Harrison Wells (Eobard Thawne) x Reader - The Downfall Of The Reverse Flash (3/3)
*A/N: The picture/edit/gif does not belong to me. It belongs to its rightful owner.
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***I’d also like to thank @grimtamlain-writes for being my beta reader.
Word Count: 3577
MASTERLIST
Part 1 Part 2
The speedster narrowed his eyes at the object that sat in the formal living room. Eobard threw a look of daggers as he stepped closer to the instrument. It was midday when his fingers lightly dragged on the grand piano’s ivory keys, not a sound was made from them. The flap to the grand piano was open, allowing anyone that passed by it to observe the strings and hammers as they danced to create such harmonic tones under a skilled touch. A breath left Eobard as he pressed down on a key; F natural of the tenor-bass octaves. He loathed the instrument, yet here it was in front of him. His mind wandered, remembering the first time he had played – Eobard had fallen in love with classical music. Certain pieces of Bach and Tchaikovsky relaxed Eobard as he progressed expertly with his studies of astrophysics and quantum mechanics at such a young age. The genius’ parents didn’t bat an eye at the pieces he’d perform for them such as Flight of The Bumblebee by Korsakov, so the child genius put down the case of the grand piano.
What was the point in keeping up with the notes?
The speedster had a hand in his jacket pocket as the hand that lightly drummed on the keys pushed the next key over, E flat this time. It was no secret that Eobard’s grandmother loved him. She had been the one that would check up on how he was doing in his studies. Grandmother Carina was the one who had coaxed him into playing once more, she simply adored the pieces he’d perform for her – he’d play at every family function she was present at. The child relished in that proud smile his grandmother would show him. She adored Eobard when he was a child, giving him the love his mother and father only showed Robern. Robern was… The dark-haired man frowned; he couldn’t really remember his brother anymore. Whether that was a good thing or not, Eobard shrugged it off; his brother’s existence didn’t matter to him. When Eobard’s grandmother had passed, he found himself broken and unable to stand the notes on the pages propped up by the grand piano’s stand. The one family member that believed in him, who didn’t sneer in his direction for being gifted or send envious eyes his way, had left him for the next world. He was utterly alone again. Eobard remembered the indifference in his mother’s eulogy, the emotions of sadness were feigned on her face, but they never reached her eyes. A look he was all too well aware of as she’d do the same with such fake smiles and masked happiness at his award ceremonies that she’d rather not attend with her husband. Her mother had died, and all Eobard saw in his mother’s demeanor was ‘Good riddance, she did more harm than good’. He recalled being invited at the age of nine to join the Central City Orchestra – the then child prodigy declined. It wouldn’t have wavered the hearts of his parents; they still had looked at him with cruel disappointment. There was no love in their hearts for Eobard, just Robern.
“Eo,” the soft voice pulled the speedster out of his thoughts, blinking for a moment before turning back to the direction of the voice. You stood at the doorway, a hand resting on the frame as your curious eyes met his. The genius imposter pressed his lips to a thin line as you came up to him, his eyes wouldn’t meet yours. You glanced at the piano right as he had retracted his hand to clench and unclench it a few times. “Do you know how to play?”
“Not like I used to.”
“Oh, I doubt that.”
“Do you now?” Eobard remarked, raising an eyebrow at you as he pressed down on another key hesitantly, D natural. You liked the sound of that octave’s note, it pleased your ears.
“Did something happen?”
“How do you know something happened?
“Because I know you, Eo. You’re feeling tense and moving a bit rigidly.” You fiddled with your hand when silence flooded the room, his eyes were on the instrument again. Placing a hand on his upper arm, you gave it a little squeeze before you started speaking, “If… you don’t want to tell me, that’s ok, when you’re ready we can talk. I’m here to listen. And if it’s something you’d rather keep to yourself, that’s also ok.” You didn’t expect an answer right away from the villain, instead maneuvering your body to head to the door. Caitlin had texted you earlier to grab some things for the lab because Cisco and Barry ate all the snacks because she was missing some supplies and the lounge fridge was running low on food.
