first rule of flash club

[hsalf]

CHARACTERS: Harrison Wells and Barry Allen (sanicspeed)

DATE: December 15th

WARNINGS: Spoilers for Flash probably.

SUMMARY: Barry wants to train with someone at his speed. Wells wants to beat Barry up. They compromise.

[It's been little more than a week and a half since the prison break out. Since then he has avoided Barry more than not during daily routines, still angry at how their last conversation ended. He has more than enough reason to be angry to - Barry has no idea the consequences his actions have, but keeps acting like he's a goddamn expert, despite only stumbling through time travel twice (the first time accidental at that.)

So Barry's original offer to train and work together was shot down and fast. However the last couple days have left him thinking a little more. He has no desire to help Barry, but he needs to keep his own strength up as well. And any excuse to give that dimwit a good beating is a good excuse.

He leaves Barry a message to come out to train in a secluded area outside the town and general populace in the early morning. If Barry doesn't come within a minute he'll call it off. No he doesn't care if Barry is tired and doesn't wake up normally at the crack of dawn. And just to prove he means it, he's in his yellow suit (cowl off - he won't need it today he thinks.)]

Comments

[sanicspeed]

[Barry is actually a bit excited! I mean, he basically told Wells he's past his own problems (though he really needs to give him a shounen speech on forgiveness). The fact that Wells is down for some practice is more than good. For Barry, that not only means getting better for his upcoming showdown with Zoom but maybe learning something new.

Of course, he's a bit wary. Wells never reciprocated that forgiveness so he was probably harboring evil feelings still. So being a bit wary was the name of the game.

Thankfully, he's fast enough to show up with time to spare. But chronically late. So at the moment when Wells is about to call it off, Barry shows up in his Flash uniform with a blast of air.]

Yo. I'm glad you want to do things again, really.

[hsalf]

[He's just about ready to speed out himself just before Barry comes in, a long sigh coming out. Typical Barry, always late for everything. Always so far behind. It was never an endearing trait.]

Yeah, I'm as thrilled as you are. [He says incredibly flat and with zero enthusiasm.] So, you want to get better Flash? Let's get started - try to land a hit on me.

[sanicspeed]

Yeah. I can...I can tell.

[At least he's not stupid enough to miss that deadpan. A world of hurt was waiting for him, wasn't it?]

Are you sure? I can hit a lot harder than when we last went at it.

[hsalf]

[Yes it is Barry.]

Oh, really? Then you should have no problem landing a hit on me.

[sanicspeed]

Maybe I'll just have to show off one of your tricks.

[Like speed mirage! YEAH!

So Barry does the thing when doing the thing probably isn't a good idea. You know, making it look like he's in 30 places at once.]

[hsalf]

[He raises an eyebrow when Barry makes mention of it and waits. When the mirages begin to appear all he can do is make a small laugh.]

Not bad, but this isn't amateur hour. [He says, flexing a hand and looking around at the many mirages.] Your mirages aren't solid enough. Good for distractions. For hiding?

[He finally manages to spot the most solid of the vibrating mirages and makes a quick glide over, throwing a punch at the mirage.]

Weak!

[sanicspeed]

[Weak indeed. Wells could see right through him, even with fancy moves.

So yes, Barry gets knocked WAY back on his ass.]

Ow! ....I thought that'd work.

Fine, I'll have to show you my ultimate move.

[Yeah, he's mad from being hurt, which means he's making bad decisions. Like showing off shit he's learned that Wells knows nothing about.

So in his super fast speed, he starts running around his hated enemy...well, hated enemy that he forgave.]

[hsalf]

["Ultimate move" huh? This ought to be good.

When Barry begins to run around him, he stands in place with a smirk. This is a basic tactic, but it must be building up to something greater. A tornado around him?]

If running around me is your move, consider me unimpressed!

[sanicspeed]

[If Wells was going to let him do it without interference, then all the better!

Mostly, once he's built up enough friction, Barry does an odd twist and flings his arm at Wells, lightning from his movement shooting out towards him.]

Eat this then!

[hsalf]

[Wells prepares for whatever is to come, getting into a stance and using his speed force to slow his perception and watch Barry run. Keeping track of him is easy with that in mind, but its watching his movements that come with surprise to him. Particularly how Barry seems to slow in the middle of his run to pull at something.

He realizes too late what's about to come though - Barry is pulling energy out of his lightning trail. He tries to move and dodge, but the bolt is as fast as Barry himself and it hits Wells directly in his chest, flinging him backwards onto his back.

