reasons

Warning: mature content and languagethird personword count: 7,4228:34 pm | you could never be happy with anyone because of those powers of yours

Your fingers touched the stems of the flowers, and you watched as the dullness of their colors brightened to your touch. Pollen littered the space underneath the pot, and you smiled as the orchid's purple color seemed to be neon violet again. When you pulled your hand away, your fingertips were stained a light green, a sparkling yellow. The color faded after a few seconds, and you pulled yourself out of your seat.

You were currently at work, after closing time. You worked at the most popular flower shop in Central City, and it was nearing February, the most demanding time of the year. You had stayed after hours to freshen up the flowers. Without the manager in, you were able to do it without the fixed water and just used your fingers. Your manager always came in the next day praising you for your green thumb. You knew you couldn't tell him why the flowers really looked so beautiful; if only he knew how green your thumb really was.

You don't remember how you got your powers, but you had an idea. It was a cold night in Central City, and you were at the university studying for your degree. You were in the makings to become a botanist. A lot of people would laugh at you for the degree, but you didn't mind. No one had to understand, only you did. You were fascinated with the green world, all the wonder that lied between leaves and the flowers that adorned them. The aroma and toxicity of them, how beautiful they could look but how evil they really were. The night you got your powers wasn't one out of the ordinary; only that the particle accelerator was going to be in motion by the end of it.

You gripped your pencil between your teeth, staring down at the reference book in front of you. You had a big paper due the next day, and you were having trouble finishing the last body paragraph. It was about toxicity in plants, and you were using an example plant: kalmia latifolia. In layman's terms, it was called the mountain laurel or spoonwood. When consumed, an individual could die within a short amount of time, not without suffering horrible symptoms before then.

You had the plant in your hand, and you were looking at it for inspiration. You sighed, the pencil falling from your mouth and landing on your notebook. You stared at it, grimacing. The coffee cup beside you was steaming, the hot vapor tickling you underneath your nose.

"Can't you just write my report for me?" You whispered to the flower. The plant did not reply, not to your surprise. Your phone began ringing, and you noticed Iris West's name glitter on the screen. You couldn't answer the phone, you didn't want to get distracted. Suddenly, you felt the air around you grow tight almost, like the pressure was increasing. You looked around, gripping the plant tighter. You didn't notice the coffee in your cup lift as if there was no longer gravity.

Suddenly, your eyes rolled back in your head, and you fell out of your chair and onto the floor. You didn't remember anything after that, just the vision of your coffee dripping off the desk as you gripped the plant to your chest, your eyes closing as you went unconscious.

You opened your eyes after remembering the night. Iris had found you a few hours after. Her call going unanswered had her worried, and she told you that she had found you unconscious with the toxic plant in your hands. You were taken to the hospital, and you remembered not being the only one admitted into it that night. Apparently, the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator had malfunctioned, and strange instances were being rumored to happen throughout the whole night.

Now, it was much later, and you realized you weren't the only one with powers. Those with powers were called metahumans, and the CCPD had even opened a whole deapartment specifically to deal with them. Their weapons? Supplied from S.T.A.R. Labs itself.

Your powers were interesting. Nothing like the Flash, but definitely interesting. You had a special touch with all things green, from the flowers on your desk to the grass on your lawn to the trees in the park. But you also had a power that worked to an advantage and disadvantage. The flower you had held that night was toxic. It was poisonous, and it delivered that power onto you. You remembered the night you discovered the flaw in your powers as an interesting one.

A few weeks after being released from the hospital, you were still feeling funny. You had noticed the way the grass got greener under your fingers, how the flowers in the kitchen of your apartment had yet to die. You were unsure of the way you were feeling. There was something off about it, but the doctors had told you that you were fine.

You had a date that night. A guy you met in the coffee shop, during one of your late nights of essay writing. He had such a dazzling smile, and he was so sweet. He had bought your coffee for you, and he was so smooth at flirting that you said yes to him immediately after he asked you out.

The date had been lovely. He had been the perfect gentlemen at dinner, and when he invited you back to his apartment, you obliged. You weren't usually one to do so, but he was too handsome not to. You weren't looking for a relationship, anyways. You just wanted to have a little fun; you were in college, that's what you were supposed to do, right?

