3 Mist
2 Days Later
CCPD
Naruto ignored all the chatter as he walked into the police department, he had turned in his manuscript yesterday and was waiting for the publisher to get back at him, as he looked down at his phone, he suddenly looked up when he bumped into Iris who stumbled forward loosing her grip on the coffees she was carrying grabbing her by her waist, to stop her from falling, Naruto watched as Joe caught the coffees before they could hit the ground
"Watch where your going Nate." Joe said
"My bad, you alright Iris?" Naruto asked letting Iris go, as she turned toward him with a nod
"Yeah, thanks for catching me." Iris said causing Naruto to smile and nod
"What are you doing here anyway?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow
"Making sure my two favorite guys are caffeinated." Iris said causing Naruto to smile as she handed him a coffee before Naruto could speak Eddie in the doorway asked
"Is that chocolate croissant for me?"
"Nope its all mine." Iris said as Naruto looked at his phone again before the police scanners went off
"All available units please respond. There's a 2-11 in progress at Central City National Bank. Be advised suspect seems to have increased strength, must be on some kind of stimulate."
Joe gave Naruto a look, as he said "That's less than a mile from here, how fast can you get there Eddie?" Joe grabbed his jacket, and left with Eddie
"You should get to Jitters, since it seems my day is starting early." Naruto said
"Ok, we're still on for the movies tonight right?" Iris asked
"Sure." Naruto grinned before he waved and headed up to his lab, while Iris left, as soon as Naruto was out of sight he sped off, while throwing his coffee in the trash
Outside
Iris walked outside with a small smile as she ate her croissant, when she saw a woman who was walking about 6 dogs lose her grip on the leashes and the dogs run away, about to try to at least catch one she paused and her eyes widened
"Wait come.." in a blur of red, all the dogs we're gathered and returned to her before it was back on it's way "back." the woman finished in surprise as Iris looked up to see a red blur turning the corner as she smiled
Central City National Bank
Naruto skidded to a stop to see a large man in a leotard holding a large dumbbell "Nice costume." the man said
"Thanks, nice mustache." Naruto returned before he looked at the bag of money the man was holding "Please return the money, and give yourself up."
"Raah!" the man tried to hit Naruto with his dumbbell but Naruto easily dodged and kicked the man in the gut sending him flying into a pillar, "You're fast." the man said standing up with a grunt, before he pulled out a blue pill
"Duh." Naruto said before he sped in and with a leap, kneed the man in his chin knocking him out, before he could take the pill picking the pill up, Naruto sped back to his lab just as Joe, and Eddie arrived along with other squad cars
This was my life now, speeding around my city and stopping criminals, things I used to dream about as an academy student. Being a hero, and stopping bad guys. It ain't bad at all, especially since my life before I got my speed was boring. Still feels like I'm missing something though..
Vogue Movie Theater
Naruto and Iris walked out the theater with Iris eating her medium sized bucket of popcorn "That was one of the worst zombie movies ever." Naruto sighed
"You didn't even pay attention to it. You were so busy picking up numbers." Iris said
"It was either that or falling asleep." Naruto shrugged
"So are you going to call any of them?" Iris asked
"I don't know, I'll think about it." Naruto said
"Anyways, I'm a lot more interested in the amazing as of late." Iris said nudging him with her shoulder
"You mean 'cause of this streak thing?" Naruto asked
"He's out there. People are talking about him." Iris said
"How do you even know it's a he? Maybe it's a she." Naruto replied
"It's a man, okay? You know I am really intuitive about this kind of stuff. I saw him this morning, outside the police station, and someone even posted a picture after being yanked from a car accident." Iris said as Naruto stopped as she walked in front of him, and pulled out her phone "It's a red blur leaving the scene. Here, what do you see?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow as he saw a picture of Eddie "I see your boyfriend's calling." Naruto said
Iris raised an eyebrow and looked at her phone to see he was right "Oh, I should probably get this. I'm crashing at his place tonight, and he's supposed to leave a key for me somewhere." answering her phone she greeted "Hey, babe. What's up? Not much, just hanging out with Nate. You off yet?"