Eobard grabbed your hand gently before you could leave, leading you to the piano to take a seat before he sat beside you. Not yet, he’d tell you, but just not yet. There were too many thoughts going on in his mind – too many critical voices he had suppressed that were threatening to come back. He just needed your presence to repel them back into nothing. You watched the dark-haired man carefully, noting how he wouldn’t meet your gaze as his fingers expertly positioned themselves on the ivory keys. The speedster thought for a moment, the tips of his fingers padded the keys lightly. A few notes bounced in the air as his mind processed what he’s about to do. Could he be able to play again? If he could, what would he play? His mind mulled over the music compositions in his head but kept drawing blanks. Was he even as skilled as he was all those years ago? From the corner of his eye, he saw you observe him with that perplexed glimmer in your eyes. Taking in a breath, the speedster’s fingers started to move at a gentle pace.
You kept your hands folded in your lap, seeing the calm focus and just shutting your eyes for a brief moment. Each note made your skin crawl, but in a good way. The notes weren’t ominous, but they weren’t light or bouncy as some pieces can be. It was… just right. Familiar. Had you heard this somewhere before? Raking your brain, you couldn’t figure out where you’d heard such tunes, but you loved the Frisson effect it had on your being. A feeling of Frisson - The phenomenon of chills or goosebumps that come from a piece of music (or from any other aesthetic experience). It was not a peculiar feeling to you.
“What classical piece was that?”
“It’s not as classical as you’d think,” Eobard responded, fingers twitching – a little sore from not playing after all these years. “It’s by Yiruma, River Flows In You. It was the piece that was playing at the gala that night; the second time I had met you that month.” You remembered that night vividly. It had been the second time you met Harrison, but you hadn’t learned his secret yet – no, that incident would be revealed a few months into Barry Allen’s coma. Actually, you hadn’t known who Harrison Wells was until said man spooked you while Cisco was giving you a tour of the labs for your orientation as you were a new hire and he had felt burnt out from his current project with Ronnie. You had applied to STAR Labs along with Mercury Labs and other medical facilities in the city before moving. When you had moved, you were so preoccupied with all the boxes and furniture to be placed in your apartment that you hadn’t had the time to really explore the city except for bumping into a strange and clumsy-looking man on your way to a coffee shop called Jitters. That awkward stranger would become a beacon of hope for Central City. But that was a reminiscing story for another time.
You rested your head against his shoulder, feeling him press a kiss on the top of your head and wrapping an arm around you. “Why me?” You whispered as he pulled you closer to himself.
“Hm?”
The speedster planted another kiss, this time on the crown of your head before breathing you in for a moment.“That night – why did you choose me? Why did you include an invitation with the application acceptance letter?” You knew he knew of Caitlin and Cisco’s future development of powers, more of a reason to keep them close as well as understanding that their skill set, and expertise would assist in creating Team Flash. In doing so, there would be some hesitation in fighting the villain who they’d grown so close to. Obviously with this timeline there could be delays, but it seemed that Caitlin hadn’t been affected at all by the dark matter in triggering Killer Frost’s awakening, except the speedster had an inkling about Cisco should the conditions be right. Eobard had yet to see what would become of the mechanical engineer as his power would be something to be wary of, especially with the closeness that he’s developed between Barry and Joe. Joe was not someone to be trifled with, he’s a detective and as such he’s very good at his job.
“If you’re asking if I knew who you’d become in the future, then no. There was no trace of who you’d become. There was no mention of anyone who can manipulate or alter carbon molecules in the textbooks I studied. You were neither hero nor villain.” You were just a normal person that hadn’t fallen to Barry’s code of heroes with the others. You nodded at his words as he took in a breath, his arm that was wrapped around you dropped to now hold your hand. Raising your head, your eyes met his gaze as you intertwined your fingers together. “As for the invitation, I was curious as to who you’d be exactly. That day you ran into me at Jitters and all the coffee that was spilled, your file was the first application of many that I opened up that morning. I didn’t know your name or who you were. But when I opened that file, I had a name to a face and my gut pushed me to hire you for the clinical position. You would be the one that my scientists would turn to for any injuries. You had the right qualifications and experience.” There was just something about the fire in your eyes that pulled me in when we had the coffee incident. I couldn’t pass you up to another facility, not when I felt that spark when your hand grazed mine. It wasn’t any ‘romantic’ spark, it was a legitimate spark – a response from the Negative Speed Force.