His apartment was cozy and warm, styled so modernly but held that warmth of a home. You were on his couch, cuddled up to him as you watched TV. His hand was rubbing circles on your back, and you had your hand on his knee. Your bodies were warm and close to each other, and after a while, you looked up at him. He was already looking at you. You bit your lip, an eruption of butterflies starting in your belly. He put his fingers underneath your chin, pulling your face close to his. He smirked, a sexy smile that you adored, and you licked your lips.

You grabbed the back of his neck, leaning in and kissing him soft. It was a good kiss, one that was gentle and desirable. He tightened his grip on you, moaning a little into the kiss. He pressed for more, and you let him. Your lips were in a wet chaotic mess against his, but suddenly his grip loosened around you. You pulled away, staring at him. His eyes were wide, and he began coughing frantically.

"I-I can't...I-I can't breathe," he whispered. You began to panic as his eyes and nose began to water, saliva building up in his mouth. You grabbed your phone, dialing an ambulance as you watched him convulse a little, going limp on his couch.

After the trip to the hospital, the doctors informed you that he was lucky. He had gotten andromeda toxic poisoning, associated with the consumption of mountain laurel plants. When you heard this, you perked up. You frowned, asking how he had gotten it. The doctor told you they found traces of its pollen in the insides of his mouth, suggesting he may have consumed its leaves or honey made from its pollen. You shook your head, biting your lip and running your hands through your hair. You knew there was no way he could've eaten the plant; it was an east-coast native plant, not something that grew in Central City. You touched the surface of your lips, tasting something bitter.

Let's just say there wasn't a second date.

That was almost two years ago. No one knew about your powers. You had never been in a position to test them. The only thing you knew was that you could breathe life in and out of plants and could heal wounds. And after the date incident, you vowed not to kiss anyone anymore, for fear they might die. The toxins inside of a mountain laurel were deadly, and you refused to put anyone at risk. It also meant you had to live life without love, but you decided that was better than killing anyone. Your powers were a weapon. They were like the flowers they were given the power from; desirable, but as soon as they were used, they bore no mercy.

As you locked up the flower shop, you took a deep breath. The cool winter air was refreshing, and you leaned against the locked door. You stared out at the quiet streets in front of you. Up the main street you were on, Central City was still bustling with life. Down a few blocks was the nightlife, the bars and modern clubs of the city. On a Friday night, you could hear the excited and drunk voices already. You decided you wouldn't partake in having fun that night; you just wanted to go home and drink some tea and go to sleep. Besides, you had to be up early the next day for flower deliveries.

You stared at your feet, uncertainty and loneliness weighing down at your heart. You wondered why you felt so pessimistic. You concluded that you didn't have an answer, but you knew deep down what it was. You were alone in a world of uncertain powers, and you knew you could never have a future. You would spend the rest of your days breathing love into the flowers while they took the life out of you.

It wasn't a great future, but it was yours. You just had to accept it. The world had its reasons, you just had to spend the rest of your life trying to understand them.

9:48 am | the following morning

You held a bouquet of flowers in your hand, tapping your foot to the music in your headphones. You were inside an elevator between a group of detectives and policemen, holding files and with tired expressions. Yours however, was quite upbeat. You loved delivering flowers; the person receiving them was usually smiling and excited, a little embarrassed. You loved seeing their happiness, but it added to your own sadness about never being able to have such a love like that.

The elevator opened, and you were allowed to leave first. You mumbled a few "thank you's" before stepping into the lobby, peering around the flowers to reach a receptionist's desk. You let the headphones fall around your neck.

"Hi. I have a flower delivery for a Captain Singh?" You said hesitantly. Before the receptionist could answer, a familiar voice called to you from behind.

"(y/n)! What are you doing here?"

You turned and smiled immediately. Barry Allen was standing there, looking adorable in a collared shirt and sweater. He flashed a row of perfect white teeth, and your smile widened at the sight. He was such an attractive man.

"Hi, Barry. I have a flower delivery."

"Ooooh. Anything for me?"

"Barry, you know we're just full of orders for you. The ladies love you."

"As always."

You laughed as he gave you a cocky grin. His eyes sparkled with something mischievous.

"No, but for reals, these are for the Captain?" You said, looking around. Barry pointed in a certain direction, and you looked at the closed door of an office.

"Right through there, beautiful," Barry informed you. You blushed at the compliment, mumbling your gratitude before hurrying towards the door. You knocked hesitantly, turning to look at Barry again. He was smiling at you still, a soft one.

