Chapter 79: moving forward

Star Labs

Late afternoon

"Well, it's been a blast everyone, minus the part where Savitar used me as his flying monkey, but I think I need to get back to where I came from," Snart said as he, Barry, Lisa, Cisco, and Wanda stood in the cortex.

"Yeah, let's go," Barry said as he got to his feet.

"Lenny," Lisa grabbed her brother and pulled him into a bone crushing hug. "I love you."

Snart, in a rare moment of affection, hugged her back. He sensed that there was more to Lisa's reaction than just saying goodbye. But Snart was smart enough to know he shouldn't know too much about his future.

"Take care of my sister for me Cisco," Snart said as he let go of Lisa, looking over at the Meta.

"Sure," Cisco said awkwardly.

"Well Barry, we should be heading out," Snart said.

As Barry and Snart walked out, Lisa nearly collapsed into Cisco.

"I know he needed to go…but I miss him," Lisa said her voice cracking.

"I know…trust me, I know," Cisco said as he thought of Dante.

Siberia, 1892

Afternoon

"I'm sorry for everything Savitar put you through," Barry said as he and Snart walked back to where Snart had first met Savitar.

"I always knew you had it in you to be as ruthless as me," Snart said before he turned around to face Barry. "A bit of advice Flash: don't give into that side of you."

"What?" Barry asked confused.

"Your strength comes from your goodness. Savitar forgot that and was consumed by the bad in him. The bad in you. Call me sentimental, but I think the Flash should remain a hero," Snart said and Barry flashed a rueful smile.

"Take care of yourself Snart," Barry said as he held out a hand to Snart.

"No strings on me," Snart said as he shook Barry's hand.

Barry nodded before they dropped hands. Barry turned and sped off as Snart stared after him.

"No strings on me," Snart muttered before he turned and walked back towards The Waveridder.

Star Labs, present

Late afternoon

Barry sped back into the cortex, seeing Wanda was the only one still there.

"Where's Cisco and Lisa?" Barry asked.

"Saying goodbye," Wanda said simply.

Outside the entrance, Lisa was about to get on her motorcycle as Cisco stood awkwardly.

"So, I guess this is goodbye," Cisco said awkwardly.

"Yeah, I guess so," Lisa said as she glanced over her shoulder. "Doesn't have to be though. I could…come back for a visit sometime."

"Or…maybe I could come visit you sometime," Cisco said cautiously.

"Maybe," Lisa said with a slight smile.

Lisa leaned in and kissed him before putting something in his hand. She then pulled back, put on her helmet, and got on her motorcycle. Revving the engine, she drove off as Cisco looked down, seeing that she had given him her number.

Inside, Barry and Wanda were walking out of the cortex when Logan nearly ran into them.

"Sorry, didn't see you there," Barry apologized and Logan waved him off.

"I was actually looking for you kid. I think I'm gonna take off," Logan said, taking Barry back.

"Is this about what Cisco told you?" Wanda asked curiously.

"No, it's something I've been thinking for a while, since I got out of prison. I'm a soldier. And I've been in hiding for too long," Logan said.

"Thinking about heading to Star City?" Barry asked.

"Maybe. For now, I'm gonna start with up," Logan said and Barry nodded in understanding.

"Well, thank you for all your help. I probably wouldn't be standing here if it weren't you," Barry said gratefully.

"Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you," Logan noted.

In the lower levels, in one of the makeshift chambers that had been used as rooms, Roy had his phone out, looking at a photo of Thea as Clint walked in.

"Girlfriend?" Clint asked as he got a look.

"Ex-girlfriend," Roy corrected as he pocketed the phone. "You want something?"

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about something," Clint said and Roy raised an eyebrow. "What do you plan to do next?"

"I don't know," Roy admitted after a moment. "I feel like I should just go back to the life I was living after I left Star City…but I don't know how I can."

