Most would say that Barry is always late, but this is an instance where he didn’t want to be late. It’s one thing when it’s people accustomed to him and his punctuality-impaired behavior. It’s another entirely when you’re dealing with someone who only met him after he got super speed.
The door to Thea’s apartment swings open, and she squints at him. “You’re late. You’re even late for my ‘five more minutes for me to fix my hair’ routine.”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry.”
“You have super speed.”
“I do.”
“And you’re late.”
“It’s something that baffles many of my friends and family.” He glances at his watch. “But if we leave now, we might be able to make it for our reservation still?”
Thea gives him a dubious look at the prospect. “In this traffic? I think you underestimate how many cars like not to move.”
“Don’t have to worry about the cars when you can run around them.” He holds a hand out to her. He has a feeling she’ll take it, just from what he knows about her, but he still gives her the option rather than just taking her by the shoulder and running away with her.
She grins. “Are you offering to superspeed me to dinner?”
“If you want. It might be an easy way to avoid being forced to wait in the entryway.”
“Oh, you don’t have to convince me,” she laughs, before taking his hand and letting him pull her in. “I’ve wanted to do this literally since we’ve met.”
Barry grins, before tucking his arms around her and they disappear in a shower of red and gold sparks.
- - - - - -
“Okay, I gotta ask. Why are you late?”
Barry turns to her as they walk through the streets of Star City after dinner. “This time in particular? Because, honestly, I just got distracted by a bank robbery on the way here, and it took a little longer than I thought to wrap it up …”
“You nerd,” she teases softly. “I mean, in general, why are you late all the time?”
He helplessly shrugs. “I don’t know. A lot of the time, it feels like I’m just rushing through everything. There’s so much to do, and I don’t have enough time – or that’s how it feels.”
“Yeah, well. Life’s short. I get that much, at least.”
“I’m trying to be better at being on time for the things that matter. Especially since I literally have no excuses anymore.”
“I’d appreciate it. My ‘five more minutes to fix my hair’ is quality first date material that you missed by not being on time.”
He smiles softly. “Maybe I can make it up to you next time? Kind of like a do-over?”
She grins at him in return, before stopping and turning to face him. “You think you passed enough for a second date?”
“I think I made a good case for why I’m second date material.”
“Ah, see, there’s one more test you have to pass.”
Before he could think about it for too long, Thea pushes up on her toes and leans in to kiss him softly. Barry can’t help but smile against her lips, one hand coming up to cup her cheek and pull her closer, indulging in the moment for as long as they can. When they finally part, he tips his head to the side with a smirk.
“So? Am I second date material?”
Her grin widens before letting him keep her close. “Speed me back to my place, and I’ll tell you.”
set 2 | but you were something like a dream come true ~ dctv ~ 600
Most would say that Barry is always late, but this is an instance where he didn’t want to be late. It’s one thing when it’s people accustomed to him and his punctuality-impaired behavior. It’s another entirely when you’re dealing with someone who only met him after he got super speed.
The door to Thea’s apartment swings open, and she squints at him. “You’re late. You’re even late for my ‘five more minutes for me to fix my hair’ routine.”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry.”
“You have super speed.”
“I do.”
“And you’re late.”
“It’s something that baffles many of my friends and family.” He glances at his watch. “But if we leave now, we might be able to make it for our reservation still?”
Thea gives him a dubious look at the prospect. “In this traffic? I think you underestimate how many cars like not to move.”
“Don’t have to worry about the cars when you can run around them.” He holds a hand out to her. He has a feeling she’ll take it, just from what he knows about her, but he still gives her the option rather than just taking her by the shoulder and running away with her.
She grins. “Are you offering to superspeed me to dinner?”
“If you want. It might be an easy way to avoid being forced to wait in the entryway.”
“Oh, you don’t have to convince me,” she laughs, before taking his hand and letting him pull her in. “I’ve wanted to do this literally since we’ve met.”
Barry grins, before tucking his arms around her and they disappear in a shower of red and gold sparks.
“Okay, I gotta ask. Why are you late?”
Barry turns to her as they walk through the streets of Star City after dinner. “This time in particular? Because, honestly, I just got distracted by a bank robbery on the way here, and it took a little longer than I thought to wrap it up …”
“You nerd,” she teases softly. “I mean, in general, why are you late all the time?”
He helplessly shrugs. “I don’t know. A lot of the time, it feels like I’m just rushing through everything. There’s so much to do, and I don’t have enough time – or that’s how it feels.”
“Yeah, well. Life’s short. I get that much, at least.”
“I’m trying to be better at being on time for the things that matter. Especially since I literally have no excuses anymore.”
“I’d appreciate it. My ‘five more minutes to fix my hair’ is quality first date material that you missed by not being on time.”
He smiles softly. “Maybe I can make it up to you next time? Kind of like a do-over?”
She grins at him in return, before stopping and turning to face him. “You think you passed enough for a second date?”
“I think I made a good case for why I’m second date material.”
“Ah, see, there’s one more test you have to pass.”
Before he could think about it for too long, Thea pushes up on her toes and leans in to kiss him softly. Barry can’t help but smile against her lips, one hand coming up to cup her cheek and pull her closer, indulging in the moment for as long as they can. When they finally part, he tips his head to the side with a smirk.
“So? Am I second date material?”
Her grin widens before letting him keep her close. “Speed me back to my place, and I’ll tell you.”