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Barry sighed contently in the middle of the large crowded ballroom, even though he knew he really shouldn’t be so relaxed. They were on a mission after all, a very high stakes mission to catch some very very bad people but he couldn’t help himself as he held Caitlin close in his arms while they swayed on the dance floor.
“One of the perks of visiting Oliver, we almost always get to dress up,” Barry broke their comfortable silence jokingly.
Caitlin chuckled picking her head up from his shoulder to look at him with an arched brow, “It also usually results in us getting shot at.”
“Well yeah I guess that’s--”
“Or you injured in some way... like with an arrow to the back,” Caitlin continued as she pursed her lips, displeased. The sight made Barry chuckle lightly, she had never quite gotten over Oliver shooting him, worried sick when she saw the wounds. Nor did she like how he seemed to have a habit of getting impaled when he was within Star City limits, “Or knife to the shoulder, or--”
He tightened his hands around her waist to pull her closer, her words cutting short as he whispered in her ear, “I'll be fine. I promise.”
She huffed a laugh as she relaxed back into his arms. Her head on his shoulder and hand resting on his chest, thumb stroking over smooth white material of his dress shirt, over his heart. He always made promises like that even when it hadn't worked out that way so many times before, but his words put her at ease all the same.
“Hey cuties.” --They both jumped at Felicity's voice crackling to life through the ear pieces they had forgotten were there-- “Sorry to interrupt but our guy is leaving the party. Back right corner. SCPD is on standby, so Oliver wants you two to follow and see if you can lay eyes on him.”
“Okay, on it,” Caitlin whispered into the microphone hidden in the broach on her dress.
“Oh come on, Caitlin. Say the thing. Pleeeeease,” Felicity’s disembodied voice begged.
Caitlin huffed and looked up at him. Her intention for him to do it clear. He chuckled fingering his bowtie, activating his mic, “Flash and Frost, moving into position.”
“Flash and Frost. Ugh I love it.”
Barry smiled as Caitlin rolled her eyes at their friend’s antics before she took his hand. Intertwining their fingers as she lead him across the ballroom floor towards the back door. They waded through the crowd and the door came more into view, along with a sketchy looking man in the black suit guarding it.
“Felicity, there’s a guard at the door, our guy or theirs?” Barry whispered into the comm.
“Uh.... theirs, definitely theirs.”
“Great... how are we supposed to get by him?” Barry groaned.
“Flashtime?” Caitlin suggested under her breath.
Barry shook his head, “Can’t. People are too close, they’ll feel it.”
Flashtime may have been an amazingly useful skill but it didn’t stop people from feeling the electric aura. And with other party guests brushing their shoulders at every other turn, it was risky. Barry certainly didn’t want to chance accidently bringing someone else in by touching them while transferring his aura to Caitlin.
“Right of course. And my powers would be too obvious,” Caitlin reasoned.
“Alright, so how exactly are we supposed to get by this guy?”
“Haven’t you two seen ANY movies? You got to bluff your way through.”
Barry exchanged a look with Caitlin, who huffed, knowing neither one of them were the best liars.
“Just pretend you want to go make out or something. That shouldn’t been too far off right?”
“Felicity!” Caitlin hissed as they both blushed bright red.
“Just a suggestion.”
“Thanks we’ll... figure something out,” Barry grumbled and after a quick ‘good luck’ the other side of the mic went silent. Barry glanced over at Caitlin and gave an amused smile as he shrugged, “What do you say, want to give it a shot?”
“Looks like we don’t have much of a choice.” Caitlin brushed back her hair, her cheeks still flushing at the hacker’s comment.
Barry took her hand again and leaned in close to her ear, “Don’t worry, we can do it. Besides Felicity's right, it’s not too far off.”
He couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped him as she flushed even redder, swatting his arm before they started towards the door.
Immediately the guard’s gaze fell on them as they got closer, and their intentions of heading his way became clear. Barry cursed internally that their bad guy had to hire grunts that actually did their jobs. It didn’t do their odds any favors.