"Come in," a stone voice called out. You turned back to the door, opening it. A grimacing face greeted you, but the bouquet of flowers made his expression soften. "Can I help you?"

"Happy anniversary! These are from a very loving husband of yours," you said cheerily. A gentle smile made its way onto his face, and he motioned to a spot on his desk. You set the flowers down, running your hands over their stems secretly. Your fingers glittered as dusts of pollen littered the area. Their leaves lifted a little at the gesture, and you waved as you backed out of the room. "Have a nice day!"

You shut the door behind you, making your way back into the lobby. Barry was leaning against the wall beside the elevator.

"(y/n), you should visit more often," he suggested. You shrugged, hitting the down button on the panel beside the lift. You met his gaze, smiling sadly. You didn't get into relationships anymore; you would never risk it. There was too much uncertainty, too much temptation in a relationship.

Barry Allen and you had been friends for awhile now. Iris West had introduced the two of you, and you had to admit that Barry was a hell of a flirter. He had always been so sweet to you, always gave you hints. He had even asked you out a few times, and it broke your heart every time to say no. You couldn't give in; there was no way you could. Barry Allen was such a good guy, and you knew if you gave in, there was no way you could leave. He was too sweet, too good, too cute. He was the perfect man in your eyes, and his only flaw was that he cared almost too much about his friends and was always late.

"I wish I could. You're not an unwelcome face," you giggled. Barry laughed a little with you, and the elevator rang. Its doors opened and you stepped inside, your hand on the buttons for the first floor. "I guess that's my cue to leave. Goodbye, Barry Allen."

Before the doors could close, he stuck his hand in between them. You raised an eyebrow as he entered the elevator, letting the doors close behind him.

"So, you know there's this policeman's gala tonight," Barry said, shoving his hands into his pockets. You tilted your head to the side, biting the inside of your cheek. You narrowed your eyes at him, and he just smiled sheepishly.

"What are you getting at?" You breathed, crossing your arms over your chest. Barry's shoulders tensed, and you smiled a little.

"I-uh...I was hoping, maybe, I don't know, you would want to go with me?" He squeaked. Your heart dropped into your stomach. You let out a sigh, and Barry gave a pained expression. He hated how much you rejected him; all you two did was flirt with one another, but every move he made was shot down. He would keep trying until you outright told him you didn't like him. He knew you did. You opened your mouth to protest, but Barry stopped you before you could. "Please, (y/n), just this one night. Everyone has a date tonight, I really don't want to go alone. You are the only person I can think of that won't make tonight horrible. Please?"

You chewed on the plumpness of your bottom lip. The elevator doors opened behind him, and he followed you outside. You stopped before you could walk down the steps, shaking your head at him. Barry gave you puppy eyes, his palms sweaty in the pockets of his joggers. You couldn't let him down. You had to say yes. Barry was too sweet; he didn't deserve the way you treated him.

"Okay," you said softly. Barry didn't think he heard you right. He tilted his head to hear better, his heart beating faster in his chest.

"What was that?"

"Okay. I'll go with you."

Barry pumped a fist in the air, making you bite your lip harder to hide the smile that tried to grow. Barry realized what he had done, blushing as he moved his hand from the air to the back of his neck, scratching nervously.

"G-Great. That's awesome," he breathed. "I'll pick you up at six thirty. It's a little formal, cocktail hour formal."

"Sounds good. I'll be ready for you."

"Perfect..."

6:23 pm

You squirmed a little in your dress, staring at yourself in the mirror. You were wearing a short, burgundy dress, one that ended a good few inches above your knees. It hugged your curves wonderfully. The neckline was a low v-neck, the suede material following the straps that criss-crossed behind your back.

Your skin was glistening, something to make your skin softer and smell nice. Your hair was long behind your shoulders, straightened to perfection. You were wearing a single sparkling diamond necklace with matching simple earrings. You wore no other jewelry, just a small clutched handbag and heels to match the color of your dress. You hadn't gotten ready for any sort of date in such a long while, and you wondered if you had dressed too fancy for the occasion. Before you could decide otherwise, the doorbell to your apartment rang.

You looked in the mirror to make sure your makeup was okay. You had decided on something simple; you disguised the slight discoloration underneath your eyes with a little concealer and let your lashes go long and voluminous with mascara. You left the rest of your face bare, letting your eyes and dress do the talking. You looked away from the mirror, hurrying to the door.

