a—"

"Shut up," Barry whispered, kissing you again. You let out another sweet sigh, gripping the collar of his suit tight. You giggled between kisses.

"I was only joking when I said that to you, you know," you said softly. You let your lips brush against his, soft kisses growing more intense. Barry smiled against you.

"Well...did I do it?"

"Do what?"

"Have I earned it? I mean, you did say you loved me..."

"That was before I knew it was Barry Allen playing games with me. You think you're so hilarious, don't you?" You giggled. Barry brushed your hair out of your eyes, trying to get a better look at your expression. You were deep in thought and love. You hated to use the word love when you didn't mean it; you weren't so sure that you were lying though.

"I think I'm very funny."

"Because you've been stalking me all these weeks? I knew you, you could've just asked me out."

"T-That would've been much too simple, (y/n)."

"Ugh, does this mean I'm losing my personal bodyguard?" You whined. Barry grinned, letting out a breath. You caressed his smile, infatuated now.

"Well, I won't work for free."

"What's it gonna cost me, Flash?"

"A couple kisses, and...how about a date?"

Hope you guys enjoyed. Please send some love and comments, some requests. I'm starting to run out of ideas? If you guys want anything in particular, let me know! Let me bring your ideas to life. This imagine was just supposed to be cute and fluff. So I hope you enjoyed.

Love, B.