"Well, I want to run something by you. There is no wrong answer to this okay?" Clint said and Roy nodded wearily. "In a few days, the other Avengers are gonna head back home to Earth-66. I'm not going with them."

"Why?" Roy asked curiously and Clint smiled thinly.

"A bunch of bureaucratic bullshit, but I'm retiring to live on this earth with my wife and children. The team, it could always use a Hawkeye. I was wondering if maybe you would consider it," Clint explained and it took Roy a moment to understand.

"You want me to take your place on The Avengers, be the new Hawkeye?" Roy asked surprised.

"You're almost as good a shot as Oliver, although still a step down, since I beat him," Clint mused and Roy blinked.

"You beat Oliver?" Roy questioned shocked and Clint nodded.

"Sure did. Don't believe me, ask him. But anyway, this is just something I want you to think about. There is no wrong answer and you have a few days to decide. Just sleep on it kid," Clint said, patting Roy on the shoulder before walking out, leaving Roy alone with his thoughts.

Caitlin's apartment

Not long after

"Thank you, you didn't have to walk me in," Caitlin said gratefully as Steve closed the door behind him.

"I wanted to make sure you got in okay…are you okay?" Steve asked and Caitlin was silent.

"I don't know," Caitlin said after a moment. "After the last few days, my head is all over the place."

"I get it. I felt the same way when I woke up after over sixty years on ice," Steve said and Caitlin nodded mutely.

"Steve…I remember everything about my time as Killer Frost. Including you telling me you loved me," Caitlin said as she looked over at him.

"I meant it," Steve said sincerely.

"I love you to…but it doesn't change anything. You're leaving in a few days, right?" Caitlin asked thickly and Steve nodded slowly.

"Yeah, we're gonna stick around for a few more days then head home," Steve admitted.

"We have to let each other go," Caitlin said and Steve nodded.

"Doesn't mean I won't always love you," Steve promised and Caitlin smiled a sad, slight smile.

"I will always love you to. We still have tonight though," Caitlin told him.

Steve walked over and took her face in his hands, pulling her into a kiss. He lifted her into his arms and Caitlin instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist as he began carrying her to the bedroom.

Barry and Wanda's loft

Night

"So, what do you think we should do with the loft when we head back home?" Barry asked as he gave Wanda some tea. "Maybe keep it as a summer home?"

"I was actually thinking about that, and about what you said. Maybe…maybe we don't have to do anything with it," Wanda began and Barry was confused.

"What?" Barry said bewildered and Wanda giggled at the look on his face.

"I've been thinking. About what you said, about how a home is not the place, but the people in it. And I've also been thinking about what kind of world we'd be raising her in if we went back to Earth-66," Wanda placed her hand on her swollen stomach. "I don't want her to grow being feared. And they will never stop being afraid of me, and her to, over there."

"So what are you saying?" Barry asked curiously as he sat down next to her.

"I don't think I want to head back to Earth-66. I think I want to stay here with you and raise our daughter here," Wanda said, shocking Barry into silence.

Central City Police Department

Same time

Captain David Singh got into his car after a long day of work, planning to head home and crash into his bed. However, as he closed the door, a familiar voice spoke up behind him in the back seat.

"Long day?"

Singh whirled around, seeing Barry Allen sitting in the backseat.

"Allen? What are you doing here?" Singh inquired, having only seen Barry in passing in town since his resignation.

"You and I are gonna go on a little trip Captain," 'Barry' said with a casual voice.

"Allen, I don't know what's going on, but get out of my car," Singh told him firmly.

Suddenly, 'Barry' lunged forward and grabbed Singh by his neck. Singh realized this was not the Barry he knew when he saw that 'Barry's' hand around his neck was covered in a black like glove that resembled a claw.

"The thing is Captain," Venom Flash said before he the black substance spread until it covered his body, leaving him in his new suit and when he spoke, it was in a monstrous voice that reminded Singh of the man in black from a few years ago. "I'm not giving you a choice."