Chapter Text
It had been a few days now, since Barry woke up back at Star Labs. A long and confusing few days, for everyone. Barry could see how concerned everyone was. Sure he’d gotten injured before but never to this extent. As far as they were aware he’d forgotten half of his life.
Great job Barry, messing up another timeline, he thought to himself.
Of course it wasn’t entirely different. Caitlin had cleared him to be able to go home and go about his days as usual since she couldn’t actually find any sign of injury other than his apparent amnesia. So he had.
Tried to carry on as normal that is.
It wasn’t impossible. There was a lot that was the same as he remembered. He still had Joe and Iris, he still worked at the precinct, he was still the Flash.
Some moments it was almost easy for him to pretend nothing had changed, sometimes he felt like it had all been a crazy dream.
And then a glint of light would catch his eye, shining off the ring on his finger.
He couldn’t pretend.
He couldn’t pretend when he’d get back to his apartment. Their apartment.
He couldn’t pretend that he hadn’t rewritten his own life, or that he couldn’t see how cautious Hunter was being with him, or how absolutely terrified he was that he was never going to get back everything he’d missed.
Hunter was doing his best to try and help his memories return.
‘I don’t know, Hunter.’ Barry had interjected, listening to his husband explaining, with an intense amount of focus, everything he had on the cards to trigger Barry’s memories. Hunter’s expression softened coming over from where he’d been pacing at the foot of the bed to sit beside him. He took Barry’s hand after hesitating slightly.
‘Hey, when have I ever been wrong before?’ He spoke softly. Barry snorted.
‘Even with amnesia, I can still think of many times.’ They both laughed quietly. Barry idly fidgeted, playing with Hunter’s hands as a silence settled over them.
‘I’m sorry.’ He whispered, guilt rising in his chest that he’d been trying to suppress since he got back to this time.
Hunter looked at him carefully.
‘What are you sorry for?’ He asked, honestly lost. Barry took a choked breath.
‘Because everything’s changed, and I don’t know what to do about it.’ Hunter didn’t say anything, waiting for Barry to continue, ‘Because I love you, I do Hunter, I love you but I’m so lost, I don’t remember the biggest moments in our life together and there’s nothing I can do about it.’
‘Hey, that’s not true, Caitlin and Cisco are doing everything they can to try and figure out what happened to make you forget everything, and you know I’ve been coming up with ways to help too.’ He countered, lowering his head to get eye contact. Barry nodded dejectedly. He knew what had happened, he’d screwed everything up, he created this amazing life where he could be with the love of his life, and everyone could be happy, but what use was that if he didn’t remember any of it.
He mentally scolded himself for how selfish he was being, he didn’t do all of this for himself, he did it so Kurt would still be alive and somehow that had actually worked. His happiness was not worth more than Kurt’s life, he told himself. But then he’d look up at this man that he loved and was crushed. This man who he had cared so deeply for, who’d been there for him at his worst, who was still there for him now, even though Barry had missed everything.
‘I don’t want to let you down.’
‘You could never.’ Hunter said with such certainty, kissing his forehead. Barry tried to smile in return but he couldn’t help how completely hopeless he felt.
-
They headed over to Star Labs the next day, Caitlin wanted to do more tests. Barry let her, it was the least he could do after how much he’d screwed everything up. You never know, he considered, maybe she’d even figure out how to help him. God knows, crazier things have happened.
Soon enough Caitlin sent him off so she could work on the data. He wondered off, giving a quick nod to Cisco, in search of Hunter. He didn’t believe the man would have left without him. After five minutes of walking around checking the places he’d expect Hunter to be, he headed downstairs to train. Caitlin had suggested he keep running, she thought it would trigger some of his memories. He knew that it wouldn’t work like that, but after no success in finding Hunter he figured he might as well make himself useful by keeping up his speed.
He made his way into the speed chamber, surprised to see Hunter in one of the observation rooms with Iris. Barry gave them a wave which they returned, before he started to run. He’d been hesitant to run like this after everything that had happened. He didn’t mean to travel back in time, he didn’t mean to come back, it had just happened when he was running and God knows he didn’t want a repeat of those incidents.