You opened it, finding Barry's back turned towards you.

"Hi, Barry," you said softly. He turned quickly, a calm expression on his face. One look at you and his face lifted. He let out a shaky breath, smiling. He took in your appearance; the gorgeous dress, the sparkling diamond on your neck, how beautiful you looked. He thought you were glowing.

"H-Hey, (y/n). God, you look amazing," Barry breathed. You looked down at your feet, shrugging. Barry didn't look bad either. He looked handsome. He had on a suit that fit him perfectly, paired with a black tie. He fixed his hair a little, and the aroma of vanilla and musk was evident in his cologne. He was wearing a silver watch and matching cufflinks. His shoes were shiny, and his smile completed the look.

"You don't look so bad yourself," you replied, still staring at your toes. Barry reached over, his fingers delicate underneath your chin. He lifted your head to meet his gaze, your cheeks growing a deeper pink.

"You ready?" He asked. You nodded, stepping into the hallway. You shut your apartment door and locked it. Barry offered you his arm, and you took it gratefully. Your short dress and heels called for you to be careful with every step you took.

—

The doors opened to the gala with a gust of air. It was cold inside, and the sound of elegant music and a crowd of voices greeted you. You entered on Barry's arm. You had never felt so giddy in your life; somehow, being on Barry's arm made you feel so confident and important.

Eyes turned to look at Barry, but you hadn't noticed. You were staring around the hall, taking in all the men in uniform and the banners along the walls. There were photos of fallen men, photos of others getting awards, and photos of police success in crime. Central City, with all its metahumans, had met many hardships the past year. The gala was one to appreciate all the men and women on the Metahuman Task Force. There were many who needed appreciation and others that needed recognition for their sacrifices. The fight against those with powers was far from over.

"Barry! It's so good to see you. And who is this...very attractive lady?" A voice said behind you. You turned your head back in front of you, a young man standing in front of you and Barry. Barry smiled down at you.

"This is (y/n). (y/n), this is my good friend Cisco. He's the one that's been designing all the weapons to catch metahumans. He's one hell of a guy," Barry introduced you. You reached your hand over, shaking Cisco's outstretched one. As your hands closed together, Cisco's face froze. He lost focus a little, staring into space as his smile faded. You swallowed a little, pulling your hand back gently. Barry narrowed his eyes at him.

"Are you okay?" You asked gently, tilting your head to examine the lost look on his face. Cisco shook his head, blinking rapidly as he forced a grin.

"Y-Yes! I am great, I just...uh...can't believe I'm meeting you in person," he chuckled nervously. "I thought you might've been made-up, with how much Barry talks about you without ever actually seeing you."

You giggled a little, Barry rolling his eyes at the comment. Cisco looked at Barry a little worriedly. You sensed a pending conversation, pulling away from Barry's arm.

"I'm going to get a drink. You want anything, Barry? Cisco?" You offered. Barry shook his head along with Cisco. You shrugged your shoulders. "Okay, I'll be back soon."

Barry pulled you back before you could leave, kissing you soft on your forehead. He winked at you. You lost your breath at the gesture. "Don't be too long," he teased. You just bit your lip and nodded, turning away from him as you made your way to the bar. Barry turned himself back to Cisco, who was staring at you as you left.

"What is it? What did you see?" Barry asked in a low voice. Cisco snapped his gaze back to Barry, who was anticipating an answer.

"Huh?"

"I know that look, Cisco. You vibed something. What was it?"

"N-Nothing. I...I saw nothing. She's just the single hottest woman I've ever seen, how the hell did she come here with you—?"

"Cisco—"

"Is...Is she a meta?" Cisco asked suddenly, sternly. His eyes turned a little cold as he stared at Barry.

"What?" Barry let out a scoff.

"Is she a meta? Have you been hiding her from us because she's a meta?"

"What are you talking about, Cisco? No, she's not a meta," Barry replied, shaking his head. Cisco swallowed, realizing that Barry was telling the truth, at least what he thought was the truth. He gripped Barry by the shoulder, shaking his head.

"Whatever you think you know, think again. I don't know what I saw, but...it wasn't anything bad. But I did see something, and I'm not really sure what it was. Just...don't underestimate her. I saw something..."

"What did you see?"

