starlaboratories | (no subject)

(no subject)

[Through the breach comes a scrawny teenager. He looks around the entire Cortex in awe before his eyes fall on the breach that closes behind him.]

...Iris? ...Joe?

[Okay, that's the last time he ever meets Becky Cooper to "talk"]

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[Not Joe or even Iris.. but someone who should still be pretty familiar.]

Hey Slugger.

Dad!

[He doesn't care. Barry races right over and hugs him tightly]

[His arms fold around Barry and oh God has he missed being able to do this. Henry drops to one knee to get a better look at how Barry's grown.] I've missed you.

When did they let you out? Is that what this is?

[Barry's not going to look a gift horse in the mouth but he hugs tightly and there might be tears]

They did it. Joe did it. He proved that you're not guilty, right?

I don't think that's what happened here, son. I was asleep in Iron Heights and I woke up here. I'm not sure what's going on or where this even is. [He'll hold his son for as long as he needs to. Longer even then because who knows when he can do something like this again.]

What matters is that you're here.

[He holds on tightly]

You don't belong there. You don't. You belong with me, at home. And not Joe's house.

[Barry has no idea how much that faith keeps him going. He offers him a small smile, drying his tears gently.] That decision wasn't ours to make, Slugger.
But we have this - whatever it is and for how ever long it lasts. Let's make the most of it okay?

It's the man in yellow, Dad.

[He pulls away a little, determined]

The man in the yellow lightning. I don't care what the therapists say. He really was there, I saw. It wasn't you. Don't let him take that away from us. Come on...I'm going to need to have my dad with me to argue with in my teenage years.

[Barry holds as steadfastly to his belief in a man in yellow as he does to his own innocence in the crime and Henry believes him. He didn't see him, but he believes his son.]

I know you saw him, Slugger. I know.
[And he doesn't have the heart to tell his son that the chances of him being cleared of murder fade with each passing year. He just smooths back Barry's hair and takes in that determined set in his jaw with pride.] You know I want to be there too Barry. I'd give anything to be there with you.

[He's not a kid anymore but with his dad, he feels like it.]

...so maybe we can stay here. Then you won't need to go back to Iron Heights. Wherever here is.

Yeah. Yeah I'd like that. We'll stay here as long as we can, Slugger.

[... if only he had any idea where here was.]

[It would make Henry a kidnapper if time still progressed in the real world but hey, Barry has his dad back]

You can't call me Slugger anymore, I'm 15.

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