“And the gala?”
“What? You act like you weren’t happy to see me,” he sent you a teasing grin to which you rolled your eyes at. It was that same teasing look the night he pulled you away from that couple that tried to harass you at the masquerade gala.
“How’d you know it was me?”
“You could say that fate pulled our strings together.”
“Hm, this is coming from the same elusive man who’s like ‘Fate is tricky’ and ‘there will be a reckoning’ or ‘my goals are beyond your understanding’,” you retorted, mocking his words and trying to imitate him with those phrases he’s said before.
“… I was looking for you.”
“You wanted to spook me, didn’t you?”
“Innocent until proven guilty, my little bird.” It goes without saying that the night at the charity gala didn’t go without any… dilemmas. Eilling was lurking around eyeing Harrison’s person of interest, someone he wanted to use to cripple Eobard’s house of cards, but the general would ultimately fail for ever crossing lines to use you to get to the genius speedster. What goes around will come around. Eobard wouldn’t let anyone lay a hand on you and Eilling, for what he had done months ago, would pay the price. For now, he had to deal with Hartley Rathaway and his personal vendetta against Harrison Wells, who cast him out like the lowly pawn that he was at the time. It was essential, another foe for The Flash coming to life.
“Eo?”
“Yes, my love?”
“I’d love it if you could play for me again,” You simply smiled, the feelings of warmth reached his face as you kissed his lips sweetly before moving to get up. “Now come on, we’re needed at the labs. Cisco and Barry finished all the snacks again.”
*** End Flashback ***
And I had…
The ex-speedster eyed the other side of his cell as he sat on his cot that remained by the wall. The cold, unforgiving concrete pressed against his back, he ignored the shiver that ran down his spine. Eobard exhaled through his nostrils; his icy blue eyes narrowed at the glass on the other side of where his cot was placed. Beyond the glass was darkness and Eobard can only draw up a few guesses on what lay on the other side. ARGUS surveyed his every movement just as it does with the other inmates, but unlike his imprisonment in Iron Heights – for the speedster had no powers to pose a threat but to count his days until his looming extinction. However, he noticed that he was monitored visually and not through auditory means. There were no windows in the cell and once the doors were shut, the locks were reinforced three times over. Once by passcode, a second by an eye scan, and a third by an ARGUS high ranking official card. Such maximum security for a man like me, how endearing. Lyla and Diggle were the ones to see the ex-speedster into his cell, throwing disgusted and hostile glances his way, but he didn’t spare them any words other than ensuring your safety in recovery. Eobard’s brain was already at work right as he set foot into his respective cell.
The villain held his breath once the muffled noises of turning locks and the creaking door broke the silence in the air, alerting the lithe man. Light filtered into the dark cell beyond the glass from the doorway, the automatic light turned on in the opposite cell right as Eobard shifted up and off his bed. Beyond the glass was another cell, fully illuminated and mirrored exactly like his. “My love,” the villain whispered to himself as his eyes widened in relief and his heart squeezed tightly in his chest. He took a few steps closer to the glass as the dark-haired man watched your tired form meander into the cell, gritting his teeth when the guards shoved you further into the cell and onto the ground. Your clothes hung a bit loosely on your body, your face was gaunt, and your eyes didn’t twinkle with fire as they used to – instead they directed such malice towards your captives. You had been taken to ARGUS’ medical unit right when arriving at ARGUS with the agents that had swarmed the Speed Lab, your body had begun to spasm from the two speedster tranquilizers Iris had shot you with. That was a month weeks ago; it had taken that long for your body to stabilize and rehabilitate – every second felt like an eternity without you even with the absence of his speed. Eobard’s surprised Lyla had mercy on you to give you such a period of time to recuperate. The guards unlocked your meta-cuffs before shutting you in, his heart stung at the sunken expression from the side profile of your face. Your shoulders sagged, a breath leaving you as you caught sight of him and the glass. The glass that separated him from you and you from him – so far and yet out of reach. Approaching the glass, Eobard mirrored your movements until his hand was the first to press against the cool material, palm pressed down against it as his gaze met yours. With lips pressed thinly, you moved your shaky hands to rest against his, a little glimmer of light flickering behind your eyes as if you two can finally touch.