"Her hands...something about her hands. And then I saw someone in the hospital, almost on their deathbed. It didn't feel sinister or anything. It felt...worried and totally scared. But something was definitely not right."

Barry turned to look for you. You were receiving your drink at the bar. You were putting a few dollars in the tip jar, your smile a gorgeous accessory on your lips. Barry swallowed himself, frowning.

"There's no way she's a meta," Barry concluded. Cisco perked up at the call of his name, turning to leave.

"She might be thinking the same thing about you."

Barry was left alone, with a jumble of thoughts in his head. He began to make his way towards you. You were laughing in the presence of Iris, who was beside her father and holding a drink of her own.

"Hey, Barry! Whoa, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Iris called. The sound of his name made you turn and smile. Barry's heart calmed a little at the sight, but Cisco's words quickly made him tense a little. He came up beside you.

"Nothing...I'm fine," Barry replied nervously. He forced a happy grin, and you jumped a little at the feeling of his arm snaking around your waist. Joe and Iris noticed the gesture.

"So, you came with Barry?" Joe asked, nodding in approval as he met Barry's gaze. Barry shrugged and nodded, turning to look down at you. You were already looking up at him.

"Yeah, I did. He asked me earlier today."

"I was beginning to think he'd never have the balls," Iris said aloud. Everyone turned to look at her, and she just shrugged. "What? It's true, Dad..."

Everyone laughed, but Barry was still on the apprehensive side. He pulled you closer to him. Cisco had told him it wasn't anything sinister, but that he had seen someone in the hospital. Had you done something wrong? Had you hurt someone? Did you have powers? If you did have powers, how dangerous were they?

You noticed that Barry was getting lost in his thoughts, and you poked him in his cheek. He blinked a few times before meeting your eyes.

"Barry, are you okay?" You asked softly, so only he could hear. Barry opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted as the room went loud with screams. You both turned to look, and the room began to move as people ran towards the exits. Joe put his arm around Iris, and Barry moved you behind him.

"What's happening?" You wondered, watching as the room began to fill with tension and fear. Barry turned to look at Joe.

"Take them outside, don't come back in unless I say," he ordered him sternly. Joe nodded his head, and he began to pull you and Iris towards the nearest exit. You grabbed Barry's arm before you could be pulled into the crowd.

"Barry, c'mon! What are you doing? Let's go," you pleaded, your nails digging into his forearm. Barry shook his head, shooing you away. "Barry, please! What are you doing?"

"Just trust me. I'll be right back."

Barry pulled you close to him, and before you could even stop him, he had his lips against yours. You wanted to scream and shout at him. You dug your fingers harder into his arm, but it didn't stop him. He moved his lips against yours gently, and tears began to form in your eyes as you gave into it. You kissed him back soft, shutting your eyes as the screams in the room were drowned out by the moment.

Barry pulled away, licking his lips before placing another kiss onto the surface of your lips.

"Barry, no..." You cried, the tears falling onto the surface of your cheeks. You knew what this meant; Barry was going to leave you, he was going to die. You let out a screech of frustration, but Joe's hands on your waist forced you into the crowd of people leaving. You were lost in the sea of scared civilians. Barry disappeared from your eyesight, all the while you were crying out for him.

The crowd of people carried you outside. The cool air was relief against the hotness of your skin. Outside, you saw Cisco standing there, his hands in his hair. He met your eyes, and he blinked rapidly at the sight of you. You were crying hysterically and pacing in circles, being shoved by the people trying to run out of the gala's halls. He pushed his way towards you, grabbing your arm and pulling you to the side.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"Barry...Barry..." You mumbled, burying your face into Cisco's blazer. He held you close as you gripped the fabric hard, sobbing into him. He pulled your chin up to look at you, worried himself.

"What happened to Barry? Is he okay?"

"No...No, he's not okay! He's not gonna be okay! I..."

"What did you do? Oh, shit, what did you do?"

"I kissed him..." You wailed, putting your face back into his jacket. Cisco looked up, his gaze focused on the sea of people leaving the gala. He heard shouts and glass breaking from inside the hall, knowing it was Flash.

"Barry kissed you? Why are you crying? Isn't that a good thing? I'm confused."

You shook your head, and Cisco just pulled you away from the gala. He needed to get you somewhere safe. The more he touched you, the more he saw your past. He needed to know what was happening, he needed to know what you were.