But Barry was taken aback when Caitlin suddenly took his arm and started... giggling?
“You can’t exit through here,” The guard said holding up his hand towards them.
“But the sign here says roof access and...” Caitlin started in a strange lilted tone Barry could only assume was her attempt at a ditzy voice but trailed off unsurely. Glancing up at him for help but upon seeing his stunned expression almost rolled her eyes, “we were hoping that...”
“Maybe we could...” Barry pitched in weakly.
“See the skyline? We’ve heard it’s one of the best views of the city.”
The guard looked unimpressed and when he opened his mouth Barry knew he was about about to reject them.
“Wait, hang on,” Barry shot suddenly stepping towards him. The guard tensed, his hand flying to his back. A gun... great. He may be able to catch bullets but he couldn’t exactly cover up a gun going off in a crowded room or him giving away his powers trying to stop it. Barry swallowed hard before continuing as he slowly pulled out his wallet and lowered his voice, “Look... it’s our anniversary, ya know?”
Barry raised his brows at the guard who relaxed and started nodding slowly, understanding where Barry was going with this.
“So you know... I’m just trying to make it special ,” Barry stressed as his fingers pressed into the fabric of his jacket pocket discreetly revealing the outline of a ring, then he pulled the couple of twenties he had in his wallet out, offering them in a handshake as he grinned sheepishly, “For your trouble?”
The man contemplated his offer for a few moments and Barry held his breath hoping to appeal to the romantic in him, if there was one. But then the guard's face softened as he took the cash.
“Yeah alright, just don’t tell anyone I let you up.”
“Not a word,” Barry promised as he took Caitlin’s hand and they entered the stairwell, climbing up the first two flights of stairs before stopping.
“You used our anniversary really?” Caitlin looked pointedly at him and he grinned.
“Well it is.”
“Not until tomorrow.”
“Semantics,” He shrugged flashing her a smile she rolled her eyes at amused before he fiddled with his bowtie again, “Alright Felicity we’re in the stairwell. Which way?”
“Looks like he went down to the garage.”
“On it,” Barry confirmed only for Felicity to give a loud sigh in his ear.
“Frost and Flash, moving into position,” Caitlin said before he could and he grinned at her. She returned his smile as she raised her arm for him to pick her up.
He scooped her up into his arms and raced them down the stairs to the underground parking garage, coming to a stop and hiding them behind a car. Peeking briefly over the hood Barry caught a glimpse of their guy and his guards discussing something with another group of men.
“Alright Felicity, we got eyes on our guy. He’s probably armed, the rest are.”
“Perfect. How many of them are there?”
“Ten or twelve, want me to take them out?” Barry asked primed to run.
“Nope. Caitlin do your thing.”
Barry's eyes darted to Caitlin surprised as she pulled something small and metal from her clutch purse. But before he could ask Cisco's voice came over the comms.
“Just before you guys left I finished this little beauty. A bug and camera small enough they won't even notice. Since your lightning draws a little too much attention in the dark we decided to let Snow Patrol do her thing.”
Caitlin fondly rolled her eyes at the nickname before they flashed white as she created an icicle point on the end of the device. Carefully peaking over the car to check if the coast was clear she launched it across the garage where it buried itself firmly into a concrete pillar with the men none the wiser.
“Device activating now.”
The audio from the device crackled to life over their comms. The first voice a raspy one Barry and Caitlin instantly recognized as they looked at each other and said,
“Norvok.”
“The guy with a snake for an eye?!” Felicity’s voice asked alarmed.
“Yeah, well, he used too... before Amunet cut it out,” Caitlin informed her only for Felicity to gag on the other end.
“Shh. Listen,” Cisco cut in.
“--You want them you're going to have to pay up,” Norvok was saying.
“Her price doubled since last time!” The other man shot angrily.
“Yeah well with a trio of superheroes running around Central City smuggling things out has become a bit more complicated, and expensive. It's more than reasonable.”
