In A Blink ? Barry Allen/The Flash

23.

Barry laughed a bit, the pride relaxing his nerves, "Joe you can't be mad."

Joe peaked up a bit, "I'm not mad. But I am curious, I mean you were acting so weird at the crime scene."

"Maybe just weird in general today too but.." Natalie muttered under her breath.

Barry waved his hand at Natalie trying to get Joe to drop the subject, "See, she's right. I always act weird. Just listen to my pretty girlfriend, Joe."

Natalie whipped her head at head at Barry, who cringed under her gaze. "You're weirder, Barry."

Barry opened his mouth to say something back but was met with Dr. Wells' 'I-told-you-so' look and sighed, "Look Joe, Natalie, there are just some things that I can't tell you and you're just gonna have to trust me."

Natalie walked up to Barry and placed her hands on either side of his face, holding it so that he looked directly into her eyes, "Definitely weirder. Did you run into a wall and hit your head, Bare?" she asked with a slight smirk on her face.

Barry's worry fluttered away and he shook his head and laughed, placing his hands on her waist and pulling her closer, "No, I was just bit by a bug."

Natalie's brows furrowed and she giggled at his attempt to flirt, "Hmm, well what kind of bug, Allen?"

Before Barry could reply, Joe interrupted them and turned to Dr. Wells, "I don't suppose you're gonna fill me in either?" Dr. Wells shook his head no. Barry shook his head under Joe's wary look, "I have to go talk to Iris about something. I'll see you later," Barry said, giving Natalie a soft kiss goodbye before speeding off from the suspicions in the room, leaving Joe and Natalie with a guarded Dr. Wells.

Racing to Central City Picture News, Barry made his way to Iris, only to be stopped yet again by Linda. "Hey, Barry."

Glancing between Iris and Linda, Barry bounced on his feet, "Uh..hi Linda. Look I really have to talk to-"

Linda batted her eyed and stepped in front of Barry, "You know you can still use that number I gave you if you ever get tired of your girlfriend. Are you two still-"

"I love my Natalie. And yes she is still my girlfriend. Now if you'll excuse me I have to talk to my friend," Barry snapped as he stepped around an astonished Linda and made his way over to Iris.

"Hey Iris. Mr. Bridge, hi," Barry greeted as he walked up to the two.

The man perched on Iris' desk stared at Barry, "Do I know you?"

Barry mouth formed an 'o' shape when he realized his slip, in this day he hadn't met the man before, "No we haven't met yet-fully. Uh um Iris, can I talk to you for a second?"

Iris stared curiously at Barry before handing Mason Bridge back his paper, "Uh yeah, sure."

"Nice meeting you strange young man!" Bridge called as Barry led Iris away from her desk.

"Is everything okay with you and Natalie?" Iris asked as she and Barry walked.

Barry smiled to himself, "Yeah we're perfect. But I came here cause I wanted to talk to you. We haven't had the time to and we need to..talk," Barry said, he wanted to make sure he told Iris straight that he didn't have those feelings for her anymore after she had kissed him in the alternate future.

"I can't, not right now. But how about later? I'll call you, okay?" Iris offered.

Barry nodded his head, happy that he'll get the chance to set everything straight, "Great. Awesome. I'll see you later!" He left Iris and walked back towards the entrance, thinking back on the alternate timeline and their events and how everything now was better. He backtracked, heading back towards Iris' desk where Mason Bridge still sat, the one who informed Iris of his suspicions of Dr. Wells. "I know you think Harrison Wells had something to do with Simon Stagg's disappearance but..you're wrong," Barry said, smirking at the harsh glare Mason gave him as he left.