"C'mon, (y/n). Let's go, I'll take you somewhere safe."

—

You were sitting in S.T.A.R. Labs, and you were huddled in the corner of the medical bay. Dr. Caitlin Snow was in the Cortex with Cisco, and they were talking softly, so that you weren't to hear. You weren't even trying to listen anyway. You had your head in your hands, your heels discarded across the room. You were sobbing gently into your hands. Any makeup you had on that night was gone, either smeared on the back of your hands or on the tissue clenched between your fingers.

"What happened?" Caitlin asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Cisco shrugged, spinning in circles on the chair he was in. He was chewing on a RedVine, the monitors in front of him telling him that Barry was doing alright.

"I don't know. She won't stop crying. I don't know what to do," he breathed. He swallowed. "I think she's a meta. I vibed her, and..."

Caitlin sighed, biting her lip as she shrugged her purse off her shoulder. She placed it on the floor, rubbing her hands together as she prepared to talk to you. "Maybe she'll open up to me."

"But she's a meta, Caitlin."

"And? Not all metahumans are bad, Cisco. You of all people should know that. We don't do that here. We help them, we don't push them away. She's still a person."

Caitlin made her way to the medical bay, knocking on the glass. You looked up from your hands, and Caitlin smiled sadly at you. "Hey, (y/n)? I'm a friend of Barry and Cisco's. Dr. Caitlin Snow. You can call me Caitlin. Are you okay?"

You shook your head, looking back down at your hands. More tears dribbling off your chin. "No. I'm not."

"Did you get hurt? Do I need to look at something?"

"No...No, I..."

You had never told your secret to anyone. You had never told anyone what you could do with your hands, you never told anyone how you used your powers. You never told anyone what they could do and how easily you could hurt someone.

Caitlin interrupted your thoughts, kneeling down on the floor beside you. She took your hand in hers, and you stared at her fingers; they were cold to your touch but comforting. "You know, this is a safe place. You can tell me anything. All we do here is help people."

You smiled a little, squeezing her palm. You did feel safe there. There was a warmth in her voice that made you feel better, a comfort in her touch that made you feel secure. You leaned your head against the wall, your heart strings tightening at the thought of Barry, dead or unconscious in the corner of a room.

"Barry! What the hell, are you okay?"

Cisco's voice rang in your ear like a bell. You shot up from your position on the wall, climbing on to your feet hurriedly. You made your way out of the medical bay quickly, Caitlin on your trail. When you emerged in the Cortex, Barry was standing there. His tie was loosened around his neck, and he had scrapes and cuts all along his face. You let out a breath, one of relief and disbelief.

"Barry? Is that really you?"

Barry turned to look at you, and he sighed in relief. He came towards you and hugged you tight. You were frozen in his grasp, blinking. There was no way Barry could be alive; there was no way Barry could be standing in front of you, breathing steadily. There was no way Barry could've survived toxic poisoning.

"(y/n), what's wrong? You look so...pale. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Barry was standing at arm's length away from you, examining your features. He was worried you might've been injured during the whole ordeal. You just stared blankly at him, reaching forward and touching his face. Barry frowned in confusion. You pressed your palm against his cheek, running your fingers gently over the surface of his skin. You couldn't believe it was him.

But it was him. His smile was the same, his cheeks adorned with tiny freckles was still the same, his vanilla cologne was still evident. Your thumb trailed across the surface of his lips, and you let out a whimper.

"You're alive..." You laughed in amazement, pulling him close to hug him. Barry complied, his arms going around your waist. He held you just as tight, kissing your head. He shot a look at both Caitlin and Cisco, but they both just shrugged. Everyone was at a loss; they didn't know why you had been so worried the whole night.

You pulled away from Barry, who led you to an empty chair. He had you sit down, and before he could protest anything Cisco said, he spoke.

"What's your deal?" Cisco demanded. Barry shot his head up to look at him, shaking his head. It was too late, and you swallowed.

"What?"

"You're a meta," Cisco accused you. You gripped Barry's hand tight, shaking your head.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," you replied shakily. Barry turned to look at you, crouching down to your level.

"Yes, you do. You're a meta, I know it. I saw it," he shot back.

"Cisco, stop!" Barry demanded. Cisco closed his mouth, gripping the edge of his desk roughly. Barry used his thumb to wipe a stray tear off of your cheek. He shook his head, kissing your temple soft.