“A trio? I thought you only had the fast one.”
“He's got friends now. The cold hearted ice queen and a man who... ‘vibes’, whatever that means. Plus the stretchy one every once and awhile.”
The other man snorted, “Glad I got out of Central while I could. At least we don't have any powered freaks here other than the ones we buy.”
“So we have a deal then?”
There was a snap of fingers over the comms that made Barry and Caitlin peak over the hood of the car to see the other man direct one with a thick metal briefcase to step up and show the eye-patched Norvok the contents inside. Norvok examined it then nodded and one of his own men took the case.
“Now, where are the metas?”
“You can pick up your merchandise in the abandoned warehouse off Martin and Wesley.”
The click of a gun cocking nearly had Barry springing into action but Caitlin’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“We'll wait until my men confirm that fact.”
“Green Arrow, Spartan, they're heading your way,” Felicity said.
“Roger that,” Diggle's voice came as his comm line connected to theirs.
A few silent moments ticked by, Barry knowing a few blocks away Oliver and Diggle were taking care of the gangster's friends in probably some epic warehouse fight as they lept around shooting arrows and tranq darts at their opponents. Then the other man received a call and his voice reappeared on the comms,
“It seems our business has been completed Mr. Norvok, give Amunet my best regards.”
“Of course,” Norvok hissed.
“We've got what we need. Frost, Flash, take them down,” Oliver's gruff command came and Barry didn't need to be told twice.
As silver cascaded down over Caitlin's auburn curls Barry took his Flash ring he had used to trick the guard upstairs out of his jacket pocket, releasing his suit and flashing into it before returning to Frost's side behind the car. Frost glanced at him and her eyes quickly switched to brown.
“New suit?” Caitlin asked, traces of Frost's icy reverberation still under her breath.
“Old one, technically. After the other one got blown up Cisco gave me back this one. But he insisted it didn't look right without the chin strap so he made some modifications. And no worries he added a defibrillator too,” He gave her a grin that she easily returned.
Her hand reached out as if it had a mind of its own so she could brush her fingertips along the new material that outlined his jaw, admiring it as she muttered, “Cisco makes the best suits...”
“That he does,” Barry agreed absently as he got lost in the way she was looking at him, drifting closer to her. It was almost ironic how hot she looked with Frost’s hair in contrast to her warm brown eyes.
“Thank you!” Cisco shouted in their ears so suddenly it nearly made them jump out of their skin, “Now you can continue to make heart eyes at each other after you catch the bad guys. Go!”
“Ready?” Barry asked as Caitlin's eyes became blue again.
“Ready,” Frost answered him with a smirk and a cold mist emanating from her palms.
With a wink that she rolled her eyes at Barry raced around the warehouse, taking the guns from each man there. Throwing them away before returning to Frost's side just in time to get out of the way of her icy blast that launched many of the gang members off their feet and onto the ground. The ones left standing raced towards the exit.
Barry easily beat them there. Standing in their way as he rested his hands on his hips as they approached him looking ready for a fight.
“Now, there's no need for violence. I think my friends at SCPD would much rather like to talk to you. So would she for that matter,” He remarked smugly as Frost came up from behind them. A cold fog billowing from her hands and mouth. Filling the room and making it nearly impossible to see. Barry sped around, his lightning lighting up the fog just enough he could find the silhouettes of each man as he raced to each one and restrained them with zip-tie cuffs. Frost efficiently using her heat seeking abilities to do the same.
As the fog cleared all the men were cuffed and on the ground except for one. His eyes surveyed wildly until they caught a man with a greasy haired undercut slip out the back, briefcase in hand. Grabbing Frost as he ran he flashed them outside, easily catching the man and pinning him to the wall.
“Norvok,” He growled at him, not having seen him since he was writhing in pain after Amunet spared him, well except for the eye.
“Ah Flashy and the Ice Queen, at it again I see. A few hundred miles from home,” The man hissed back.
“So are you,” He shot tightening his hold as Norvok grimaced and raised his hands in surrender.