“I miss you,” You finally spoke up in a whisper, not knowing if he’d be able to hear you or not. Eobard’s insides twisted at seeing you after so long.
“I miss you too,” your fiancé licked his lips, noticing that they hadn’t confiscated your ring. The questioning scrutiny in his eyes made you nod in response, sending him a sign that said that you ‘weren’t 100% in tip-top health, but I'm managing with what I can at the moment’. “You don’t know how much I want to have you in my arms.”
“Trust me, I know,” you moved your hand away from where his larger hand was against the glass, your neck aching for you to crack it. Eobard retracted his hand, folding them behind him and standing resolutely. Your eyes raked over every detail of your villainous murder speed husband ex-speedster, his hair had dulled but there was that intelligent and cunning spark to his eyes even if he didn’t have his speed. Eobard Thawne’s mind was an enigma to behold and his ambitions were a force to be reckoned with. “I want you to hear you play when we get back,” you added on before cracking your neck and sitting on the ground. Your legs were aligned to the glass as Eobard moved to sit by the glass as well, across from you. Once again, the two of you mirrored each other in your respective cells. The irony – one could say two sides of the same coin.
“Your wish is my command, my love.”
“Can they hear us?” You sent a subtle look to the cameras on his side. Four, one in every corner of his cell; you can assume it was the same for yours too.
“No, from what I can observe they only seem to visually monitor us – ARGUS has been struggling with certain funds from the government for dealing with some of… our other inmates. We technically aren’t on their top priority list even if Barry willed it. I’m a no longer a speedster and you’re supposed to be incapacitated.” A low chuckle escaped Eobard’s lips, as he cocked an eyebrow at you. “How could we ever escape?” You understood the look he gave, ‘play along’ - it was all part of his elaborate plan.
“That doesn’t mean we won’t have some trouble on the way out.”
“You’re very right, my little bird,” Eobard remarked, eyes flickering to the ceiling of his room then to yours. He noted the vibrant blue hue that resided on the outline of the ceiling of the cell. Meta-dampeners in place. “But that doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be anything short of fun.” You rolled your eyes at your fiancé’s words, you but couldn’t deny the little smile that adorned your face as his smirk turned into a small grin. Placing a hand over your chest, it felt like the second tranquilizer was still there - still debilitating your ability to think and breathe. You narrowed your eyes at the ground, the phantom pain echoed in your body even if the serum was fully extricated from you.
“I was out for about a month…”
“And I hated every moment of it.”
“Did you play nice?” you remarked, sending the dark-haired man a teasing smile.
“I did it with you in mind.”
“Judging by the structure of the facility and the lack of windows on this level, I think we’re underground. Lyla had been with me, I think she feels a bit sorry for me.” Team Flash and the other heroes may think that you were under Eobard’s thumb, under his direction and influence - just another pawn, but they were sadly mistaken. Eobard may come up with the plans, but he runs them all through you and you’re the one to play devil’s advocate. The two of you acted in sync, as equals. The queen was just as strong and smart as the king. You’re the Black Queen in this game of chess and your power would not be limited by such. Breathing in, you felt every bit of carbon molecule that lingered in ARGUS from your cell, licking your lips. “I can see everything.”
“Don’t strain yourself now, you’re still recovering.”
“I’ll be fine, I just need some sleep.”
There will be a reckoning.
Their first mistake was locking Eobard up in a technologically advanced facility like ARGUS. Their second mistake was imprisoning you with the ex-speedster, allowing you to walk the halls with the guards guiding you to your containment cell where you eyed every structure that you passed. Their third mistake was having your cell right beside his, only a thick wall of glass separating you two and with no means to have any auditory surveillance. Their fourth mistake was continuing their assumption of your powers, ‘shadows’ rarely lingered in your room. But your power wasn’t umbra-based as you had misled ARGUS, misled Barry and Team Flash for years. And their fifth mistake? That they underestimated the layered plan that further moved intricately in Eobard’s mind. The layered plan that had been put into motion the moment the villain set foot in Central City Precinct while you sat on the balcony railings to watch your fiance’s theatricals.
I am always one step ahead, Flash.