"You don't have to answer that," he said softly. You breathed hard, your eyes shut as you pondered the question. You had to tell the truth. You were so tired of keeping your secret from everyone. You just wanted to tell someone, you wanted to lessen your burden. Caitlin said all they did was help people; they had to be able to help you. "You don't have to say anything unless you're ready."

"I am," you whispered. Barry stopped touching your face. His hand came back to rest on your knee, and you shied away from his eyes. Barry swallowed hard, letting out a sharp breath before biting his bottom lip.

"What?" He replied.

"I'm a meta," you said louder, your head shooting up from the floor. Caitlin and Cisco both stepped back a little. Cisco clenched his fists, ready to fire at you if you tried anything. Caitlin cowered away, afraid to use her own powers. She knew the risk. It would have to be up to Barry and Cisco to handle you.

Barry had other ideas. He tangled his fingers between your own. He was going to be sympathetic. If your powers were dangerous, he would counter them with his affection. "It's okay..."

"Who's the guy?" Cisco asked harshly. Barry clenched his jaw in anger; if you were a dangerous metahuman, Cisco was doing a terrible job of keeping your attitude at bay. You stared at Cisco blankly, confused.

"Who?"

"That man in the hospital. Who was that? What did you do to him?"

You sucked in a deep breath, standing up from the chair. Barry stood as well. He didn't believe you were dangerous, but he had yet to see your powers. He was ready for you, but he didn't have to be.

"I haven't thought about that in a long time," you said softly, running a hand through the silkiness of your hair. Barry frowned a little, looking back and forth between you and Cisco. You made your way towards Cisco, circling around the desk. You took a deep breath before holding out your hand. Cisco was prepared to throw you back in fear, but he was caught off guard by your hand. "You saw it when you shook my hand, right?"

Cisco reached out slowly, his hand meeting yours. You held it gently, shutting your eyes.

"I was on a date, with a great guy," you began. Cisco swallowed as he began to see it through your eyes. You couldn't lie to him when he was holding onto you. He could see everything. "And we went home together. And I knew there was something off, I knew there was something not right with me. But none of the doctors could figure it out, they told me I was fine. But I wasn't."

Cisco frowned. "You know, he could have at least let you finish the movie before just going at it. Wasn't it off of paper-view?"

Barry rolled his eyes at the comment.

"And we...obviously, started, you know. Kissing? And a few minutes later, he was convulsing. H-He was drooling everywhere, he couldn't breathe. And when I was at the hospital, they told me he was poisoned. You...can imagine that we didn't really go out together after that."

You let go of Cisco's hand, and he blinked as his eyes adjusted to the light again. Caitlin and Barry were staring at him.

"She's telling the truth," Cisco said softly. He turned to you, pointing at your hands. "How'd it happen? What are your powers, and how did you get them?"

You turned to look around the room, stopping when you noticed a small fern in the corner of the room. "Is that a real fern?" You asked.

"Yeah. It is. A gift from our friend in Star City, Felicity," Caitlin replied. You didn't know the name, but nevertheless, you made your way towards it.

"You guys haven't been taking care of it," you observed. Barry shrugged, looking around the room.

"Well, it doesn't need that much care, but we get kind of busy in here."

You placed your hand on the plant, your fingers spreading across its leaves. The glittering of pollen and energy shifted in your palms. It was like a blue and yellow light show, an array of glowing particles. The plant came to life underneath your touch, its brown edges becoming bright green again and its stems strengthening. You pulled your hand away, turning to examine the faces around the room. Caitlin had her mouth slightly open. Barry was just wide-eyed, and Cisco was smiling. The colors died down as the energy slowed.

"Cool," he breathed. You motioned for Barry to come towards you, and he stepped closer to you. You allowed your fingers to slide up the side of his face, touching the cuts that he had. Again, your hands grew alight in motion. This time, the particles were sparkling yellow and red, lighting a fire almost on the surface of his face.

"When the particle accelerator failed, I was holding a mountain laurel, a kind of toxic plant," you started. Your fingers touched the edges of his cuts, and he winced underneath the blaze of glistening lights. The room went even more silent as they watched the cuts disappear. "The Native Americans used to use the flower to heal wounds naturally. It seems it worked. I'm not sure really how far it goes, but it works like charm for this."

