Caitlin wasn't entirely sure what she had expected the Speed Force to be like, and honestly, she hadn't really had the time to consider it. All she had really had to go on was what Cisco and Barry had told her from their previous encounters with it. So between those two stories, there was a 50/50 chance it would either be a swirling storm of lightning and chaos, or an eerie and empty mirror of their home world.
She had mentally prepared herself for both scenarios.
What she had not expected, however, was the bright sunny skies and steady stream of traffic that flowed outside the window of CC Jitters. Barry sat across from her at their little table, quietly stirring his coffee. All around them the cafe was bustling, the low sound of chatter and spoons clanking against dishes filling the background.
"This isn't what it was like the last time I was here," Barry kept his voice low, eyes drifting to the happy, oblivious patrons. "I mean I don't remember the last time I was here, but when I went to get Wally it wasn't this..." he trailed off.
"Mundane?" She supplied.
He nodded. "But then again, it was pretty angry at me then," he added.
"Well, whatever the reason, let's just be happy it isn't anymore. I would've hated to have to spend the rest of our lives running from Time Wraiths. Or Dementors, according to Cisco," she replied, almost fondly.
Barry chuckled from behind his coffee mug.
"So what do we do now?" Caitlin said after a beat, wrapping her hands around her own mug and allowing the warmth to seep into her palms.
Barry paused, considering it. "Maybe...maybe we could go back to our lives? I know it's not the same, or maybe not even real, but our friends and family are here, and maybe that's enough," he concluded, eyes drifting over the utter normalcy that surrounded them.
Caitlin pressed her lips together thoughtfully, then shook her head slowly, wordlessly. She didn't like it. It wasn't the same, she knew it wasn't; but she resolved to give it a shot, for Barry's sake at least. She then picked up her coffee cup and took a steady sip, if only to give herself something to do.
After that day, they adopted a routine. They would go about their normal lives with the same (fake?) people they always had, as though nothing had changed. They would smile and laugh at all the right times and never say a word to shatter the delicate (and utterly false) reality before them.
But, they always made sure to meet at Jitters at least once a day. To talk freely with one and other, or simply to be in the presence of the only other real person in the entire world. Caitlin had found herself taking solace in their little meetings; it was a welcomed relief in the rigidly phony facade she had forced herself to assume.
It was exhausting honestly, and it didn't help that she barely saw Barry at the lab because nothing ever seemed to go wrong in this new world of theirs. In the entirely of the time they had been there, not once had a meta alert pinged.
It was on the tenth day that Caitlin found herself sitting across from Barry, a troubled and distant look on his face. He had been quiet for the better part of twenty minutes, practically glaring at his cup of coffee. She had tried to talk to him, but only received a quiet "I'm fine," before he once again lapsed into broody silence.
Caitlin had resigned herself to an uncommunicative lunch and shifted her focus to her latte and croissant.
"I can't do it anymore," Barry spoke up abruptly, surprising Caitlin. "I can't keep pretending that everything is alright, that it's the same. It's not," he continued, a pained kind of tired in his voice.
Caitlin felt as though a crushing weight had been lifted, she had been ready to stop pretending on day three.
"I know what you mean," she answered, understandingly. "The people here, even the people we love, they aren't really...people. Sometimes it feels like talking to a computer."
Barry inclined his head in agreement, grimacing a little.
"Now what?" Caitlin directed the question to both him and herself, leaning back in her chair.
Barry blew out a slow thoughtful exhale, running a hand through his dark hair.
"What if we just went somewhere else," the idea spilled from Barry's lips quickly, desperately. "You and me, let's just go. We can find new jobs. Get an apartment or a house and live somewhere we won't have to constantly be reminded of everyone we left behind. You know?"
He stopped for a moment, his gaze flickering from their surroundings then solely to her. "What do you say?"
Caitlin sat in quiet contemplation, Barry's offer sinking in. At first, the idea seemed utterly insane and impulsive. They couldn't just pick up their stuff and leave, could they? Surely it couldn't be that simple.
Yet, the more Caitlin thought about it, the more tempting the proposal became. She soon caught herself smiling at the thought of it, a new sense of peace and even relief unfurling within her.
"Okay," Caitlin accepted, an oddly giddy sensation bubbling beneath her words. "Let's do it."
A grin engulfed Barry's features and all the previous tension he had held seemed to melt away. They began to discuss the idea excitedly, their attitudes the most natural and relaxed they had been since the day they arrived.
After that, Barry was all smiles and ease, even going as far as to reach across the table and attempt to steal a bite of Caitlin's croissant.
The next several days were spent mostly at Jitters or tucked away in a quiet corner of S.T.A.R. Labs. They talked over all the details and sifted through various newspaper ads and websites. They even looked at a few places here and there, but failed to find one that really suited them both.
Then finally, on day four of playing House Hunters, they found exactly what they were looked for. It was a townhouse just east of the city's metropolitan area; geographically, it was far enough removed that they wouldn't have to deal with a lot of neighbors, but not so far that it was rural.
