In the room that is twilight and shadow Barry stood close enough for Mineko to breathe in his scent. His arms wrapped around her back and in one gentle pull their skin touched. Mineko felt his hand in her hair, how he loved the softness, watching it tumble as he released it. Then his hand moved down her cheekbones to her lips. This was their last day in Metropolis, and they hadn't had much time together since they arrived. It was the middle of the night now, and after returning from a fairly routine run, he had decided to make the most of having a room away from his father.

Mineko seemed a little hesitant though, and this was only confirmed when she stepped away from his touch. Barry's breath hitched at her reaction. Had he done something wrong? Had he insulted her or misread her? Anxieties riddled his mind. He had been wanting to be closer to her for so long that maybe he had overstepped a boundary. Barry inwardly cursed himself for his own recklessness.

"I'm sorry..." Barry gulped, hands falling in defeat at his sides. "I didn't mean to-"

Mineko shook her head. "It is not your fault. I should be the one apologising. I am just...I do not know how to say this."

Barry wanted to reach out to her and reassure her that her words wouldn't change how he felt, but he didn't want to scare her away by doing so... It had been so long since he'd been with anybody that he was out of practise. Not just physically but emotionally as well.

Thankfully, Mineko was strong. She didn't need support, only enough time to process how to express her feelings. Barry had granted her that, and she continued speaking a few seconds later. "Where, or when, I come from the...physical side of a relationship is much more controversial than it is here. You know that before I ran away and found the monastery, I was in training to become a Geisha - an escort. When you're old enough the people that paid for your training sell your virginity to the highest bidder. I wasn't there for long, but it is an accurate reflection on the opinions of people in my time. If you were not a virgin you were somehow lesser, tainted. No man would touch you or marry you. They had this obsession with being the first and only one to see a woman's body."

Barry attempted to understand but found it immensely difficult. Times had changed...so much so that these people Mineko spoke of sounded alien to him. He bit his lip and forced himself to respond. "So...you're afraid that if we do this and something happens, that no other man will want you?"

"No, you misunderstand." Mineko sighed. "I had resigned myself to a lonely life years before I met you. I did not ever think of finding a husband or settling down. I did not like the thought of being the lesser part of a relationship, or being wife to someone who participated in such degrading ideas. I suppose that is the problem...I never expected to meet someone like you. I never expected to actually want to be close to a man, because in my time the want or needs of a woman are not considered relevant. They simply had no choice. This era is different. You are different. I think I am just afraid of what that means."

This time Barry seemed to catch onto what she was saying. A small, comforting smile graced his lips and his hand reached out to graze her arm. "You're afraid that this will change you."

"I have already been changed. I have found a man that respects my abilities and sees me as something more than I ever could have been in my own era. I am afraid of disappointing him." She said softly, finally stepping back towards him and resting a hand on his chest. "I am afraid that I will not be able to think clearly if he is in danger. I am afraid that I will choose to save him over millions of others...because, above all, I am afraid of losing you."

Barry wasn't sure whether to kiss her right then and there or to spend the night worrying about putting her through that pain. To say that it would never happen was a lie, a cruel one. There was no telling what the future could hold...but maybe he could just pretend like this moment was their eternity; like there was no future to fear because this was how they were going to spend the rest of their lives. "Mini, you won't lose me. I promise."

"You cannot promise something that is out of your control..." Mineko averted her gaze hesitantly only for Barry to catch her chin between his index finger and thumb. He guided her face back up to look at him and placed a delicate kiss on her forehead.

"I can tonight."

His lips trailed down from her forehead, to her nose, then her cheek, and then finally reached her lips. This time Mineko didn't even attempt to argue. Their bodies fit together as if they were made just for each other, to fall into one another, to feel this natural rhythm. With a smile Barry lifted her right off her feet, carrying her towards the bed, and letting her fall with a soft bounce on the mattress. They locked eyes for just a moment, just enough for them to feel safe with one another. That was all the consent they needed.