Naruto sighed before he saw a group of girls walk by him smiling at him, with a grin he made to approach but his phone rung "Hello." he asked answering it
"Code 237 on Waid Boulevard." Cisco said over the phone
"Public indecency?" Naruto asked with an raised eyebrow
"Wait, I think I meant a 239." Cisco corrected
"Dog leash violation?"
"Bad man with a gun in a getaway car. Go." Caitlin said before Naruto looked to Iris and made sure no one was looking at him before he sped off
Street
Two beat cops, were in pursuit of the truck, and when they got close, the suspect pulled out his gun and opened fire "He's got a gun. Look out!"
Naruto who was running saw the truck and entered through the passenger side, grabbed the driver before putting him in the backseat in handcuffs before running off back to Iris
"Where'd he go?" a beat cop asked as the truck slowed to a stop before he and his partner looked in the back to see their suspect looking around bewildered "What the..."
Vogue Movie Theater
Naruto stopped still on his phone as Iris still had her back turned "Took care of it, now both of you go home, or out to have fun." Naruto said to Caitlin and Cisco before he hung up as Iris turned to him
"Eddie says hi." Iris said walking up
"Nice of him." Naruto said before he looked around "You wanna grab a bite? I'm feeling a little famished."
"After the Mongolian barbecue we had before the movie and the extra large popcorn you had at the movie? How are you not fat?"
"I've been working out." Naruto said leading his friend away
"Oh, okay." Iris said with a smile as she shoulder bumped Naruto who wrapped an arm around her shoulder
Next Morning
CCPD
Naruto walked into the police department to see the beat cop from last night bragging about an arrest he never made "Where'd you cut him off?"
"So we cut him off at eighth. I mean, the perp was in the backseat of the cruiser before he even knew what happened." the cop lied as Joe walked up
"Congratulations, Paulson, on that arrest last night. Hell of a job." Joe congratulated
"You come by later, Joe. I'll give you a driving lesson, okay?" Paulson said before he walked off
"Guys a dick, he didn't even catch the guy last night. It was me." Naruto said
"I figured." Joe said walking with Naruto to the blonde's lab "I just didn't realize you were helping people for the glory."
"It's not like that, it's just keeping what I can do a secret from Iris is harder than I thought it would be." Naruto said
"I know, but it is safer that way. Besides, me and you got work to do." Joe said
Moments Later
Naruto watched as Joe put a box on his desk "The evidence from my mom's and Barry's case." Naruto said as he looked to Joe
"I had it brought up from storage." Joe said with a nod as he turned to face Naruto
"I've been through this box 1,000 times, Joe." Naruto said crossing his arms over his chest
"Before, your story about what really happened that night the lightning storm, the man in the middle of it I thought that was a kid trying to protect his father from prison." Joe said turning to face the picture of Nora and Barry Naruto had on the wall "But now that I know it's true, we're gonna go through every scrap of evidence until we find something that helps us, we going to take our time."
Naruto sighed just as Eddie walked in "Nate, Joe, we got multiple homicides." he said causing the two to look at him "Do you know the Darbinyan crime family?"
Naruto, and Joe shared a glance before they followed Eddie to the crime scene
30 Minutes Later
Naruto was kneeling down canvassing the crime scene, all the suspects were killed by poison gas, but there were no canisters, or containers around "Nate?" Naruto looked up to Joe "Anything?"
"Signs of histotoxic hypoxia. The cells in their bodies were unable to utilize oxygen. It's consistent with exposure to poison gas." Naruto said
"What kind of poison?" Joe asked
"I don't know specifically, yet. I'll need to take a lung sample, see if I can narrow it down, but Joe this is the work of a met-"
"The only other exit was bolted from the inside. They were trapped." Eddie said walking up, as Naruto and Joe looked at him "I was thinking someone pumped gas in from the outside, but witnesses say the street was empty."
"Eddie, would you mind canvassing again? Somebody had to have seen something suspicious." Joe said getting Eddie to nod before he walked off, and Joe turned back to Naruto who stood up
"A meta-human must be behind this, look the boss collapsed by the table." Naruto said before he pointed to another corpse "This guy made it 10 feet away. That guy had a chance to move off and fire three shots into the window trying to break the glass. But they all started in the same spot, which means they should have all been affected by the gas at the same time, but instead, it's as if-"
"They were attacked one by one." Joe finished for Naruto who nodded "My gut feeling, if we're gonna solve this one, you and me are gonna need backup."