“You got your guys, isn't the deal to let me go with the pay in exchange for those traffickers and mercs?”
“That's our deal with Amunet, not you. Now why are you here?” Frost snapped back stepping up to Barry's shoulder.
“Your deal is to let her agent go and I'm back in her good graces,” The meta shrugged with a smirk.
“You'd go back to her after she did that?” Frost asked skeptically, her brows raising high as she gestured lazily to his eye patch.
Norvok huffed a laugh, “You can't seem to hate her either, Frosty. Go on, check my pockets, she thought this might happen.”
Barry rummaged through the man's pockets before pulling out a small phone like device, it was see through except for the frame. Frost snatched it from his hand, blowing cold air onto it. Glancing up she rolled her eyes at Barry's confused expression.
“It's how Amunet used to give me my jobs. It’s activated by sub zero temperatures so only I could see them in case snakes like him came snooping,” Frost explained impatiently but clear enough Barry understood that no one, back then even Caitlin, could have see her messages without her powers or some seriously high grade tech. Text appeared on the screen that she quickly read before growling and shoving the device back into Norvok’s hands, “Let him go. He’s telling the truth.”
Barry reluctantly did so as Norvok scoffed and popped his coat back into place.
“I would say it’s been a pleasure but it really hasn’t. Though Amunet would like to see you and the good doctor again real soon. To catch up.”
“Tell her she might be waiting awhile,” Frost countered back and Norvok almost laughed before taking his leave down the alley and out of sight.
“Ugh. I hate that guy,” Caitlin’s voice came from beside him as Barry watched her turn back into his beloved physician.
“He certainly is a piece of work,” Barry agreed before in a rush of wind he changed back into his tux, his suit sucked back into the ring and tucked safely away in his pants pocket. Then he held out his hand to Caitlin, “Come on, we best get back inside before the cops come in.”
“Do I still look okay? Nothing on my dress?” Caitlin asked quickly checking for rips, tears, or any other sign of their fight.
But Barry just laughed, “Are you kidding? They didn’t even touch you. And you always look great.”
She smiled widely up at him with a small shake of her head, “Then let’s go.”
Not twenty minutes later they were ushered out with the other party guests as the SCPD raided the building and found the metahuman traffickers they had been looking for waiting in the garage. Hand in hand Barry and Caitlin made their way across the street where they found Oliver waiting in his civilian clothes.
He smiled a little as they approached, “Caitlin, Barry. Thank you for your help.”
“You know we always love visiting Star City, Oliver,” Caitlin told him kindly and Barry had to bite the inside of his cheek to hide his smile as he gave Oliver back their comms they had borrowed for the mission.
Oliver chuckled, “Well I know that’s not true but it is always nice to have you.”
“Did you get what you were looking for?” Barry asked curiously and Oliver nodded curtly.
“Yes we did,” He said before lowering his voice, “We were right about the traffickers having the codes. Now Duncan is vulnerable and we’re one step closer to stopping him. Your connection with this... Amunet really helped.”
“Good, well if you need any more help you know we can be here in--” Both Oliver and Caitlin groaned as Barry’s grin just grew wider, “--a flash.”
“Yes I am well aware,” Oliver told him fighting a smile as he pulled his hand out from his pocket for a handshake. Barry smiled and shook it, grinning a little more as he felt Oliver transfer a small metal object into his palm. But before he could take it Oliver pulled him forward faking a half hug as he whispered, “Don’t mess this up.”
“No pressure,” Barry grumbled as he pulled away but gave him a smile as he tucked the small item into his jacket pocket so fast it was invisible to the naked eye, “It was fun to do things Star City style for once. Very James Bond.”
Oliver shook his head and then perhaps to cover up how he had hugged Barry to pass his message he leaned down and hugged Caitlin as well. Her eyes wide as she glanced at Barry in shock. He smiled shrugging as she hesitantly hugged the archer back.
