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Whumptober Prompt #20- Trembling

Okay I gotta admit, I lost my way about halfway through this.  Maybe a quarter into it.  I thought I had a good idea and then it spiraled and it is no longer a good idea.  Especially the ending.  So I’m posting it because it’s done but it’s not good.  Know that going into it, it’s Coldflash trash.  By the way, I haven’t proofread this.  Like at all.

...

Len never minded the rain, in its proper place and time.  Len always enjoyed the days when he could curl up under a blanket, make himself some hot coco, and find a nice documentary on Netflix.  But sudden storms?  Sudden storms, such as the one from the night the Particle Accelerator exploded, changing the very fabric of his city?  Storms that flew in on clouds that had no business going that fast, bringing a humidity he couldn’t stand, mystifying the weather reports so no one knew to bring an umbrella, suddenly going from dry as a bone to soaking wet in a matter of seconds?  Those he hated with a burning passion.

Len all but threw himself into Jitters, he didn’t really do coffee shops where people he didn’t trust handled his food, but it was open and he could sit for a while without having to do much.  Plus, Jitters did have some famously good hot chocolate and in this weather, he was willing to hover like a hawk while they made his drink.  Anything to warm himself up.  The line was longer than he expected for three in the afternoon, but he didn’t care.  Jitters was warm, and it felt good against his damp, shivering skin.

The barista was a young woman, with a name tag that read Iris, who took his order for the biggest hot chocolate they could make with a smile.  He thanked her, paid, and picked a spot right where he could see everything the baristas were doing.  An unfamiliar heaviness pulled at his eyelids, but he fought it, unable to trust that no one recognized the new villain Captain Cold and could potentially hurt him.  Thankfully, there were no issues with his drink when they called out the false name he’d given the barista.  After that, he tucked himself away in a quiet nook in the back, where he wouldn’t be disturbed.

“Are you alright?”  A familiar but nameless voice asked, sending a chill down his spine.

Len looked up and saw an attractive young man, tall, lanky, with green eyes, and a concerned smile on his face.

“You’re just, ah- you’re dripping wet.”  The man continued when Len didn’t answer him.  “I thought you might want a jacket.”

He held out a jacket that clearly belonged to himself, one that wouldn’t fit around Len’s shoulders if he tried.  It was a sweet gesture though, and he could appreciate the thought.

“Thanks, kid, but I don’t think that’ll fit me.”  Len replied.  “Maybe my sister.”

The kid laughed, blood rushing to his cheeks.  “I’m know I look skinny.  Got struck by lightning, can’t gain weight on me to save my life now.”

That piqued his interest.  The kid had muttered it lowly, as if chastising himself.  “Struck by lightning?”

The kid nodded.  “The night of the Particle Accelerator.  I ended up in a coma for nine months.  And now I’m like a whole size down.”

“Shit, kid.”  Len said, now noticing the skinniness did seem a little unnatural.  The kid seemed almost gaunt, with pale cheeks and deep bags under his eyes.  Being in a coma must’ve completely changed his body type.  A bit of pity entered Len’s heart.  “I’m sorry.  I can try on the jacket, couldn’t hurt.”

He wasn’t sure why he was trying on a jacket that wouldn’t fit him.  But the kid perked up immediately, and Len decided this was no mortal, it was an adorable puppy in a human suit, and well, he had always liked dogs.

So he peeled off the jacket he’d have to wring out when he did get home and took the offered clothing.  Surprisingly enough, the jacket wasn’t too tight.  It fit around his shoulders, but he couldn’t zip it up, though it came close.  How much weight had this kid lost during this coma?

“Thanks.”  Len nodded.  “Have a seat.”

The kid smiled, and joined him at the table.

“You got a name to go with the outfit?”  Len asked.

“Oh, I’m an idiot, I’m Barry.”  Barry said, blushing again.  “Barry Allen.”

“Len Winters.”  Len offered his hand and Barry eagerly shook it.