2 Hours Later
S.T.A.R. Labs
Naruto and Joe watched at Caitlin, Cisco, and Wells went into full nerd mode over their latest meta human, glancing to Joe, Naruto saw that he was looking a bit confused at the terms being thrown around "They get real excited about this stuff."
"The only thing I get excited about is putting criminals behind bars. Except Iron Heights isn't exactly equipped to handle metahumans."
"Yeah, if we had a place to put Multiplex, he would probably still be alive right now." Naruto said putting his hands in his pocket
"There is one place here that might hold them." Cisco said looking to Wells and Caitlin
"You can't be serious." Caitlin said looking to her friend "I mean, we haven't been down there since the... It's cordoned off."
"Cisco is right." Wells said nodding "It could be modified to act as a makeshift prison."
"What could?" Naruto asked
"The particle accelerator." Wells said looking up to Naruto and Joe, as Naruto looked to Caitlin who looked sad "Caitlin, we're going down to the accelerator ring." Wells said rolling back before he paused and looked to Caitlin who was looking down "Caitlin...Caitlin." Caitlin finally looked up to him "Did you hear me? We're going down to the accelerator ring."
Caitlin made to decline, when Naruto spoke up "Actually, , I could use Caitlin's help identifying the poison gas." he said watching as Caitlin breathed a sigh of relief
"Okay." Wells said nodding
"If that's okay with you?" Naruto asked looking to Caitlin who smiled
"Let's go." Caitlin said standing up, as Naruto followed after her
Later
CCPD
"Welcome to the CCPD." Naruto said as he lead Caitlin into the station
"So this is your day job." Caitlin said looking around
"Yup." Naruto said before he had to step back as a beat cop took a suspect to lock up
"I'm gonna rip out your hearts and eat 'em for lunch." the suspect said
"Delightful." Caitlin said sarcastically causing Naruto to smile before a Latina detective placed a gun to his chest
"Nate, I need prints off this gun, pronto." the female said before she asked "And when are you going to call me back like you said?"
"Michelle, when I have time, but I've been busy, sorry." Naruto said
"Yeah, I'll hold you to that." Michelle said slapping his ass as she walked by
Naruto looked to Caitlin who had her eyebrows raised "Not a word." he said as she smiled and followed him upstairs and helped him get to work
Joe's House
Joe was at his dining room table on his laptop, looking at the footage of Henry's interrogation
Video
Henry sat handcuffed at the table explaining what happened to his wife and son "The lightning was in the house, I came downstairs when I heard both of my son's yelling." Henry said as he began to get choked up "B-Barry was on the ground in a pool of his blood, and when Nathan tried to run to his mother, he disappeared, and that's when I saw the blood on my wife."
"Your prints were on the murder weapon." the detective said
"I needed to stabilize the knife. I'm a doctor! I was trying to save her! I didn't kill my wife, and son. Joe, tell them! You know me! Our kids are friends! You tell them, Joe!"
Joe looked up when he heard Iris coming down the stairs and quickly shut his laptop "Do I even want to know what you were looking at?" Iris asked
"It's just work." Joe lied with a smile "Some old cases weren't filed properly."
Iris looked at her dad, before they both looked to the door when someone knocked, walking to the door, as Joe watched, Iris opened it to see Eddie with a wide smile as he made to kiss her
"Detective. What are you doing here?" Iris asked causing Eddie to frown as Iris looked to Joe who stood up, while Eddie looked surprised to see his partner
"Joe, I thought you were at the morgue." Eddie said
"I decided to bring some work home." Joe said walking over "Why are you here?"
"Yes, well, I've been looking for you." Eddie lied with a sigh as Joe raised an eyebrow "I thought maybe we could go back to the crime scene, re-canvass, see if we missed anything. Always work the case, right? That's what you taught me."
"Wow, you've been listening." Joe said with a smile before he grabbed his jacket "Okay, let's hit it."
"You mind if I use your bathroom?" Eddie asked
"It's the first door on the right. I'll be in the car." Joe said before he kissed Iris' cheek "Bye, baby."