“Well,” Oliver started awkwardly after he moved a step back, “Have a good night. I’m sure uh... we’ll be seeing you both soon.”
“See ya around,” Barry called as Oliver left and smiled back at Caitlin who still had the most adorable confused expression.
“Well that was...”
“Weird?” They said together and chuckled as Caitlin nodded.
“Yeah, really weird,” She agreed brushing her hair back.
Barry admired her for a moment and how beautiful she looked in her long elegant dress then held out his hand to her, “Come with me.”
She glanced up at him bemused as a small smile played on her lips. He knew that quick mind of her’s wanted to ask a million questions but she pushed those aside and instead took his hand trustingly. Leading her down the street and into an alley he flashed them onto the roof of the building where the gala took place.
Caitlin looked around confused, “Barry, what are we doing up here?”
“You were right, it’s one of the best views of the city is from here,” He smiled at her as she looked over the skyline, seeing the tall towering skyscrapers drop off into the darkness of the bay where the lights of yachts and other smaller boats twinkled on top of the water.
“It is beautiful,” She confirmed quietly as she wrapped her arms around herself. A tell tale sign she was a little cold. Barry quickly shed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She smiled up at him gratefully as she pulled it close.
“And...” Barry hung the word in the air as he watched the minute hand on his watch hit twelve and a clock tower somewhere in the distance chime, “It’s officially midnight so... happy anniversary!”
“Happy anniversary, Barry,” She grinned. Her eyes crinkling softly as she kissed him before putting her back against his chest to look out at the city around them. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer so he could rest his head on her shoulder.
They stayed like that for awhile, watching the bustle below as red and yellow headlights sped along, the city buzzing with life even at this hour. Just taking a moment together in each other's company they had far too few of. That is until finally Barry broke it by tilting his head to place a kiss on her neck.
“Hey Caitlin.”
“ Hmm? ” She hummed leaning into him tilting her head in expectation for more but he couldn’t continue, not yet.
“I have something I need to tell you, or ask you.”
She opened her eyes as she turned in his arms, her brows furrowing worriedly. He smiled, loving how she was always so concerned for him as he reached up and cupped her cheek, “It’s good I promise.”
She bit her lower lip as she nodded for him to continue. He pulled away from her, taking both of her hands in his to hold them as he rubbed his thumbs over the back of her palms. His eyes getting mesmerized by the movement as his brain got lost in the swirl of words he wanted to form next.
“Barry?” She asked hesitantly after a prolonged silence and he chuckled nervously clearing his throat.
“Caitlin... Cait , these past two years with you have been more than I ever could’ve imagined or hoped for. Well technically every year with you has been but these two top all of that. Being with you has been so incredible. You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met.” Her breath caught and her eyes started to go wide as Barry was sure she picked up on where he was going with this. She always knew what he was up too, “And I don’t know what I would do without you, well I do know, I’d be dead, but that’s besides the point. Actually, no, it’s not because if not for you I wouldn’t have a life. Literally. And not just in a life or death way. I used to just sit around and watch Netflix and pine for a version of my life I thought I wanted but now? I’m a superhero with my two best friends, saving people and doing good, how cool is that?”
“Well we still watch Netflix,” She offered jokingly though her voice was tight with emotion and watery. He chuckled and nodded.
“We still watch Netflix but now we watch Netflix together. ” She rolled her eyes at his antics but couldn’t fight her beaming smile. He grinned broadly at her bringing her hands in closer. His eyes and voice going soft as he continued, tilting his head forward to meet her eyes, “My point is that you’re always there when I need you and you understand me in a way no one else ever has. And you make my life better just by being in it. And I want you to stay in it. So I um... was wondering, Caitlin Snow... if you would... uh, damn, um...”
Barry fumbled around for the ring, looking for it in his pants pockets but only found his Flash one before he remembered he slipped the small metal band into his jacket after Oliver had given it to him. The jacket which was now around Caitlin's shoulders. He smiled sheepishly up at her as she had an amused twinkle in her swimming brown eyes, so big and bright he was sure he would drown in them as he stepped closer and reached into the jacket’s front pocket to pull it out.
