The further the night progress the more Ada wished she hadn’t agreed to attend her former university’s event. It wasn’t that she didn’t relish the opportunity to return to a familiar environment; she had enjoyed her years there and was quite thankful of the institution that provided her with the necessary challenge to get her PHDs. The same institution where her father had spent so many years lecturing, but she hadn’t acknowledged exactly how long it had been until she slid her arms into the blue suede elbow length gloves. She suddenly realized that the last time she roamed the halls, she was just another normal promising chemist and aspiring physicist. No powers. She’d been less cautioned then. Happier. And now, with acceptance of her father’s death beginning to wane in the wake of recent revelations, she was merely navigating day-to-day living. Her career and those she cared for kept her stable enough, but she envied the girl she once was who was more naive to life’s difficulties. Still, she convinced herself to follow through with her plans.
The lack of former classmates didn’t deter her; she had always been more adept at conversing with her instructors than with her peers. Ada received a few dubious glances at the sight of her gloves, but no one questioned her aversion to any form of close contact; she had always been an odd girl. It wasn’t until the discussion veered away from current findings circulating scientific journals to the opinions of metahumans that she began to feel entirely uncomfortable. Of which the general opinion was not in their favor. Naturally, none of them were aware that Ada had become a metahuman as well, and hearing former scholars she once idolized pompously degrade the meta class was disappointing. Some of her closest friends were metahumans. Doctor Snow, Barry, Cisco, Perenna. They didn’t deserve such distasteful things being spoken about them. At first she kept quiet, shifting and fidgeting uncomfortably and yearning for an easy exit from the conversation. However, having never been endowed with the talent of witty dialogue, there never appeared to be an appropriate time to intervene.
Ada had only just uttered the words ‘Actually Professor, I disagree…’ in her characteristic blunt and monotonous manner when she heard her name called. Turning, her expression immediately brightened at the sight of a familiar face. All traces of tension leaving from her limbs as her lips curled into a genuine smile. “Tommy Simone” she chirped. She hadn’t considered the possibility that he would be present, and had she, she might have looked forward to it much more. For how could she be anything but ecstatic to see her old friend again, her only friend rather, when she used to attend. “Carter didn’t tell me you were back in town,” she hummed. “When did you arrive? Did you get the muffins I sent? Will you stay for long?” the inquiries flowed off her tongue with more ease than she could converse with most. “I apologize, I’m rambling. How are you?”
Tommy beamed at Ada, ecstatic to be reunited with her. “Carter had no idea, I wanted to surprise him.” Tommy linked his arm with hers, narrowing his eyes at the professors who’d been badmouthing metahumans as he led her away. He chuckled as Ada asked questions, glad to be hearing her babble at him. “I only got back a few days ago, and I did get the muffins. Carter inhaled most of them, but I’m really grateful.” At her final question, Tommy hesitated. He still had unfinished business out in the world, especially after everything with Talia and his time with ARGUS. But for now, his place was here in the city.
“I don’t plan on going anywhere for a while. I need some time to just... exist? If that makes sense.” He was worried he was rambling now, but shrugged it off. “I’m good, just getting back in the swing of things. What about you? I know the woman of a thousand PHD’s must be rushed off her feet.”