"Bye, dad." Iris said closing the door behind Joe before she turned to see Eddie walk in
"Okay, this has got to stop. I came here to surprise my girlfriend, and now I'm going to a crime scene with her dad not exactly the afternoon I was planning on."
"I know, I know, it's just it's not the right time to tell him." Iris said
"When is, Iris?" Eddie asked
"I know my dad. He'll kill us." Iris said
"Right now, you're killing us." Eddie replied before he left and closed the door while Iris sighed
Flashback
2007, Joe's House
18 year old Naruto and Iris were on the couch in the living room making out, with Iris straddling her boyfriend, whose hands were down her yoga pants gripping her ass tightly, while her hands were down his basketball shorts stroking his member, before Iris suddenly pulled away and looked up as a the familiar sound of breaks screeching were heard.
Iris immediately got off of Naruto and grabbed a blanket and got in a chair before turning the TV on, and putting her shirt back on
Naruto blinked in surprise before he sighed and placed a pillow on his lap, just as Joe walked into the house "Sup kids." Joe greeted
"Sup/Hi dad." Naruto and Iris greeted
Joe walked deeper into his home, ruffling Naruto's hair as he walked by while Naruto slapped his hand away "Stop playing, man." Naruto said
"Relax, you hair never changes, you've been here since you were 11, and I've never seen your hair grow out of that style. I bet the girls must be on you, in Starling." Joe said as he leaned on the back of the couch "So should I be expecting you to bring home a girlfriend anytime soon?"
"Actually.." Naruto began but paused as Iris began to shake her head behind Joe, causing him to frown as an annoyed glint appeared in his eyes "I'll be starting at MIT in a few days so maybe."
Iris looked at Naruto in shock, while Joe smiled in pride "That's great, let me get changed and we'll go out to eat." Joe said before he walked off
Naruto grunted and got up before he walked outside, while the door was closing Iris caught it and walked out "You didn't tell me about MIT." Iris said after closing the door behind her
"Because I wasn't planning on going."
"What changed your mind?" Iris asked
"You did." Naruto said looking to Iris "I don't understand why you want to keep what we have a secret, are you ashamed to be with me?"
"Of course not." Iris said
"Then what is it?" Naruto asked
"Nate, I don't want to be the cause of you and my dad not being as close anymore. Your the son he always wanted. If he found out we were dating that could change the dynamic between you two, and I don't want that." Iris said while Naruto frowned
"That is sweet Iris, but I'm not ok, with keeping my feelings for you a secret. We've been through this before when we were 13, and I understood not telling Joe then because we were still young and curious, but we're adults now. I can't accept us being a secret any more." Naruto said walking up to Iris and placing his hand on her cheek "I love you, and that will never change, but I think it's best if we remain friends till you decide Joe should know about our mutual feelings for each other."
End Flashback
Iris sighed as she shook off the memory, that was the last time she and Naruto went out, besides whenever they were both single and they would have sex, she couldn't lose another boyfriend because of her fear.
2 Hours Later
CCPD
Naruto's Lab
The tissue analysis was 84% completed, while it was doing that Naruto had been teaching Caitlin how to fight with a punching bag, having sped her home so she could grab some workout clothes,
"You still having told me why, I'm doing this." Caitlin said with a grunt as she punched the bag twice
Holding the bag, Naruto said "Because, I'd feel better if you and Cisco could take care of yourselves since I see myself having a lot of enemies, and if one were to ever figure out who you both were it could put you guys in danger."
Caitlin nodded before she threw 3 more jabs, and a high kick which caused Naruto to raise an eyebrow at her flexibility, seeing the look she shrugged "I used to do gymnastics and yoga."
Naruto smirked before Caitlin walked to a table as she took the tape off her fists, before she grabbed her Gatorade, while Naruto began to punch the bag, but paused and glanced over to her "Can I ask you something that you don't have to answer?"
Taking the bottle from her lips, Caitlin said "My least favorite kind of question." Naruto smirked as he kneed the heavy bag, "Shoot."
"Your fiance, what was he like?" Naruto asked as he glanced to her still in his fighting stance "It's just you just never talk about him."
