Human Lie Detector Pt. 3
{Barry x Reader}
You walked by yourself to STAR Labs, hoping to find Cisco there. You wanted to know what you'd consumed already, and you were wondering why he hadn't called Barry or you yet. You saw Cisco's and Caitlin's cars parked outside, and grinned to yourself that your trip hopefully wouldn't be a total waste.
You made your way into the big halls, heading towards the cortex when you heard Barry's voice. You stopped in your tracks, knowing eavesdropping was probably dumb, but taking the risk anyway. Wasn't Barry supposed to be at a crime scene?
"Okay, so now that he-" Barry was saying.
But Cisco cut him off, "Captain Cold."
"Captain Cold," Barry corrected himself, "Is taken care of, we need to talk about Y/N. She was very persistent that I was lying this morning when I left her, like it wasn't even her the one saying it." What was Barry doing talking about Captain Cold? Had the CCPD put him away today? But at the mention of your name, you forgot about Cold and Barry, thinking as to what Cisco might say about your weird 'condition' this morning.
"The test results should be done in exactly one minute," Cisco said, "How is she doing though?"
"Okay, I think," Barry said, "I left her at my house and told her I'd be back soon. But...
Cisco, is there any chance you could've made something that lets people know when someone else is lying?"
You knew it. You knew Barry was lying.
"In this lab, anything's possible," Cisco replied, "You're proof yourself." He was? Probably because he survived being struck by lightning after being moved here all that time ago.
"Gosh," Barry shook his head, "If that's somehow true... what do I do? Won't she figure things out?" Figure what things out? You wanted to barge in now, but decided against it, wondering if you would hear anything more useful.
"Barry," came Caitlin's calming voice, "It's alright. If she's the impossible, then it's okay if she knows that you are, too."
"I just want to protect her," Barry replied, his voice cracking. Your heart was racing, a million questions racing in your head.
"And you have," Caitlin answered.
Protect you?
"It's done," Cisco exclaimed, "It's done!" You could hear their footsteps, probably heading towards Cisco. You held your breath in anticipation of the news about yourself.
"Barry... you were right," Cisco said quietly, but just loud enough that you could hear it. "Y/N is basically a human lie detector."
"No," Barry whispered, "That's impossible."
Your heart stopped, and your fists clenched. How could this be happening?
"Apparently you are, too," you muttered, finally stepping into the cortex. The three of them turned to see you, everyone's face going white as ghosts. But it wasn't their reaction that shocked you or made your heart race again. It was finally seeing what was behind that wall they always had closed.
The Flash's suit.
They all rushed over to you, Cisco holding a clipboard of what you assumed were the results.
"Y/N," Caitlin said, "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," you said, looking straight at Barry. "So, Barry Allen, you're The Flash?" You pushed past them, admiring the red suit on a mannequin. You shook your head, turning back to look at them.
"Wh-what?" Barry stuttered, "N-no. You're a human lie detector?" You weren't sure if that last sentence was a question or an accusation.
"You're lying," you said, again your voice speaking for itself. You shook your head, your eyes started watering up. How could
Barry keep this from you for so long? That he was The Flash?
"Barry," Caitlin said softly, "It's time."
You couldn't keep your eyes off of Barry, who was apparently just as impossible as you. Barry rushed in front of you at a
super human speed, grabbing your hands in his.
"I'm... I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm The Flash." His face was twisted, like he was in pain. You certainly felt some sort of pain, a knot forming in your stomach.
"You're not lying," you whispered back. So this is what's been happening behind your back? Your best friend was a superhero? And it took you to drink black liquid that made you sick just to get him to tell you? You pulled your hands out of his, taking a step back.
You looked back at his crimson suit, shaking your head in disbelief again. Things started to make sense, though.
"Why didn't you tell me?" You asked, dropping your eyes to the ground. "Do you not trust me? Is it because I'm not like you?" Were Cisco and Caitlin metahumans, too?
"To protect you," Barry replied.
"How does that protect me?" You begged, lifting your face to him. "I just feel so lied to, Barry. But that's never going to happen again."
