Yours... In a Flash

Julian was having a rough morning. He was supposed to be the metahuman specialist of CCPD, but he had no idea how to solve his next case. There was an attack on the Central City Bank about an hour ago. The DNA traces found on the crime scene were all frozen which was surprising given the warm weather. Julian rolled his eyes as the news reporters gushed how the Flash protected the bank by running around it in circles.

Honestly, how was it even possible to stop a bank robbery by just running around in circles? Also, if the Flash was already there to save the day, why did the metahuman robber escape? People nowadays believe in anything. Julian needed another cup of coffee to stop his headache and think more about the case before another attack happened. But the DNA had to be thawed before analyzing it. What would he conclude without the DNA report? And, what would he do without Barry Allen?

Sure, Barry was his crime-fighting partner, but he was also in love with him. He could not stop thinking about the way his eyes twinkled when they discussed cases. Whenever Julian saw Barry, the world seemed so much lighter and better, that even a bunch of bloodthirsty rogues couldn’t cast a shadow over his happiness. It was while working together, case by case, that Julian became slowly enraptured by Barry. Unknownst to him, Barry had also fallen for Julian.

There was no sight of Barry since the morning. He was also not there on the crime scene when Julian went there to collect the DNA samples. He was half-mad assuming Barry was late again. But now it was almost midday and he was getting worried thinking something bad had happened to him. The gush of unpleasant thoughts was put to rest in a flash as Barry Allen entered the office with his ever-charming smile. He was slightly limping on his feet, his skin a bit pallid.

"Sorry, I was stuck in the traffic. There was this robbery at the Central City bank and the cars wouldn’t move." Barry winced as he lied to Julian. It was not like he wanted to keep the truth from him. Being the Flash was a big part of his life so was being in love with Julian. Barry met Julian's blue eyes wanting to melt in them. He found him intently looking back into his. Julian was worried about Barry's semi-haggard appearance, he did not look quite well to him.

Barry, on the other hand, was dying to tell Julian what had really happened. He had been running too fast for too long around the bank to stop the new metahuman, who Cisco had named 'Hail Hitler' (because he selected a person or a group and hit them with hails), from freezing the bank officials and stealing the money. For the rest half an hour he was unconscious as his sugar levels had dropped dramatically. Caitlin had to put him on a special diet to revive him back.

Sadly the man Barry had fallen for disliked the Flash. Worse, he thought the Flash didn’t exist. Barry kept silence out of concern. Julian asked him if he was okay. Barry nodded. Within a blink of an eye the natural colour of his skin had returned.

Julian described the crime scene to Barry in great detail. Including the parts he despised.

"Lots of ice and hail was found around the bank. All the DNA samples were frozen and according to the media, the CCPD is not needed anymore because the ‘Flash’ is always there to save the day." Julian said the last part a bit annoyed. His mouth scrunched up, his brows furrowed. He flushed pink when he saw Barry smirking at his expressions.

"Why are you always so mad at the Flash?" Barry asked seizing the opportunity.

"How can I be mad at someone who is only a figment of someone's imagination?" Julian replied promptly.

Ouch, that hurt. What will he do when he sees the figment of imagination come to life?

"Well, we find metahumans every day in the cases we work. Is it not likely that a metahuman like Flash would exist?" Barry argued. He had to fight his case so that he can reveal his identity to him later.

"I agree, that is a possibility," said Julian thoughtfully. "But if that is so, why is he saving people with his superspeed? Instead of snatching gold chains or robbing banks? Somehow, I am not able to trust a stranger who hides inside a mask." he said.

Julian had a point, there was no reason to trust a stranger without knowing who he was. Falling in love with Julian was the best part of his life. His sound reasoning balanced his emotional self. He couldn’t wait to tell him that he was the Flash. But he needed the right moment. His gut feeling said that Julian might accept the truth.

Barry turned his attention towards the DNA samples.

"The DNA samples are still frozen. How much time did you say had passed since the robbery?" Barry asked.

Julian checked his watch and said,

"It’s over an hour. The ice should have melted by now."