Caitlin smiled softly as she leaned back on the desk "We met when we were working on the particle accelerator. He was the structural engineer. He liked to joke that he was basically a very high-priced plumber." Caitlin said with a smile that Naruto returned as he paid attention "We were very different. You might have noticed I can be a bit...guarded, but Ronnie knew how to make me laugh. He used to say we were like fire and ice. He wasn't supposed to be there that night. He was just there for me. If he hadn't..." Caitlin stopped talking as it became painful to continue, but the computer beeped causing Naruto to walk over, as Caitlin looked at the results "This says that there was no residue of gas in the tissue, poisonous or otherwise."
"Damn, that means we'll need to get a fresh sample." Naruto said
"Wait, this can't be right." Caitlin said looking at the report deeper "This says that there are two distinct strands of DNA inside the tissue."
"How did someone else's DNA get inside the victim's lungs?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow
Central City Shopping Mall
A woman was walking with a small red bag on her phone "Well, my docket was clear, so I stopped by the mall to pick up your homecoming dress." the woman said before she laughed and continued "I am a great mom. I'll see you for dinner, sweetie."
The woman hung up her phone and walked toward the elevator, while a bald headed man in a black jacket watched her before he moved to follow
CCPD
Naruto's Lab
Naruto and Caitlin were still at his computer after running the sample through the database Naruto said "There's no DNA match in the database."
"I don't understand. Why would a chemical attack leave behind another person's DNA inside the victim?" Caitlin asked as Naruto had a thought
"What if the meta-human we're looking for doesn't control gas? What if he becomes it?" Naruto asked
Central City Shopping Mall
The woman got into the elevator and looked down to her phone as she waited for it to move, as the doors began to close the bald man stopped them and entered and spoke when the woman didn't look up "Judge Howard." the now identified woman looked up, and her expression became one of horrified shock "It's nice to see you again."
"Y-You died." Howard said
"You say that like it was an accident." the man said with a smirk "You remember the last thing you said to me in the courtroom? May God have mercy on your soul."
Howard watched in shock as the man burst into green gas, and got into her system as she choked and began to bang on the glass for help
CCPD
Naruto's Lab
Naruto and Caitlin were still brainstorming when the police scanner went off 'All available units, we have a report of a toxic gas attack in the Central City shopping mall.'
Naruto got up and walked to his locker, and pulled out his bag "Nate, don't. We don't know enough about what we're facing yet. It's not safe." Caitlin said
"We need a fresh sample of the gas so we can fashion an antidote. Meet me at S.T.A.R Labs." Naruto said
"Nate."
"Caitlin, I have to go." Naruto said before speeding off, causing Caitlin to sigh and run a hand through her hair
Central City Shopping Mall
Naruto sped into the mall, and from his perspective everyone slowed down to a crawl, while he kneeled down by the judge to see her give her last breath, causing him to sigh, before he looked around and noticed a green mist exiting through a emergency exit
Speeding into the corridor, Naruto saw the mist form into a man wearing an Iron Heights uniform "Hey baldy." Naruto called causing the man to stop and turn to him "You killed that woman."
"She deserved to die. Now go run away. I still have one more name on my list. Don't make me add you to it." the man threatened
Naruto grunted before he sped forward and punched the man in the jaw, only for him to dissolve into mist before reforming "That's new, only chance I have is for counter attacks, and first chance I get, I'll give him a two piece and a biscuit." Naruto thought quickly
The man threw a hook, but Naruto leaned out of the way and immediately punched him in the stomach, and kicked the back of the man's knee, before with a reverse roundhouse slammed his heel into the man's mouth sending him flying back into the door, before he landed on his stomach,
The man groaned as he looked up to Naruto and with a glare burst into green gas, and rushed Naruto, who ducked causing the gas to pass over him, turning around Naruto tried to come up with a new plan, but until his opponent solidified he was a sitting duck, so he decided to get a fresh sample the best way he knew how
Naruto stood still as the gas rushed him and passed over him, breathing it in a bit he retreated
S.T.A.R Labs
Harrison, and Cisco were trying to get in touch with Naruto when said speedster sped to the threshold of the cortex "I can't breath." Naruto said taking a knee as he began to gasp greedily for air
"He needs oxygen. Get the crash cart!" Wells said rolling over to Naruto as Cisco got up and ran to the medical room
Moments Later
Cisco put Naruto on the bed as he opened the suit "Nate!" Caitlin screamed running in and seeing Naruto on the bed
"Cut me open. The poison's still in me." Naruto said
"He brought us a sample." Wells said before looking to Caitlin "Caitlin, we need to do a pulmonary biopsy, extract an active portion of that gas."
