── ⚡ ──

After Barry fought Danton Black - Multiplex - with some encouraging words from Joe who finally accepted The Flash and his heroic ways, he was ready to face anyone who came his way. And as he accompanied Haylee home, who finally escaped the clutches of the hospital, the two spent the night watching Star Wars. Barry couldn't help but laugh as Haylee fangirled over Anakin Skywalker despite being the bad guy.

"Hey, so Iris was telling me that you finally helped her with the science article," Haylee said as the two sat in Jitters for breakfast. "Yeah, I did. How's your article?" Barry asked Haylee as he smiled softly at her. "Actually... I scraped it," Haylee said before sipping her coffee. "That's new for you, why?" Barry asked before stealing a piece of her chocolate muffin while ignoring her slight glare.

"I found something else that interests me and I know this may sound crazy..." Haylee started with a slight sigh. "It's been all over the internet this week," Haylee grabbed her bag from the chair beside her and pulled out her laptop, opening it before showing Barry the articles. "At a building fire... At a bank heist... Even the other night when those robbers shot at the security guard, he said he was whooshed outside," Haylee explained, her eyes lighting up in wonder.

"I was showing those other articles the other week but this... I mean, something out there is saving people, Barry," Haylee looked up at him as he furrowed his brows. "I thought you were a journalist, not a science fiction writer," Barry pointed out though Haylee noticed the gleam in his eyes when he looked at the article. "Ever since I have known you, you have believed in the impossible. What if you were right? What if you are right about the night that your mom died?" Haylee questioned him.

Barry looked up at Haylee as she looked back at the laptop screen, her eyes flitted from one article to another before she let out a quiet sigh. "Barry, whoever this person is, they're a hero and the city deserves to know. They need that hope... I need it," Haylee said as she looked up at Barry, her heart swelling at the thought of a hero in Central City. It reminded her of Starling City, she missed the team and this Red Streak was saving people's lives.

Barry wasn't sure how he felt about Haylee's new passion about the "Red Streak" but he adored the way her eyes lit up when she spoke about the blur - about him - and he'd do anything to see her smile like that. But he also knew the risk. If Haylee found out the truth about the Red Streak, what would happen to her? Would she be in danger? He had promised Joe that neither Iris nor Haylee would find out but ultimately, would it be so bad if Haylee did? He wasn't sure and it worried him.

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

"Regular movie scale, that was a seven or an eight," Barry spoke before Haylee sipped her drink. Barry, Iris and Haylee had gone to the movies together to hang out like old times, the three decided a classic horror type movie being the go-to choice. "Zombie movie scale, it was, like, a four, tops," Haylee added as Iris linked arms with Haylee. "There's a zombie move scale?" Iris asked getting looks from both Barry and Haylee that simply said 'duh'.

"Did you know that zombies exist in nature?" Haylee pointed out as she smiled at Iris. "There's a species of fungi that infect ants, causing ants to attack plants that can release spores which in turn infect new hosts," Barry explained in detail causing Haylee to nod. "Yeah, there's a literal video game about that called The Last Of Us and it is awesome!" Haylee spoke out before looking at Iris who looked at two with raised brows.

"We're going full nerd again, aren't we?" Barry asked Iris who nodded instantly. "It's okay, you two are the cutest nerds I know," Iris assured them. "Right, well. I'm more in-depth with my nerd side due to my new blog," Haylee stated happily. "You mean 'cause of this "Streak" thing?" Barry asked hesitantly while Iris smiled, she enjoyed reading Haylee's blog about the Red Streak and their heroic actions through Central City along with the criminals he fought.

"He's out there," Iris pointed out on behalf of Haylee. "Yeah, people are talking about him," Haylee pointed out. "How do you even know it's a 'he'? Maybe it's a 'she'," Barry pointed out to the two girls. "I approve of that factual comment, but I know it's a 'he'," Haylee responded with a smug smile. "Oh yeah, she's really intuitive about this kind of stuff," Iris backed Haylee up causing a wide grin to appear on Haylee's face.

Iris pulled out her phone, "Someone even posted a picture after being yanked from a car accident. It's a red blur leaving the scene. Here, what do you see?" Iris held her phone out to Barry who sighed before looking up at Iris. "I see your boyfriend's calling," Barry said to Iris who turned her phone back. "Oh, I should probably get this and Haylee, don't forget to call Jesse," Iris pointed out before stepping away from the two.

"Crap! Jesse moved into my place with me today and I told him I'd call to let him know I was still conscious. I'll be back in a moment," Haylee informed Barry, resting her hand on his arm before stepping away and calling her brother. She was completely unaware of Barry speeding off in a blur away from the girls to stop a bad guy with a gun before returning like nothing even happened.

Iris walked over to Barry first before the two noticed Haylee tense up, her face morphing into one of pain and disgust before she pulled the phone away from her ear. Haylee turned to Barry and Iris as she blinked back the tears that threatened to fall which prompted Iris and Barry to walk closer to her with worried expressions. "Hayles, what's wrong?" Barry asked as his heart clenched at the broken look on her face.

"S-Someone, uh... Defaced my mother's grave," Haylee stuttered out as the tears finally fell from her eyes. Iris' face flushed red in anger at the person responsible while Barry took in a deep breath before pulling Haylee into a tight hug, he couldn't imagine what he'd do if something did something so horrible to his mother's grave. "J-Jesse said that Uncle J-Johnny had called with t-the information, he's already paying for it to be restored... B-But..." Haylee spoke before another sob escaped her lips.

Haylee was beyond heartbroken at the news, she and Jesse had lost their mother at a young age and that was a part of why she and Barry became so close. The only difference between them was, Haylee's mother - Marietta Vera Brager - had passed away to cancer which lead to Haylee's father - Vincent Robert Brager - becoming a drunk. It wasn't even two months after Marietta had passed away that Vincent was locked away for manslaughter. At least that's the story she tells society.

Vincent's brother - Johnny Ryan Brager - took both Jesse and Haylee in, he lived next door to Joe and Iris and that's how the four of them - Haylee, Jesse, Barry and Iris - all became such good friends. But Johnny travelled a lot for work and that led to Jesse and Haylee staying with Joe all the time, the two practically becoming Joe's kids that he loved and protected dearly. Haylee looked up to Joe, he was the father she had always wanted and she finally got.

"Haylee..." Iris spoke softly as Haylee exhaled, her sob getting caught in her throat. "I-I... Why would someone do such a thing?" Haylee whimpered out as they began walking to Iris' car. "I don't know Haylee, some people in this world... They're just that broken," Iris replied as they got into the car. Haylee curled up in her bed the moment she got home, Barry stood at her door for a moment as Iris calmed Jesse, he hated seeing the two so hurt.

"B-Barry..." Haylee whimpered out, he looked over at her and watched as she pouted with her arms open like a child. He smiled softly before walking over to her and climbing under the blankets like he did when they were kids, taking in a deep breath before wrapping his arms around her waist - his heart racing - before pulling her into him. Haylee rested her head on Barry's chest, her eyes drooping from the exhaustion of the day as she relaxed in her best friends arms completely unaware of the effect she had on him.

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Rose's Note
I cannot remember if I had spoken about Haylee and Jesse's parents or not, but anyway, this is their families backstory.

Also, how cute is that last paragraph? And what is their ship name?

-Rose <3
{1535}