Her eyes somehow widened even more as they fell on the diamond ring. It wasn’t huge or anything outlandish but elegant and classic, just like her. He cleared this throat, it growing dryer by the second.
“So, uh take two. What I was wondering, Caitlin Snow, is,” He started again as he lowered down onto one knee in front of her, “if you would... do me the honor of um... marrying me?” He asked smiling anxiously, his nerves making him stammer just a little but not as badly as he feared they would.
“Barry...” Caitlin started breathlessly but didn’t get any farther as she threw her arms around him and clung to him. He stood up to meet her halfway, pulling her as close to him as possible. There they held each other tightly for a moment before Barry gave her a squeeze and pulled away.
“So that’s a yes right?” He asked cheekily and she laughed freely. The sound so beautiful to his ears as her hands came up to cup his face, eyes brimming with tears as she smiled.
“Yes,” She spoke softly, kissing him before muttering, “Yes.” She gave him another kiss and a kiss for each of the next three quiet yeses that followed. He caught her lips on the last kiss and followed her so she couldn’t break it. Deepening it as she melted into his arms.
Finally willing himself to pull away he took her left hand from his face as her other fell to his chest. Holding her palm delicately in his he tried to refrain from shaking too much as he slipped the silver band onto her ring finger.
“Perfect fit,” She breathed out as she admired it and he admired her. Blinking back his own tears of joy at the sight of her with it on. Since he got it he would often stare at it in its box imagining this moment. The reality was so much better.
Her eyes eventually found his again, his breath hitching at the dark look in them as her grip on his shirt tightened. Suddenly she leaned up onto her toes and pulled him into a searing kiss that only lasted for a moment before she pulled back again. But not far enough to let him go.
“Now how fast do you think you can get us back to Central City?” She asked, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. Barry beamed a special dopey grin he knew made her weak at the knees as he wrapped his arms around her, linking his fingers together over the small of her back.
“Oh I’d say pretty fast,” He said, tilting his head to the side fighting a smug grin.
“Yeah?” She asked coyly with a raise of her brow.
He nodded, smiling along with her game, “Yeah.”
“Well then Mr. Allen, take me home. As fast as you can.”
“Right away, Dr. Snow.”
He swiftly scooped up his bride-to-be bridal style into his arms and they exchanged a grin before he raced off into the night with Caitlin holding on tight. He knew why she was but he also knew she didn't have too, he wasn't planning on letting her go anytime soon. To have and to hold and all that. It was a promise he intended to keep. Especially once they got back to their apartment.
Much later that night Barry groggily reached over as his phone chimed. Wincing as the brightness of the screen hit his eyes. Once he turned it down he was able to read Cisco's name at the top before he skipped down to the message.
‘DUDE! You never told me! How'd Mission: Proposal go? I assume well with radio silence and all.’
It was quickly followed by a smug face emoji and shortly after a new message that read,
‘Wait, gross, never mind. I don't want to know that much detail.’
Barry chuckled quietly then partially turned to look at Caitlin beside him on the bed. Sleeping peacefully with mused hair and a small smile on her face, his ring still on her finger. It was certainly a view he could get used to looking at for the rest of his life, and one he planned too. He grinned to himself before turning back to his phone. Pausing to think then typed his message, hitting send before setting it back on the nightstand. Groaning quietly he rolled back over to face Caitlin, gazing at her for a little longer then pulling her in close, her snuggling up to him in her sleep, and drifting off as his message dinged onto Cisco’s phone across town.
The mechanical engineer grinned happily as he read the incoming message. Pumping his fist excitedly into the air as he let out a small, “Yes!” His phone then forgotten on the bed beside him, with his favorite speedster’s message still on his screen, as he pulled out his laptop and may or may not have begun plans for a party.
‘ Barry *lightning bolt emoji* Allen:
Mission definitely a success. Over and out, man. Good night ;)’