Caitlin looked to Naruto and said "Nate, I can't give you any anesthetic. Your metabolism will burn right through it."
"Luckily I heal quickly." Naruto said looking at her
"Cisco, give me the syringe." Caitlin said to Cisco who nodded before Caitlin turned to back to Naruto "This is gonna hurt a lot."
"It's a small needle. You probably won't even feel it." Cisco said holding a syringe with a large needle
"You're definitely going to feel it." Caitlin said taking the syringe before she stuck the needle in Naruto's heart, while Naruto grunted
Moments Later
With a groan Naruto awoke on the bed, glancing to his side, he saw Caitlin and Cisco looking over him "The Streak lives." Cisco said with a large smile as Naruto smirked looking down to his chest
"You'd be dead if your lung cells didn't regenerate so quickly." Caitlin said
"My chest feels like that one time in sixth grade when a fat girl fell on top of me." Naruto said sitting up
"This isn't funny. You could've" Caitlin began but Naruto placed a hand on her arm
"I didn't, ok, I'm still here." Naruto said softly with a small smile, which Caitlin returned
"Now that we have a sample, we'll get to work analyzing it, figure out the makeup of the poison, maybe get a clue as to his human identity." Wells said at the computer
"Or at least a way to stop him from turning into a mist." Cisco added before he looked excited "The Mist. Okay, that's his name. End of discussion."
With a grin Naruto stood up and stretched out "I have to get going." he said
"You should be resting." Wells reminded
"I'm fine." Naruto said speeding off, causing Wells to sigh in annoyance
1 Hour Later
Naruto's Apartment
Naruto was meditating in his living room, as he took a deep breath, lightning began to flicker around his body, before he opened his eyes and as the lightning began to speed up around his body a second version of himself appeared sitting across from him
Naruto smiled before he was hit with a wave of exhaustion as the clone burst into streaks lightning, falling onto his back Naruto began to breath heavily, before he quickly regained his breath, looking toward his door, as someone began to knock, Naruto sped up to his feet, and put up his Flash suit, while throwing on a pair of basketball shorts and a tanktop, before appearing at the door, and opening it to see Iris
"Iris? What're you doing here?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow while she smiled at him
Moments Later
Iris was sitting on Naruto's couch, watching tv, when Naruto entered with a cup of coffee for her "Thank you." Iris said causing Naruto to smile as he sat beside her
"So what's the matter?" Naruto asked
"Eddie." Iris said causing Naruto to raise an eyebrow "He wants me to tell my dad about us."
"Oh." Naruto said
"I know, this is the same thing that ruined our relationship, do you think I should tell my dad?" Iris asked
"You're a grown woman Iris, Joe tends to forget that, and that's because you'll always be his baby girl. You've been dating Eddie for 10 months now, and if Joe finds out on his own he'll be crushed, you can soften the blow if you tell him yourself. If you don't wish to tell Joe, then how serious are you about loving Eddie?" Naruto asked
Iris looked thoughtful before Naruto checked the time "I have to get to sleep, you staying the night?" he asked
"Yeah." Iris nodded getting a nod from Naruto
S.T.A.R. Labs
Wells stood in the basement with the same slabs of steel Naruto had used a few days ago, grabbing a pen, he focused and tossed it at the first slab only for the pen to shatter, causing him to grit his teeth. Ever since he witnessed Naruto do it, he's been trying and failing to repeat the process, he was really starting to have second thoughts on replacing Naruto with Barry.
Next Day
CCPD
Iris walked into the police department after an interesting night at Naruto's house, the two had shared the bed, and that had lead to some contact that if Eddie were to find out could end their relationship. Try as she might Iris just couldn't close the door on her feelings for Naruto, but she was happy with Eddie, so she owed it to herself and Eddie to see where this relationship could go
Walking over to his desk she saw he was on the phone "Yes, I'm writing this down. Red streak at the mall during the gas attack. Thank you for calling." Eddie said hanging up and turning to Iris "Never fails. Tip lines bring out the potheads and the crazies."