"But if the ice was created by a meta,' Barry said carefully. "there is no telling if the ice will ever melt."

Jullian was horrified.

"Of course, I should have realized it sooner," he exclaimed. "We can't even heat the sample or it will denature the DNA. How are we going to—"

A loud crack of lightning interrupted Julian. The afternoon sky turned dark, the wind howled like a prowling wolf and torrential rain drenched the neighbourhood. Another cacophony of lightning shattered down the long glass windows. Blowing with revenge, Hail Hitler, entered the office growling with anger.

The Flash in Barry Allen became immediately alert to protect the love of his life. But Julian was not having any of it. He wanted to save Barry even though he himself was very scared of the metahuman. He hoped that at least Barry didn't feel that the Flash would come and save them.

"Where are you Flash? I heard you work for the CCPD. Appear in front of me now." Hail Hitler howled bombarding their whole office with a freezing hailstorm.

Barry set off the emergency alarm to the STAR Labs in his phone and turned to convince Julian to run for his safety. Barry should take the lead.

"What’s wrong with you Barry?" Julian was livid with anger. "A mad meta has broken into our office and you want me to leave you alone with him?" Julian was determined, he would not lose Barry to a madman.

Barry felt helpless, he held his shoulders and pleaded.

"Please Julian, you will have to trust me. I am not some stranger. Please, it’s between him and the Flash."

But Julian had taken no hint. He said,

"I can’t believe you want to believe in a phantom with a mask who just zooms around the city." 

In his anger, Julian's words came out much harsher than he intended. If Barry doesn't die in the hailstorm, he would certainly die with a broken heart.

"Julian," Barry asked him softly. "What if I ask you to believe in me?"

"What do you mean?" Julian asked.

Barry shook his head, 

"Sorry, I did not want to tell you like this. I am," said Barry. "the Flash."

As soon as he uttered those words, Hail Hitler directed all his wrath towards Barry. Before Barry defended himself, he used his super speed to rescue Julian to a safer distance. Julian was horrified, livid with anger at Barry's deception, equally horrified at the scene unfolding in front of his eyes. The hail was freezing Barry and slowing down his speed. Julian couldn't stand and watch when Barry was freezing to death. Hail Hitler was already gloating anticipating the defeat of the Flash. Julian ran to Barry, as fast as he could, held Barry's head on his lap and spoke to him, tears glistening his eyes,

"I know I didn't believe in the Flash all this time, but I have always believed in you Barry. Although I am still mad at you for hiding the truth, this time is for another fight. So please, get up and do what you are born to do. Run, Barry, Run." Julian kissed his lips, the warmth of their love thawing the ice.

Barry's body started juddering. The Flash came alive in seconds with a new momentum. This time he raced around the meta creating a wall of wind which directed the entire hailstorm towards him. Finally, the meta froze, the police took him to meta-jail.

Barry approached Julian who was blushing thinking about his untimely kiss with Barry. Barry cleared his throat and greeted him awkwardly.

Julian took in a deep breath and replied, still blushing, "Hi. Sorry."

Barry gave him a soft look. "You are sorry?" he asked.

"Nope, the kiss was fantastic. Are you?"

"Nope."

Julian snapped open his eyes.

"What? You kept such a big truth from me, I am very mad at you."

"Yes, I am sorry about hiding the truth and I did not want you to know it like this, but I am glad about the kiss."

Julian gave Barry a characteristic smirk. Barry continued,

"The thing is that Julian, in all these months getting to know you, spending so much time together, I have fallen in love with you. Actually, it is almost impossible not to fall for someone like you and that is part of the reason why I hid the truth. It is because I loved you but you hated Flash. I am sorry Julian."

"Loved?"

"I still love you, Julian." Barry grinned.

"I love you too Barry Allen." Julian flashed an equally irrevocable smile. "I don't hate Flash anymore."

"Does that mean you would say: I am yours, in a Flash?"

"Oh well," Julian pretended to be thinking. "let me think a little and tell you."

Barry laughed at Julian's attempts to tease him. They held hands and went together to make the rest of their day special.

Beta read by Sonatia