"Not too far, not too close, it's just right," Barry had joked from where he sat cross-legged on the pipeline floor.
"Since when are we in Goldilocks and the Three Bears?" She quirked an eyebrow, peeking at him from over the newspaper she held.
Barry only shrugged, "Nothing else here is exactly normal, it probably wouldn't surprise me if there were three bipedal bears around here somewhere."
"Be careful what you wish for," Caitlin mumbled absently, turning her attention back to the ad.
Barry only laughed.
The house itself was two stories and came lightly furnished, but still allowed room to add their own personal flair. It was modern yet cozy, with two bedrooms, two baths, and a decent-sized living room and kitchen. The kitchen came with modern appliances, accents of black and gray darting across the cabinets. The countertops were all sleek, black marble, with a kitchen bar off to the side that served as a table. Furniture wise, the bedrooms were bare but the living room already had a couch and a tv screen mounted on the wall in front of it.
Needless to say, Caitlin and Barry were quite impressed after they completed the walkthrough. They stayed close together as they trailed behind the realtor, mentioning what they each liked about the house and discussing ways to improve what they didn't.
However, the deal had been sealed when they were told the price the owners were willing to accept. The realtor just smiled politely and stepped out to get the paperwork.
Left alone, they stood quietly in the foyer. A ghost of a smile tugged at Barry's lips as he glanced around, bouncing back and forth on the balls of his feet. Caitlin couldn't help but mirror the same expression; they could make this place their own, their new home, their safe haven.
The rest of the week was spent packing up and moving they're belongings.
They started with Caitlin's apartment, because she lived alone and it was easier to avoid any cheap copies of their friends and family. Nobody asked what they'd been up to, nor did anybody call, so it was easy to stay focused and forget about it all for a while.
However, they both knew eventually they were going to have to face the music and at least tell (fake?) Iris about their plans. How she would react, they had no way of knowing for sure.
It was on a particularly chilly and overcast day that Caitlin ended up loading boxes of Barry's things into the back of her car. The gentle sound of raindrops pattered on the pavement around her, making small pools all along the driveway.
A sudden (yet somehow comforting) gust of wind swept over her, blowing her hair in all directions.
"That should be the last of the clothes," the speedster informed from where he now stood, leaned against the side of her car.
"And this should be the last of everything," she supplied, slamming the back hatch closed with no small amount of satisfaction.
They both stood there for a moment afterward, smiling at each other like idiots.
Are we really doing this? Barry seemed to ask without words.
I guess so. Caitlin seemed to reply just the same.
Their moment of silent understanding stretched on until Barry spoke up.
"You're soaked," he frowned, reaching up to brush away a strand of damp hair that clung to her forehead.
"Well, not all of us can get dry by running at super speed," she reminded wryly.
He gave her an incredulous smile and shook his head. "Come on, let's get you dried off before we leave."
He moved around to her side and took off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders. Caitlin assured him she was fine, but Barry insisted and began to usher her towards the door.
Nevertheless, his attempts were interrupted by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Caitlin was pretty sure both their stomachs dropped. The gentle squeak of brakes filled their ears, and Iris stepped out of the car a not long after. She greeted them both happily and insisted they come inside, even offering to make some hot tea.
Both Caitlin and Barry were soon standing in the loft kitchen, shifting on their feet awkwardly. Caitlin still stood with Barry's jacket over her shoulders, her damp clothes making a small puddle on the floor.
"So, what have you guys been up to?" Iris inquired, turning away from the water she had just poured in the kettle.
Barry shot Caitlin an uneasy glance, his eyes pleading the question; what do I tell her?
It was a good question. Because how exactly was Barry supposed to tell his wife who wasn't actually his wife that he was moving out with another woman, (who he definitely wasn't romantically involved with) because he couldn't stand to be reminded of the actual family and life he'd lost? Yeah, it was a weird one. But then again, if she wasn't real, maybe she wouldn't even care.
The truth, was Caitlin's silent reply, tell her the truth.
Barry appeared to get her meaning because he turned back to Iris and spoke.
"Um..." he started, a distinct nervous pitch in his voice, "moving actually. Ca...Caitlin and I have been looking for a new place and we finally found a good one. We just finished packing actually." His words came out rushed a jumbled as he gestured to the car outside.
All the while, Iris stood there and listened patiently, the kettle beginning to whistle behind her.
"Wh...what do you think of that?" Barry stuttered the question out, running a clammy palm over the back of his neck.
Caitlin was actually surprised by how much this whole situation made her want to throw herself into oncoming traffic. Or at least crawl into a hole somewhere and never emerge.
However, Iris only smiled the same polite smile that everyone in this world seemed to wear. "Whatever makes you happy," she answered brightly.
It was probably meant to be reassuring, but somehow all it did was unsettle them both. After the tea, the pair stepped back out and got into the car. Caitlin started the engine and quickly peeled out of the driveway. Neither of them ever looked back.
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