"Did they get a good look at the Streak's face?" Iris asked hopefully
"Not you too." Eddie sighed before he stood up "What are you doing here anyway?"
"We need to talk." Iris said before the two began to walk to the lobby "I thought about what you said, and..."
"I know what you're gonna say." Eddie interrupted "I understand. I'm your dad's partner."
"No, no, no, you don't understand." Iris said as Eddie thought he was being dumped "I have only had one serious boyfriend, and when he broke things off it hurt me, in a way I never thought possible. Between dad and Nate and work, my life has been full. And I really like you, but I thought that if I told my dad about us, then it would make this real, and suddenly, it's something that I could lose or screw up."
"I wanted it to be real." Eddie said sadly before he turned to leave
"Eddie." Iris said holding his arm, causing him to turn back to her before she kissed him
S.T.A.R. Labs
Naruto walked into the lab, and paused as he saw Caitlin sitting alone by his treadmill, with a sigh he walked in "I'm sorry." he said announcing his presence as Caitlin looked up, while he sat beside her "I didn't mean to scare you, leaving like that."
"It's okay. I get it. You had to go." Caitlin said with a small smile before she looked down "It's just that's the last thing that Ronnie said to me that night."
Naruto nodded in understanding before he looked off into space "My mom, and brother died 14 years ago. I used to think that the further away I got from it, the less it would hurt. But some days, the pain, it's worse than the day that it happened. Some things you can't fight."
"For so long, I've been terrified of going into that hole." Caitlin said
"What if I went with you?" Naruto asked holding out his hand, which Caitlin took and the two walked off toward the particle accelerator
Naruto stopped at the threshold while Caitlin continued to walk forward, and stopped after a moment she spoke "He saved so many lives that day, and no one will ever know what he did."
Naruto walked forward and placed a hand on her shoulder "I do. He was a hero." Naruto said
"I didn't want him to be a hero. I wanted him to be my husband." Caitlin said as tears began to stream down her cheeks before Naruto brought her into a hug, as she continued to sniffle Naruto pulled back to look her in the eyes
"I want you to know, that you'll never be alone. You have Cisco, Harrison, and me. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to call me ok?"
Caitlin nodded before Naruto pulled her back into a hug running his hands through her hair before the intercom went off
"Caitlin, Nate, you down there? You got to come look at this."
Naruto looked to Caitlin who nodded that she was ok, before they both walked upstairs
Cortex
"Hey, check this out." Cisco said standing by a monitor as Caitlin and Naruto walked in "It's a 3D molecular model of the gas we retrieved from your lungs."
"We have identified the toxin." Wells said as Naruto took a closer look
"Hydrogen cyanide, with a sedative mixed in." Naruto said before he remembered what the man was wearing "Of course, the night of the explosion, find out if anyone was executed." he requested before Caitlin walked to a computer
"Why?" Harrison asked
"That sedative is given to criminals on death row before they go to the gas chamber and breathe in hydrogen cyanide." Naruto said
"That's right." Wells said
"There was someone executed. Kyle Nimbus." Caitlin said bringing up the info on a screen
"That's him." Naruto said looking at Kyle's mugshot
"He was a hit man for the Darbinyan crime family. They turned on him and testified. Judge Theresa Howard was the judge at his trial. She sentenced him to death." Caitlin said
"He must have been affected by the explosion while he was being gassed." Wells added
'Records indicate the execution was completed." Cisco said
"That's why there wasn't a match. The DNA database only has records of the living." Naruto commented "Who caught him, that could be his next target?"
Caitlin looked up the info, and paused as her eyes widened before she looked to Naruto "Nate, the lead detective was Joe West."
Naruto frowned before he pulled out his phone
Iron Heights Penitentiary
Joe walked to the front desk, and said "Here to see Henry Allen."
The corrections officer grabbed a clip board and a small bin "Sign here. Personal effects here."