One more touch and there was no more room for doubt. She felt electricity in her skin, hormones shutting down of her higher brain. From there on in it was all passion, intense, intoxicating. In the twilight room their fingers caressed each other's skin as if afraid a heavier touch would break the heady magic. They became one, one mind with one goal and purpose, each utterly drunk with love for the other.

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Barry awoke to the steady patter of rain upon his window, droplets yet to scatter the nascent rays of the rising sun. The sound brought a calmness to his mind, a soothing melody, a natural lullaby. With eyes at rest he glanced at the woman sleeping soundly beside him. She was cuddled into his side, quieter than the birds that morning which had apparently all disappeared. Barry stared at Mineko in absolute adoration, cherishing these blessed moments of genuine happiness.

His eyes scanned her lovingly - the sheets spun around her figure and hiding the majority of her body. Somehow, it wasn't the perfect features that he dwelled on when he looked at her anymore- not the gold flecked black eyes, nor the pomegranate pink lips. Instead it was the small blemishes that allured him. The small scar on her forehead and the many larger ones across both arms, the very slightly crooked tooth, the short and broken fingernails from countless fights. They all made her so much more interesting.

Barry felt as if just by looking at her all the mistakes he had ever made, and there had been many, had gone - every impure thought erased. All negativity was cleansed, almost like a religious experience or spiritual enlightenment...but much more realistic. The man let his fingers disappear in her hair and sighed. He hadn't felt this way in ages. He didn't even know he could ever be this happy again.

Even his patrols as The Flash were much easier that day. The whole world was full of bright colours and rainbows and random kids throwing glitter. Even the darkest of places, the most disgusting areas, suddenly looked breathtaking. Barry was aware that this was all because of his personal head space, but that wasn't going to stop him from enjoying it.

"Boomerang!" The Flash exclaimed upon arriving at the scene of a bank robbery. "Good to see you!"

"It...is?" The man asked in complete confusion, dropping the bag of money and taking his weaponized boomerangs from his pockets. "Well, it ain't good to see you."

The villain threw an array of weapons Barry's way, but each were dodged so easily that it was hardly worth the effort. "You know what? I'm in such a good mood that even you can't ruin it for me."

Boomerang tossed a tiny explosive device Barry's way, only barely powerful enough to create a plume of smoke, but it still didn't hit the speedster who would usually be bored by such an encounter. Boomerang frowned. "I don't suppose you're in a good enough mood to let me go?"

The Flash bursted into a fit of laughter and it left the villain disturbed beyond belief. "No. Nice try though."

Boomerang shrugged, but didn't stop fighting. He aimed a punch directly to Barry's stomach but it went right through him... The Flash had vibrated his molecules at such a speed that they threaded through Captain Boomerang's fist. The villain's eyes widened. "You don't even have to move to dodge shit?! Why do you do it then? To show off?"

These words didn't effect him at all. He was still floating somewhere on cloud nine. The Flash sighed. "Have you ever been in love?"

Captain Boomerang pulled his fist out of Barry's stomach and shook his head. "God...just arrest me already. It's better than listening to you fawn over some shiela."

"Good choice." Barry grinned. "Hopefully this time you'll learn the error of your ways."

"Yeah, not gonna happen." Boomerang groaned, willingly waiting for The Flash to take him to jail. Which he did only seconds later.

Captain Boomerang actually found himself hoping that he didn't escape too soon. Primarily because of the sappy look on The Flash's face and the way he had waved to him as he was escorted to his cell. It was just plain creepy. Nothing seemed to bother him, not even the multitude of swears Boomerang sent his way upon being locked up.

Even Mineko noticed his sudden change of mood. As soon as he had returned Barry had picked her up and spun her around as if her weight was similar to a feather. He showered her with kisses, then carried her back to the bedroom with so much confidence that it felt like he was a different person entirely. No matter how dark the future could potentially get, he knew that there would always be light to be found somewhere as long as she was in his life.

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