“Good to meet you, Mr. Winters.”  Barry said, laughing lightly, completely oblivious to Len’s actual name.

“Just Len.  No need for formalities when I’m literally in your clothes.”

Barry outright laughed at that.  Len allowed himself to join for a moment.

“So what brings you over here?”  Barry asked.  “I know like all the regulars around this time, and I’ve never seen you here before.”

“Oh, you work here?”  Len asked.

“My sister does.”  Barry explained.  “Iris, she works here to help pay for her journalism degree.  My job has unusual hours, so I hang out here on my break and just chat with her.  I’ve gotten to know all the regulars here, it’s really nice.”

Len smiled, of course this kid would make it a point to get to know everyone at a workplace he didn’t work at.  Seemed very in character for what little he knew of the kid.

“And your job with unusual hours?”  Len asked, entertaining himself with this kid.

“Oh, I’m a CSI with the CCPD.”  Barry replied cheerfully.

Man, Len had the shittiest luck.  Of all people who could’ve offered him a jacket, who he would’ve allowed to sit with him, it had to be a literal cop.

Len’s years of practice kept his face neutral.  Though he had to find an extraction quickly, lest this kid begin to realize who he’s just shared his jacket with.

“What’s that like?”  Len asked, before coughing away from the kid.  The cough was real, but he timed it so he could easily claim he wasn’t feeling well so he could get home.

“It’s really fun, using science to solve crimes.”  Barry frowned at him.  “I mean, it’s kinda just like being on TV except we don’t cut the corners or work the magic they do.  Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”  He denied on instinct, unused to the kid’s freely shown concern.  This kid was putting a lot of effort into a stranger.  “Probably just the weather.”

Barry pursed his lips but went along with it.  “What do you do?”

“I freelance.”  Len replied with his usual answer to anyone new.  “Odd jobs here and there, but they pay well.”

“That’s really cool.”  Barry smiled, a smile Len found entirely too infectious.  “What was your last one?”

“Uh, I worked with the train system.”  Len said, the lie slipping off his tongue easily.  “I made them more prepared for another attack should some villain attack again.”

Technically, that was true.

Barry’s eyes lit up.  “That’s so cool.  Do you do security or tech?”

“Bit of both.”  Len replied.  “Like I said, odd jobs.”

“Wow.”  Barry said.  “What do you think of the new safe that Mercury labs just designed?  Because I was looking at the schematics they released for public production and I thought that it was impenetrable but I’m sure you know more than I do.”

The kid had seemed so relieved to ask, like he’d finally found someone who understood what his life was like, understood his passions, and he hated to break the kids heart but a known thief talking about safes was not a good idea.  Not when his parka and gun were still plastered all over the news.

He forced a cough a little more, which set off a reaction and his lungs actually tried to escape his chest.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”  Barry asked, his voice laced with such unease and worry.  “You’re trembling.”

“I said I’m fine, kid.”  Len said, ignoring the tremors in his hands.  “Let me give you your jacket back.  Think I’m gonna head home.”

Barry opened his mouth to protest but Len simply took off the now damp jacket, though it sent a shiver down his spine.  He didn’t realize it had been so cold in here.

“Thanks for the jacket.”  Len made to stand up but his legs didn’t work as well as they should’ve and he stumbled.

Barry gently pushed him back into his seat.  “I’m really sorry, but you seem really sick.”

Barry put a hand on his forehead, and Len flinched at Barry’s cold hands.

“You seem warm.”  Barry muttered.  “Did you drive here?”

Len shook his head, cursing his own weakness.  “Took the subway.”  He was a goddamn supervillain, the number one nemesis of the Flash, and he couldn’t even go out into the rain without getting sick.

“Look, I know you don’t really know me and I don’t really know you but can I offer you a ride home?  I can steal my sister’s car.”  Barry offered.

“You don’t drive?”  Len found himself asking.