Unknown to Joe, or anyone Kyle Nimbus was walking toward the penitentiary and got pass the gate by turning into gas
With Naruto
"Eddie." Naruto said on the phone still in S.T.A.R. Labs "Hey, do you know where Joe went? He's not picking up his cell...Eddie, it's really important I speak to him. I need to know where he went...Thanks."
Naruto hung up and walked toward the exit, when Caitlin walked over with a syringe "I reverse-engineered an antidote to the toxin. I hope you won't need it."
"Thank you." Naruto nodded before he sped off
Iron Heights Penitentiary
Joe sat in the visiting area, waiting for Henry to show up, looking up he sighed as his one time friend walked in, shackled before he sat down on the other side of the glass. Taking the phone Henry asked "What are you doing here? Is Nathan all right?"
"He's fine." Joe said causing Henry to relax before he sat back
"Then to what do I owe this visit?" Henry asked
"I know I should have come to see you sooner." Joe said
"You just weren't up for a little chitchat with a man who murdered his wife, and son in front of his oldest child?"
"Except now I know you didn't kill your wife, and Barry." Joe said causing Henry's eyes to widen as he leaned forward "Some new evidence has come to light. I can't go into detail. It's just..Look, the important thing is, I'm reopening the case. I'm gonna find out who really killed Nora, and Barry. I promise you, Henry, I'm going to get you out of here. I am so sorry."
"It doesn't matter that you didn't believe in me Because you always believed in my son." Henry replied as Joe nodded before Henry saw green gas appear around a guard causing the man to fall to the ground seizing, before he and Joe stood up, while Joe went to check on the guard but green gas appeared in front of him and solidified into a familiar man
"Nimbus." Joe said in horror, while Henry watched shocked "You're supposed to be dead."
"Same to you." Nimbus said before he exploded into gas and went into Joe causing him to fall to the ground and began to seize as Nimbus exited through his nose and into a air vent
"Joe?" Henry asked as Joe continued to seize "Joe! Help! Guards! Somebody help!"
Henry continued to bang on the glass when Naruto sped in and kneeled beside Joe immediately he gave him the antidote, before he looked up to Henry who looked at him in shock before he nodded to his father and turned back to Joe who groaned
"Go get him." Joe said causing Naruto to smirk before he sped off, while Henry gasped
Unknown Road
Nimbus with a smirk walked down the street, his list was complete now he was going to take over the city, he suddenly stopped when a familiar red suited man appeared in his way "So you've come to finish what the gas chamber couldn't?"
"You're going somewhere you can't hurt anyone ever again." Naruto said rolling his shoulders
"Wrong." Nimbus said before he busted into smoke and rushed Naruto who dodged to the side
S.T.A.R. Labs
"He used the antidote on Joe." Caitlin said looking to Wells, and Cisco "You need to stay away from him, Nate. Do not breathe him in."
"I got it!" Naruto replied
Unknown Road
Naruto continued to dodge Nimbus gas attacks, "Wind jutsu would really come in hand..y" Naruto suddenly smirked before he dodged another charge and when Nimbus solidified, he was on him in no time with a kick to the back, sending him into a tree, only for Nimbus to explode into gas again and rush Naruto who began to rotate his arms at high speeds causing 2 wind funnels to form and stop Nimbus in his tracks,
Nimbus suddenly solidified and before he could make a move, Naruto's fist met his jaw, before blackness
"He's down." Naruto smirked as he stood over Nimbus unconscious body
Later
After talking to his dad, and stopping a mugging, Naruto was on his way to meet Caitlin and Cisco having just left seeing Joe in the hospital as he exited his apartment complex, he looked down to his phone as he placed his hoodie under his arm, he jumped suddenly as a woman bumped into him splashing him with her coffee
"Oh my god, I am so sorry." the woman said as Naruto looked down to the large coffee stain on his white shirt
"It's alright." Naruto said as the woman began to pat his shirt down with her napkins
"No, I should've been watching where I was going."
"Me too, so I guess we're both at fault." Naruto said as he took off his wet shirt, as the woman blushed ogling the muscled torso before Naruto put on his hoodie "I've never seen you around here you must he the new tenant."
"Yup, that's me, just moved in yesterday."
"Well welcome to the building, I'm Nathan by the way."
"Linda. Linda Park." Linda said introducing herself as Naruto smiled