So he went careful, trying to stay focussed, not going too fast.
He knew Hunter was watching, probably telling Iris all about his concerns.
That’s something Barry hadn’t expected. I mean he hadn’t expected any of this, but after the realisation that he’d time travelled again had settled he still found himself surprised by how well Hunter got on with his sister. He supposed it was completely unbelievable, they’d been raised together so they naturally had a lot of similarities, Barry guessed it made sense that they’d get along.
‘Yeah he cried like three times on the trip over here, I had to buy him chocolate to get him to calm down.’ Hunter laughed winking, his hand reaching out to greet Joe. Barry cringed, slapping playfully at Hunter’s arm.
‘You can’t embarrass me in front of my own family.’ He exclaimed.
‘Um he most definitely can, I’m Iris, I think we’re gonna get on perfectly.’
Barry gasped, startling at the images crossing in front of his eyes. He skidded to a halt. His hands coming up to cradle his head.
‘No, no, I’m staying here. I’m not leaving again. Stay here, Barry.’ He begged to himself as figures moved across his vision that he knew weren’t there in the empty room. He gripped onto his hair trying to ground himself to the present. Clenching his eyes shut as his head began to pound. He felt himself falling like he was being sucked down a drain.
‘Yeah I get good grades, but I’m just trying to get my high school diploma,’ Hunter responded dismissively, shrugging his shoulder’s and looking down at his plate almost self consciously. Barry shook his head.
‘He’s putting himself down, he’s like naturally good at everything, it would be annoying if he wasn’t so modest.’
‘Well that’s not true.’
‘Oh yeah? Hunter, what can’t you do, hm?’ Barry retorted, snorting as Hunter paused to think about it. Hunter laughed too as he jumped to defend himself.
‘Hey, no, I can’t cook. There, are you happy?’ Hunter grinned, oddly proud at his lack of cooking skills if he meant he would win this conversation. Joe let out a loud laugh.
‘Oh, well you’re in good company, these two nearly burned down the house trying to cook a father’s day dinner for me once.’
‘Oh my god, I remember that!’ Iris choked, her hand coming up to cover her mouth so she wouldn’t spit out her dinner, she pulled her sleeve back twisting her arm awkwardly to show Hunter a small scar on her elbow, ‘I burned myself on a pan.’
Hunter gave her an incredulous look at her matter of fact tone.
‘You know, I think we’re more qualified now, we should try that again.’ Barry joked in a serious tone.
‘No!’ Joe said firmly, eyes widening, ‘You’re both lucky I got there before you could do anymore damage.’
Hunter watched the three of them interacting in amusement. When Joe caught his eye he made sure to make himself clear.
‘I’m not joking, never let this boy cook anything, and you will live a long and happy life.’ Pointing accusingly at Barry who was sat on the other side of the table next to his boyfriend.
‘Well, when Barry is a famous scientist we’ll be able to afford a personal chef.’ Hunter responded confidently.
‘Oh yeah? And what are you gonna be doing while I’m bringing in the money?’ Barry grinned.
‘I’m gonna be working at some top secret agency-‘
‘What? Like a spy?’ He asked amusedly, raising his eyebrows.
‘Hey, I could do that!’ The boy in question responded feeling the need to defend himself despite it being a joke in the first place.
‘I don’t doubt that.’ Barry said simply, God knows Hunter could be sneaky when he wanted.
The two boys missed the look Joe and Iris shared seeing them get lost in conversation about the future.
-
‘call.’ He said, sliding some potato chips into the centre of the coffee. Barry wasn’t proud of how long him and Iris had spent giggling about using actual chips in their poker game, but Hunter had eventually joined in telling them how ridiculous they both were. It wasn’t until Joe had told them to quiet down as he headed upstairs to get an early night that they managed to get themselves under control.
‘Raise.’ Hunter took his turn monotonously, pushing more chips into the centre. At this point Iris had retired to the couch had lost interest in the game some time ago but still insisting on not going to bed. She was texting idly on her phone. They’d been playing for about an hour, Barry winning every time. As sneaky as Hunter was, Barry definitely had an underrated poker face from all those years of pretending to be someone he wasn’t.