"Actually," Cisco chimed in, "The lie detector liquid should wear off in forty-eight hours." You bit the inside of your mouth, fighting back tears. That just made it all worse. You weren't like Barry, and you never would be. And that's why he didn't tell you everything.
"It won't happen again," Barry promised, grabbing your hands again. "Because I won't do it again. I didn't want you getting tangled up in this mess of mine. I'm sorry, Y/N. I am so sorry." He was telling the truth, and nothing but the truth. Your shoulders slumped. Did you have a right to be mad at the truth?
"I don't know what to say," you sighed, letting him lace his fingers with yours.
"How about you let me explain everything," Barry suggested, letting go of one hand but still holding the other, "Let us explain everything."
"Explain why you're The Flash?" You asked, looking down at your hand in his.
"Yes," he agreed. You looked back up at him, and then to Caitlin and Cisco.
"No more lies?" You asked.
"No more," Barry nodded, "Even after this wears off."
"You're not lying," you sighed, leaning into Barry's side. He let go of your hand, wrapping it around your waist and pulling you closer. Barry always knew how to comfort you, even when he was the one you needed comfort from. The closeness of your bodies was driving you crazy, the way you seemed to fit perfectly in his side, cradled in his arm.
"So," Barry started, "It happened the night of the particle accelerator."
"Isn't that when all of the metahuman rumors started?" You asked, knowing now that anything you asked of you'd get an honest answer.
"Yeah," Cisco said. "A lot of people were affected by the blast of it."
"And I was one of them," Barry joined in again, looking down at you. "Well, that night, I was struck by lightning, which you know. But nine months later when I woke up, I could run faster than what's possible. I woke up the fastest man alive, Y/N. And, well, Caitlin, Cisco, Dr. Wells - who is at a science conference right now - and I became a team. And I'm sorry I had to keep all of this from you."
Your eyes were watery again, thinking about how many times Barry must've put himself in danger for this city. "Gosh, Barry," you sighed, "What if I lost you? And I didn't know you were The Flash?"
"I know," he sighed, pulling you into a hug. "I'm so sorry, Y/N. I really am." He pulled away, his own eyes teary. He quickly swiped a thumb under your eye, wiping away one of your own tears. You couldn't help but wonder if everything he did was for your friendship. The closeness, the accidental sleepover, the morning kiss, keeping everything from you. It had been killing you for years. How did Barry feel? And now, you had the chance to know.
"Barry, could I... talk to you privately?" You asked, holding your hands on his arms. His hands were placed on your waist as he nodded. He took your hand again as you headed to the hall, and you wondered if he could hear your heart racing.
"Again, I'm sorry. What do you have to say, Y/N?" Barry asked, leading you down the long hall.
"I've just... I've had this question in my mind forever," you began, "And I've always been afraid of the answer. But, now, that I know whatever answer you give me is the absolute truth, I guess now is the time to ask it and get everything over with." You couldn't look into Barry's comforting eyes while you were talking, but you finally dared to after you finished. Barry was nodding, and let go of your hand to stand right in front of you.
"Barry," you sighed, "I... I like you. More than a friend. I have forever. But, I've always known about Iris... and I...." You stopped, feeling like an idiot for even bringing this up. The answer was obvious. It would always be Iris.
"I like you, too, Y/N," Barry's soft answer startled you. "I have for years. And I didn't tell you about The Flash to protect you because I'm in love with you."
You searched Barry's eyes, looking for any hint of a lie.
"What about Iris?" You asked.
"I loved her for a very long time," Barry shook his head, "But in the end, my answer is you."
Your tears started falling again hearing his words. He pulled you into a big hug, not letting go. "You're not lying," you choked out happily, pressing against him more.
"I love you, Y/N," Barry whispered against your hair. "And I'd understand if you didn't love me right now, after keeping this secret from you."
"I love you, Barry," you laughed softly into Barry's neck, wiping away your own tears. "And it only took Cisco poisoning me to get us to tell the truth."
He laughed, and you couldn't help but join in. Well, this would be quite a story to tell one day.
• • • • •
author's note | hey! i hope you enjoyed this 'human lie detector' story ;) i know it's a bit of cheesy concept, but it was so much fun to write! thank you for reading!