“Nah.”  Barry said.  “I like to run.  Can’t afford a car anyways.”

He knew he shouldn’t get in a car with strangers, knew he definitely shouldn’t get into a CSI’s car, even if it was his sisters, but he was feeling worse by the minute so he decided to screw logic and accept the generosity of the strange young man before him.

“Well, I suppose I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.  Lead the way.”

Barry smiled, relieved.  “Wait here, I’ll get Iris’s keys.”

Len watched as Barry walked over to his sister, the lovely barista who had taken his order, and he pointed back at him.  The woman frowned.  If Len had the strength, he would’ve run right then and there.  The kid had to have recognized him, or maybe something had been left at the train station- no, he was careful, he never left evidence, was the cold gun traceable?

“Whoa, you okay?”  Barry asked, returning with keys in hand.  “You look like you’re about to be sick.”

“‘M fine.”  Len muttered, squashing the nausea that had been building in his stomach.  He couldn’t outrun any cop like this, no matter the adrenaline in his system.  His legs felt weak, his chest hurt, and fatigue pulled at his eyes.  Mick would have to break him out and he hated when Mick had to do that.  It always left such a mess.

“Okay, well, her car is parked back in the employee lot.”  Barry explained.  “Come on.  Let’s get you home.”

Barry offered his hand and Len took it.  May as well not tell the kid he knew the kid was onto him.

“So Len, where do you live?”  Barry asked, gently wrapping Len’s arm around his shoulder.  The kid had some strong muscles underneath the pale skin, so he wondered if even the coma story was true.

“On Grand.”  He answered.  Grand was one of the main streets he used to get home so it was a safe enough answer.

“North Grand or South?”  Barry asked.

“South.”

Barry nodded.  “Got it.  So I’m taking the seventeen to exit on what, Tower Street?”

“The seventeen just past Tower.”  Len replied, answering honestly so he had less of a walk to lose the cop.  “On Crimson.”

Barry nodded and they arrived at a beater car.

“This is her car?”  Len asked, before his mind could tell his mouth to shut up.  “It’s older than you.”

Barry laughed.  “Yeah, this is Gloria.  She’s a 2002 but she’s still going strong.”

Len nodded as he got into the car.  Inside was kept in good condition so this Iris did try to take care of what she had.

“Gloria was the cheapest car her dad would let her buy.”  Barry said, still going on.  “Joe is really protective, her mom died in a car accident.”

“Joe?”  Len asked.  “You call your father by his first name?”

“Joe isn’t my real dad.”  Barry blushed.  “Well he is.  Actually, Joe adopted me after something happened to my dad.  My dad is Henry Allen, but Joe took me in when I was eleven.”

Henry Allen, that name rang a bell.  A bell in Iron Heights, a doctor he’d often seen in solitary to protect him from the gangs and families.

“That was nice of him.”  Len responded simply.

“Yeah, Joe’s a really good guy.”  Barry said, getting onto the freeway.  “He treats me like his own so Iris is my sister and Joe is kinda my dad but I call my dad Dad so it gets a little confusing.”

“Makes sense.”  Len answered, his nose stuffing up.  He wasn’t sure if he’d already been sick before the rain or something in his hot coco was making him sicker.  This cold was coming on almost unnaturally fast.

For someone without a car, Barry drove pretty well, easily managing talking and driving. The constant chatter was keeping Len awake so he was grateful for it.  He hated to give up his safehouse off grand but what was necessary was necessary.

“What about you?”  Len realized that Barry had now focused his attention back to him.  “Do you have any siblings?”

“A brother.”  Len lied.  He and Mick could be called brothers in a decent light, had passed for family numerous times.  It had always worked.  “Older.  Dominic.”

“Is he an asshole?”  Barry asked, chuckling.  “I’ve heard that older brothers are always assholes.”