Even with that though, he found himself having to restrain himself from raising his eyebrows at Hunter’s move. It felt like a bold move coming from the calculating boy, he must have a good hand, Barry considered.
He looked down at his own hand, it wasn’t the best, but he’d done more with less. He could get a straight if the last card worked in his favour, so he’d most likely win again.
‘Raise.’ He returned pushing all of his chips in, hoping it would push the other boy to fold, which the other boy did. Barry grinned, nudging Hunter with his leg almost apologetically from where they were both sprawled out under the table.
He threw his own cards onto the table confidently.
Hunter turned over the last card, and Barry cheered as the card made a straight.
‘Aw sorry babe, looks like I’m too good at this.’ He laughed taking all the chips.
‘That’s ok.’ Hunter responded his own grin forming as he turned over his cards revealing a straight flush.
Barry felt his face go slack, as Hunter pulled all of the chips in his direction leaving Barry broke. Hunter had beaten him.
‘What- How?’ Hunter raised a finger to his lips conspiratorially, his eyes flicking over Barry’s shoulder as he smirked.
Barry twisted quickly, following Hunter’s eye movements, to where Iris was sitting innocently looking down at her phone. Too innocently. He gasped dramatically.
‘You cheated!’ He accused in outrage. Both Iris and Hunter burst out laughing at how well that had worked out, Hunter getting up to high five her.
‘Sorry babe, guess I’m too good at this.’ He repeated the other boy’s words smugly as he sat down next to him on the floor.
Barry’s hand came up to his chest.
’I’ve never felt so betrayed.’ He cried out, wiping away an imaginary tear. Hunter scoffed at his dramatics, throwing an arm around Barry’s shoulder to pull him closer.
‘You love me.’
‘Shut up.
-
‘What do you think?’ Barry spoke letting his voice break the silence of Iris’ room. Since Joe was obviously never going to let Barry and Hunter sleep in the same room, Barry had set up an airbed on his sister’s floor.
Iris rolled over in her bed to squint down at him her face illuminated by the dim light from her phone.
‘I think he’s cool, he’s seems like he knows what he’s doing.’
Barry chuckled.
‘He always knows what he’s doing. That’s his thing.’ He joked, a fond smile gracing his face as he looked up at the ceiling. His eyes tracing over the glowing stars blue tacked to her ceiling.
‘So you like him them?’ He asked, almost hesitantly. He didn’t think it needed to be stated that it was clearly important for them to like the boy, that’s why he’d been so reluctant to bring Hunter to meet them for the weekend. Hunter had said it was perfect timing, his parents both away on business trips meaning if he’d gone home he would have been on his own.
‘Yep.’ She stated firmly, shuffling under her blanket to be more snuggled in, ‘I approve.’
Barry beamed remembering when they’d spoken about Iris’ boyfriend last Christmas.
They lay in silence, Barry watching Iris’ purple lava lamp in the corner.
His smile slowly settled into a thin line as his thought’s weighed down on him.
‘Do you think dad likes him?’ He asked slowly.
Iris paused to think, which didn’t help his nerves about the situation.
‘Iris?’ She huffed at his impatience.
‘Yeah he likes him, are you kidding? Hunter’s like the perfect guy to bring home to your parents. I just think-‘ She hesitated.
‘What?’
‘I think he’s a bit freaked out by how serious you two seem.’
Barry’s brow furrowed in a confused smile, having not expected the conversation to go in that direction.
‘What are you talking about?’
‘I mean, you spend years, showing no interest in anyone, granted you weren’t out, but you suddenly show up head over heels with this boy we hadn’t even met yet talking about your future together. I think dad’s just a bit surprised at seeing you so… in love.’
Barry turned away not knowing what to say.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t seen you this happy since- I was gonna say when we were kids but even then you were never like this.’ Barry gave her questioning look, ‘You’re like a different person, so open and completely at ease with this boy.’
He smiled.
Yeah, I guess I am.’
Iris smiled back at him.