It takes him a moment to recover, but he slowly turns on his side, his own energy on the fritz all the while. His body vibrates lightly, on and off, as he struggles to get on his feet.]

What -- What the hell did you do?

[sanicspeed]

[Has Harrison ever seen a speedster preen? Because right now, Barry is way too happy with himself. For once in his life, he showed up Harrison Wells. Though it would probably be the only time in his life that he'd do this.

Still, with his hands on his waist, he can't help but explain it to the man who hated him. It was too bad Barry tossed away the hate himself.]

I learned that one from Jay. Of course, he was happy to point out that I learned it a lot quicker than he did but he's got a lot more experience under his belt than I do.

[The secrets were still...secrets. Though if Wells actually thought on it, he'd probably pick it up quick enough.]

[hsalf]

[Jay, huh? He takes the time Barry is preening and praising himself to get back onto his feet properly. He's still faintly wobbly from the shock, but is staring Barry down with muted anger.]

How nice for you. Too bad that won't work again. [He'll have to learn a way to deflect that attack later.] My turn.

[And then he pulls his cowl up and begins vibrating, red sparks flickering off him. But as he begins to move he creates his own speed mirages - about five and all fairly solid. Distractions to misdirect Barry as he comes up and begins throwing a barrage of punches at him.]

[sanicspeed]

[Barry takes off running too. Mostly because standing still is suicide. He'll get beat up less quickly if he's actually moving.

And he's still not fast enough! The real thought was how he planned on going against Zoom if he still couldn't outspeed Wells here, each hit being a painful reminder of that fact...and each punch of his missing too.]

[hsalf]

[He keeps going for a time, until he manages to knock Barry flat to the ground. This...this isn't nearly as satisfying as he thought it would be. It feels so hollow.]

You...how long has it even been? Since everything that happened between us - you're clearly from a point past it in the future, so how long Barry?

[sanicspeed]

What, do you want it in specific days? It hasn't really been all that long.

[Enough to get fucked up a lot though. Especially now as he tries to get back up.]

[hsalf]

Months. Don't act petulant when I ask you something.

[He's tempted to ask years, but Barry doesn't look any older than he did before so he doubts it's been so long.]

[sanicspeed]

[Barry also practically doesn't age so shhhhhhhhh Wells.]

It's been over six months, okay?

[hsalf]

[Half a year. His heart seizes at the idea of not existing for so long and he feels anger rising up again.]

Get ready. We're going to keep practicing. You're not nearly good enough.

[sanicspeed]

Obviously. If you're still pushing me around, there's no way I'm beating Zoom at this rate.

[Zoom was even faster! Barry had an idea of how to neutralize that speed but it probably wouldn't work here.]

[hsalf]

It's not just that. You're not going faster than you used to after such a long period of time. That's not supposed to happen.

[sanicspeed]

Maybe it wouldn't have happened if we all didn't have a specific set of issues because of you.

[hsalf]

[The accusation doesn't get him angry. Not even remotely upset. Instead he just lets a loud chortle, completely astounded that he's being blamed for this too. After working hard to get Barry to go faster for so many months.]

Wow! Really bold of you to say Barry. [He would never imagine Barry being so brash before. He has grown a lot. He slowly sucks in a breath and lets it out in a huff and begins to saunter over at a normal step to where Barry stands.] Upset that your good friend and idol Dr. Wells betrayed you? Used you? Watched you like a rat in a cage for over a decade? And that's why you can't get any faster, because you keep carrying this around like a chip on the shoulder to make excuses for yourself.

[Finally he stops, only inches separating the two of them. He looks at Barry, eyes cold and uncaring for the man he sees in front of him.]

Word of advice? [He pauses and smiles grimly.] Get over it.

[And really, that's the reason why he knows Barry Allen will never truly be happy.]

[sanicspeed]

You know, as much as you dislike me, you'd think you'd realize that it's not just me who has been suffering. You know, maybe Caitlyn or Cisco or even literally everyone else who trusted you.

[Come on, Harry. All of those people suffering means Barry is going to lag behind anyway since he relies on them so much.]

[hsalf]

You think you'd realize you don't have time to feel bad when there's a monster hunting you down. The only one holding you back is you. That's how it's always been.

[sanicspeed]

I count on everyone around me and they count on me. That's what it means to be the Flash, Harrison Wells.

[hsalf]

Eobard Thawne.

[There's really no need for Barry to use that name in front of him anymore. He sniffs and turns around, creating distance between himself and the Flash again.]

We have more to do. Come at me again. This time don't soften your blows.