HR Wells (Flash) Chapter 18
Barry wasn’t fully convinced that this woman wasn’t a threat, so he stayed on guard. Right now she was staying at Star Labs until you could leave. Presently, she’s seated in the med area, eyes staring at the wall. HR knocks at the door and her gaze turns.
“Heya! Thought you might be hungry.”
He placed the big belly burger bag down with a smile. She shifted a bit uneasily.
She wasn’t blind, they were all a bit stiff around her, except for you and now HR.
“Aren’t you afraid of me?”
“I could never be afraid of you.” She means to call him out on a lie, but the way his eyes convey so much fondness, it’s hard to do.
“I’m not her, you know. We may be doppelgangers, but we’re vastly different. “
“You’re still (Y/N).”
She looks down at her feet.
“You know she might die. They aren’t weak like the beings in this dimension. “
“I know that.” He removed his hat.
“I’m afraid that I’ll lose her.”
He knew he wouldn’t be able to talk you out of it. Now more than ever you would be driven to go. You felt responsible for the pain your other half was now feeling. You relate with it. Her eyes mark everything.
“Harrison.” The use of his name is a bit strange. No one had called him Harrison in years. He moves closer at the gesture she makes. When she holds out a hand to shake, he senses no ill intentions. It’s almost like an invitation. HR wears a smile, reaching and taking her hand. When their palms touch, his eyes widen.
“HR.”
Your call catches his attention. He turns, and you walk inside.
“I’m pretty much packed for tomorrow. The sooner we leave the better. “
This is the goodbye he’s been dreading. You stare at your doppelganger, and HR eyes shift as she lays on the bed, turning her back to the both of you. You get the message, walking outside as you slide the door close. Both you and HR head towards the speed lab where pretty much everyone else is conversing. When you get there, Barry’s straightens.
“How is she doing?”
“As good as you can expect. My plan had been to stay here a few more days, but I think I’ll be leaving tomorrow. This threat is more dangerous than we realize. I can’t risk any more of them jumping through here. We need to take the fight to them. Cisco, is everything ready?”
“I’m vibing and ready to go, just say when. “
That’s one less thing to worry about.
“HR while I’m gone I’d really like it if you could-”
“I’m going with you.”
Your brows knit.
Harry folds his arms, and Caitlin sends him a sympathetic look.
“HR, you can’t. We have no idea how the atmosphere there will affect you. (Y/N) has her ring, that may be the one thing that can stand universal changes. “
You know he’s scared. So are you. But you can’t risk him going there.
“I know how you feel, HR, trust me.”
“You have no idea how I feel. “
This time, it’s different. His tone, his expression.
“I love you. I’m in love with you. I’d die for you (Y/N).” You let out a breath, swallowing at the purpose in his voice.
“I’m going with you.” HR opens his palm, and you’re stunned at the brilliant pink glow that emits from the ring in his hand. Everyone is just as taken. You gasp.
“H-HR where did you..”
“He has all the prerequisites for a lantern.”
Your doppelganger steps out from the hallway.
“I thought I imagined it when we first met. That glow in his eyes. The light I sensed when he was near you. It’s not a coincidence. He’s the same as my Harrison. He has the same need to protect you. The one I’ve always held for my husband. “
She no longer has a ring on her finger, and suddenly it makes sense.
“I’m done fighting. I think the reason I was brought here wasn’t for revenge. I suppose the universe knew this battle was over for me. The same way it knows there’s one waiting for the both of you. A fight only you two can stop.” She shoves her hands in her pockets.
“I can’t make up for all the lives I took with some twisted ideal of love, but I know that I can do this. You’re meant to do great things, I knew it the moment I saw both of you.” She turns to you.
“Don’t make the same mistake I did. Let him fight by your side, not from the sidelines. If things get too hairy, I’ll be there. You know how to call me Harrison.” She turns her wrist, and the ring in his hand gives a slow pulse. She smiles.
“Don’t go getting killed, otherwise I’ll hunt you down myself. “
That’s the last thing she says before she flicks her wrist. You don’t see much, she steps through what looks like an invisible wall. In a matter of seconds, she’s gone. You can’t do much more than gape.
“Well damn, you’re a lantern too. I could use one of those snazzy rings.”
Cisco reached for the ring, plucking it from HR’s hand. The second HR is no longer holding it, the light vanishes. Cisco turns it, inspecting it carefully.
“Huh.”
He hands it back to HR, and the light returns with a vengeance. HR looks almost hypnotized.
Barry and Caitlin wear a small smile.
“I guess there isn’t much of a choice. You were chosen, HR.”
You’d like to deny it, but it seems true. You’d been so hell bent on protecting everyone that you forgot that HR was feeling just as helpless. His pleading eyes turn on you.
“Please, let me fight with you.”
At this point he’s begging. You take his hands, nodding.
“Alright.”
HR’s face lights up immediately, and he hugs you so tightly. You return it, burying your face into his shoulder.
Sometimes you needed to remind yourself that you didn’t have to do it all on your own.
You had friends.
Family.