"That's why you got so worried after you kissed Barry. Because of the guy you put in the hospital," Cisco concluded. Your hand left Barry's face, which was now clear of its bruises. You nodded.

"And I'm still not sure how you're standing here. It should've killed you. I...the pollen. It's everywhere. On my hands, in my mouth, even when I sneeze. You should be..." You couldn't finish. Barry smiled, and you bit your lip as he stared down at you.

"Well, if you must know, it's probably because I'm a meta just like you," he said softly. You shook your head, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

The flip of a switch, a light, turned on behind you, and you turned your head to look. In a case in the center of the room, a dark red suit was lit low. You pulled away from Barry, walking up to the glass to examine the outfit. Your eyes widened with wonder as you gazed at the fabric, crimson and red with a white and gold lightning bolt in the center of the chest. You let out a breath, knowing exactly what it was. Your fingers slid down the surface of the glass, the cool display the only thing separating you from that magnificent symbol of heroism.

"You're crazy," you uttered, putting a palm against the glass. Barry came up behind you, finding your hand and using it to tug you back to him. You fell into his chest, looking up at him. His eyes were bright with something good.

"Maybe," Barry chuckled. "I have my reasons."

You stared at his lips, so soft and luscious in front of you. You remembered how his kiss felt, so gentle and warm. Your pessimistic attitude was beginning to lessen, your heart swelling. It had been a long while since anyone had loved you, and you were afraid. You wanted to kiss him again bad, hold Barry closer.

"You can kiss me," Barry laughed, examining the expression on your face. You shied away, a little embarrassed. "I won't get hurt. You won't hurt me."

You let out a breath before leaning in, kissing Barry gently. Barry shut his eyes at the feeling, holding you closer. You slid your hands up his chest, holding him at the back of his neck. Barry let out a chuckle, his fingers gripping the waist of your suede dress and pulling you closer to him. The kiss was becoming more intense by the second. You pulled away before Barry could deepen the kiss any further. You could feel the eyes of your audience.

"Okay, so while you guys make out, I will come up with a name," Cisco said from behind you.

"A name for who?" You asked. You never took your eyes off of Barry; you stared into his eyes, running your thumb over the surface of his mouth. You were so mesmerized by the fact that he couldn't be affected by your poison. That, or Barry healed too fast for him to even notice.

"For you," Cisco laughed. Barry's smile grew, his eyes moving from your eyes to your lips and back again. You wanted to kiss him again. You didn't realize how addicting it was to feel yourself fall in love.

"What are you talking about?" You wondered.

"It's a thing we do here," Barry informed you. You slid your hands back down his chest, and Barry caught your hands in his. He stared at them, interested, and you grinned to yourself as you let your fingers spark up with energy and particles. Barry laughed a little, and you admired the vision of your hands dancing in his reflection of his eyes.

"Well, forget Poison Ivy, I'm pretty sure someone already took that from you," Cisco remarked. Caitlin made a face at the crude joke. You laughed, however. You leaned into the sparkling of your hands, closing the space between you and Barry. You kissed between the twinkling of your hands, but stopped as soon as Barry started coughing.

"Too much?" You asked, scrunching your face. Barry coughed again, smacking his lips.

"Yeah, a little too much," he agreed, and you let the energy rest between your hands. Instead you caressed his face with the warmth between your palms now. "That stings, a little bit."

"Yeah, yeah, it does," you laughed.

"So is it like a regular thing to seduce boys and poison them?"

"No, it's definitely not," you scoffed. Barry held your lower back, dipping you slightly as he eyed the surface of your lips again.

"Oh, so you just poison them with your love?" He teased. You groaned at the terrible joke, shaking your head with disapproval.

"No, no, no, the cringe," you moaned, and Barry chuckled as he drank in your appearance. Your head dipped back, your hair tumbling behind your shoulders, the sparkling of your skin in the bright light.

"No, you're right, you're poisoning me with how beautiful you are," he whispered. You giggled in his arms, meeting his gaze again and biting your lip.

"Barry Allen, you're driving me crazy," you said softly. Barry shook his head.

"No, I don't drive."

"No?"

"No, (y/n). I'll run you wild."

"Shut up."

Happy Halloween! Leave love and votes and comments! I had so much fun writing this, so I hope you love it too. Leave requests and notes below, thank you for reading, you know I love you all.

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Love, B.