‘You’ve had so much sadness in your life, you deserve to be happy, and if he makes you happy, then I love him.’
‘Barry?’
He heard foot steps approaching, he startled looking up to see Hunter running towards him.
‘Babe, you ok?’ Hunter reached him, immediately started checking him over for some kind of injury.
‘Yeah, I’m ok.’ Barry responded slowly, feeling kind of dazed, like he’d just woken up from a really deep sleep. Hunter watched him, not happy with the lack of answers.
‘You stopped running.’ He prompted.
‘Yeah.’
Hunter sighed exasperatedly.
‘Babe, can you tell me what’s wrong? You were holding your head.’ Hunter asked trying to coax some kind of explanation out of him.
‘I think- I think I remembered something.’ Barry’s hand came up to the side of his face confused.
Was that possible? Could he remember something he hadn’t technically lived through? But if it wasn’t then what did he just see? He couldn’t have made it up, it felt so real. He looked up at his husband, his own confusion showing on his face as he met Hunter’s concerned eyes.
‘Come on let’s get you back to Caitlin.’
-
As it turns out Caitlin wasn’t able to shed much light on the situation either. Since they were unaware of what caused the ‘amnesia’, they weren’t able to tell him much about what could have happened to trigger the memory, but they did spend some time confirming that it was in fact a memory, Iris and Hunter smiling to each other as they recalled their first meeting.
Barry hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it, even as Hunter took him home. They made dinner together, a meal that Barry didn’t remember learning but found that he hands knew the movements. cutting up the ingredients with a practised ease, so much for a personal chef, he thought to himself.
Maybe it really was possible for his memories to be triggered by things. Sure, he was aware that it wasn’t actually amnesia but he didn’t know how he’d managed to accidentally time travel in the first place, so it wasn’t like he had a guide on how things worked afterwards.
With that in mind he began looking around their shared apartment for things to help him remember, Hunter was in the shower so he figured he’d be able to do so with out interruption.
He didn’t know how long he spent looking through drawers and picking up random ornaments he found on shelves, but nothing seemed to have any kind of effect on him.
Just as he was losing hope, he came across a framed picture of Hunter and a group of other people sat around in some bar he absently recognised as being in Central City.
Barry examined the photo trying to figure out who they were, he didn’t know these people, and he wasn’t in it so he figured they were Hunter’s… friends? Maybe.
He traced his eyes over the different faces before noticing someone in the back that he recognised.
Diggle was sat with his wife Lyla, gesturing at another man like he was mid sentence.
‘What you doing?’ Barry jumped at Hunter voice coming from behind him, his hand coming up to his heart. He gave the man a look for sneaking up on him, to which Hunter laughed, before looking back at the picture.
Oliver wasn’t there so it couldn’t be related to the Arrow, besides wouldn’t he be in it himself if it was. He figured he knew that crowd more than Hunter did, right?
‘You know Diggle?’ He asked, finally settling on being outright about it.
Hunter looked at the photo too now.
‘Yeah, you remember him?’ He responded, looking proud of Barry for recognising someone. It was hard to explain to the other man that he was the only one Barry didn’t remember from this timeline. So he’d been pretty vague on what he could and couldn’t remember, not wanting to hurt the man’s feelings.
‘Yeah but I didn’t know you were friends.’
‘Well we’re more like work friends I guess, I don’t see him much but this was a kind of birthday celebration for a colleague of ours.’ Hunter explained patiently.
Barry paused, a crease forming between his eyebrows as he took that in.
‘You ok?’ Hunter asked, watching him clearly trying to figure something out.
‘You work for ARGUS?’
‘Yeah I’m a logistician with them.’
‘I’m gonna be working at some top secret agency-‘
‘Huh.’ Hunter watched him, ‘That sounds like something you’d be good at.’
Hunter barked out a laugh.
‘I’m glad you think so.’ Hunter chuckled fondly, before heading towards the kitchen ‘I’m making hot chocolate, you want anything?’
Barry absentmindedly shook his head.
Look at them, he was a forensic scientist, and Hunter was working for ARGUS. He laughed shortly. How on earth did he manage to get a timeline that worked out so perfectly?