“He can be.”  Len allowed himself to answer honestly.  Dominic Winters didn’t exist so it didn’t matter how Mick was described.  “Sometimes he’s the biggest dumbass in the world, making too many decisions out of spite instead of thinking things through, but he always gets my ass out of trouble so I can’t hate him too much.”

Barry smiled, getting into the correct lane for their exit.  “I know what that’s like.  Iris fights Joe on a lot of the overly controlling stuff and I get dragged in more often than not but they’re my family.  I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”

“What about your mother?”  Len asked, trying to get the conversation off himself.  “You haven’t mentioned her.”

Barry’s eyes went solemn, his body slumping slightly.  “She’s dead.”

“I’m sorry, kid.”  And he was.  He knew what it felt like to lose your mother at a young age.

“It’s okay.”  Barry replied, making his way to Grand.  “She died when I was eleven, it’s been a while.”

Ah, that was why he remembered Allen’s name.  The doctor that murdered his wife but now suddenly couldn’t harm a fly.  Copying a fifty year old movie would not get him out of prison, no matter how “original” Allen thought the move.

“Still, I know what it’s like to lose your parents.”  Len said, casually omitting that his father was still alive.  Though, if he had his druthers, it wouldn’t be for long.

“You do?”  Barry asked, sounding relieved and guilty and sad all at the same time.  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Likewise.”  Len said, seeing the shortcut to his apartment pass by.  “This next one is me.”

“Cool.”  Barry pulled into a gated driveway.  “Will it open?”

“I’ve got my keys.”  Len said.  “Thanks for the ride.”

“Of course.”  Barry said.

As Len was getting out, Barry shouted, “Wait!”

Len froze, ready to run at any moment.

“Can I… can I give you my number?”  Barry asked, blushing wildly.

Len stared at him.  That had not been the direction he’d been expecting.

“Okay I gotta be honest, I didn’t exactly just come over out of the goodness of my heart.”  Barry admitted.  “I was checking you out and Iris made your drink and she said if I didn’t go over and talk to you, she was writing my number on your cup.”

Len gaped at him.  “That… was a surprise.”

“Oh my god, I told her you weren’t into men!”  Barry groaned, hitting his head on the steering wheel.  “I’m so sorry, just forget I asked, I can’t believe myself-”

“I didn’t say I was straight, I’m just married.”  Len said, hating to break the kids heart but he wasn’t going to date some CSI.  He knew the rules better than that.  “I’m flattered though.  My husband would adore you.”

That was true.  If he and Mick were married for more than legal reasons of spousal privilege, and Barry weren’t a CSI, Mick would’ve loved to bring Barry into the mix.  Young, naive, puppy dog eyes, that was Mick’s entire type.

Barry sighed.  “I’m still sorry.”

“Don’t be, kid.”  Len said.  “Word of advice from an old man. Always shoot your shot.  You never know who’s gonna say yes.  I thought my husband was straight for the longest time.”

Barry managed a small chuckle.

“Thanks for the ride, Barry Allen.”  Len said, finally getting out of the car for real this time.  “Maybe we’ll see each other again soon.  Next time, hopefully my sinuses won’t be trying to kill me.”

“Goodbye Len Winters.”  Barry said as Len closed the door.

Len headed to the gated community, easily and discreetly picking the lock.  He knew this community, there were two entrances. He could easily fool the CSI into thinking this was his apartment.  As he walked home, still shivering, still coughing every little while, he thought of the cute CSI and what his life could have been like if his name had actually been Len Winters.

Experiment in rendering and negative space inspired by @reblogincarnation-blues's Chapter 9 of All the Old Familiar Places

This doesn't quite fit the canon of the chapter but ahhh stage five of grief or something

Also I don't know what the hell I was thinking trying out a new method of rendering with this lighting setup. Backed myself into a corner with this how the hell do you do omnidirectional?? lighting. also he started turning out too realistic and it was scaring me. fear/hate relationship with how this came out

Click for higher quality and closeup under the cut