The extremely lager industrial shopping center wasn't very hard to spot. It was the expected supermarket that could be found around every corner of a busy city, there had been many in Starling.
Barry's rough but warm fingers found her wrist, Pippin glancing at him quickly as he did so but he didn't turn around or glance back.
"It's so I won't lose you." He explained, frowning a little as he saw the unusually large throng gathered at the entrance. He picked up a basket as they went in, immediately hitting air-conditioning.
The inside was very much like the outside, a lot of white, a lot of shine, and a lot of people.
"Why are people shopping so early in the day?"
Pippin complained, glaring at the tenth person to bump her shoulder. Barry glanced down at her, only smiling before he continued to tug her away from the entrance.
After that, she was jerked, shaken, jostled, and almost crushed, nine more times. The twentieth person to bump her managed to smash her against Barry's back which ended up in Barry physically holding Pippin back from accosting a young man that was much taller than her and completely oblivious to the fact Pippin even existed or was on the edge of physically accosting him.
"I can go beat him up if you want. The camera's won't even see it." Barry glared at the man who was now disappearing from view.
"As nice as that sounds, I don't think we should risk it." Pippin fixed her sweater, rubbing her shoulder that was now bruised from all the times people had managed to bump into it.
Sending one more glare in the man's direction, Pippin continued with Barry, who had draped his arm over her shoulder in efforts to ward anyone who was even thinking of smashing into Pippin off.
"Where to now?" Barry asked, facing Pippin who was plastered against his side as she eyed every newcomer that came within ten inches of her, warily.
"Lead on, Barry. You know this place better than I do."
He nodded, his thumb stroking her shoulder absent-mindedly as he focused on avoiding a few kids who had jumped in front of the both of them.
Pippin smiled a little and leaned into his side the very slightest.
But slight enough for Barry to notice.
"Vegetables, my favorite."
The produce section was the less congested so Barry had opted for that section first.
"It all looks so healthy and bland." Pippin murmured under her breath, wrinkling her nose at the artichoke hearts.
"We don't have to get artichoke." Barry chuckled, shooting Pippin an amused look.
She sighed in relief, watching Barry go for the cucumbers instead.
"That's a lot of cucumbers." Pippin stated, raising her eyebrows at Barry who only shrugged sheepishly.
"I have to make five salads to fill me up, completely."
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"I could always sacrifice my vegetables for the sake of your wellbeing." She commented, wryly, Barry shooting her a look.
She made a gagging noise as he reached for brussel sprouts and dropped them in the basket.
"Is there any vegetable you do like?" Barry teased, placing a few squashes into the basket.
"Carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, kale, and potatoes. The rest I tolerate because I don't want diabetes." Pippin shot back, smirking at Barry who simply gave her another of his looks.
"I mostly buy the greens for Joe. He's turned into somewhat of a health nut." He struggled with a handful of leeks, trying to get them into a bag until Pippin neatly took them from his hand, deposited them in plastic, and had it inside the basket before Barry could protest.
"Faster than me." He mumbled, holding Pippin's eyes for a second before taking the self-appointed task of carrying the basket.
"I need eggs." He mumbled, absent-mindedly searching the aisles for said product.
"Maybe in dairy?" Pippin suggested, Barry nodding in agreement as they started to walk again.
"Fast metabolism." Barry reminded, chuckling a little as Pippin watched him stuff five egg cartons into his basket.
"We're gonna need a bigger basket." Pippin added, Barry smiling as he caught the reference.
"I'll grab a cart and you grab the milk?"
She arched an eyebrow at him.
"No powers." He reassured, shooting her a grin before he walked off.
Pippin glanced at the milk, deciding three gallon jugs would suffice. She studied the rest of the aisle, wondering what else Barry might need. Her eyes landed on stranger who was studying her with curious eyes. As soon as their eyes met, the stranger averted her eyes, looking away from Pippin and focusing on her jar of yogurt.
Pippin furrowed her brow in confusion just as Barry pulled up with a cart. He glanced at Pippin who was still examining the unknown woman and took the dairy products out of her hands.
"Earth to Pippin." He waved a hand in front of her face, chuckling a little as she blinked, glancing up at him.
"Did you say something?" She asked, studying his smiling face for a second.
"What were you looking at that was so interesting?" His eyes followed her gaze and landed on the stranger.
"Iris?" He called, pulling the cart and Pippin in her direction. Pippin put two and two together, figuring out this was the girl from Barry's house as they hugged.
Iris blinked expectantly at Pippin who managed a smile.
"I'm Pippin Hart, Felicity's cousin."
Confusion was still apparent in the dark-skinned girl so she looked to Barry for more answers.
"Pippin's the one I told you about. She's staying with Joe and I." Barry smiled at her before turning back to Pippin.
"The fridge has been low since your dad's been gone and Pippin decided to join me."
Iris nodded, studying Pippin closely as Barry continued his explanation.
"So are you two staying in the same room? Or?"
Barry's cheeks tinged pink while Pippin stared at Iris, wondering if she was serious.
"I'm sleeping on the couch, Iris." He coughed, uncomfortably, shooting an apologetic look Pippin's way.
Iris looked smug at how easily she embarrassed Barry which made Pippin's lip twitch slightly in annoyance.
"Of course you are." She smirked at Barry, then dropped a few things into her cart.
"Well, I should probably continue with my errands. I left the new roommate alone in the apartment." Iris cleared her throat, trying too hard to smile.
Barry patted her shoulder, a far-off look in his eye that he quickly shook off.
"Why don't you two come over? Pippin and I have the house all to ourselves." He glanced over her way, smiling at her before continuing.
"Maybe a Sunday movie night?"
Iris nodded, all traces of sadness leaving her face almost instantly.
"Perfect, I'll be around at eight-ish. Pizza's on me."
Pippin brightened up, gazing admiringly in Iris' direction.
"Hopefully we'll be able to get to know each other better." Iris smiled, abruptly giving Pippin a hug she didn't expect.
"See you two tonight." Iris winked at Barry, who cleared his throat, loudly, before she disappeared down the next aisle.
"You're right. She's super nice." Pippin informed Barry who seemed proud of himself.
"You wanna pick the movie?" He glanced at her while he pushed the cart steadily.
"Are you sure you want me to? My taste in movies isn't that feminine." Pippin's mind wandered to the last movie she watched.
Which was very bloody and very much an action movie. Barry looked surprised then made a face.
"Just pick out an extra-cheesy chick flick and we'll be good." They both shuddered at the same time, both turning towards each other.
"We'll watch the action movie after they leave."
A smile grew on Pippin's lips as she shot Barry an admiring look.
"I'm liking you already, Barry Allen."