“Shoot your shot, Barry!”

Into.

Jesus... he really needs to stop looking forward to crime scenes.

Now that sounds morbid as hell, doesn’t it?

But it’s not what it sounds like—well, mostly not. Barry loves his job. Forensics, evidence, puzzles... it’s his thing. The science, the thrill of solving what others can’t—that’s the stuff that makes him tick.

But lately, there’s been another reason he gets a little too excited to show up to work.

You.

When you first started working at the station, it threw him completely off his game. You weren’t just smart—you were sharp, the kind of sharp that makes you dangerous in the best way. And sure, you were easy on the eyes (okay, more than easy—downright breathtaking), but it wasn’t just that. You were kind, too. You actually cared about the people behind the reports and the crime scenes.

And when you dropped by his lab for updates? Oh boy. That’s when he really lost it.

You’d talk about case details, sure, but somehow it always slipped into real conversations—your shared love for weird food combos, your favorite comics, or that talk you had about second chances and redemption. Barry’s heart might as well have had your name written all over it.

The teasing at the precinct hasn’t exactly been subtle. Everyone’s noticed the way he turns into a human golden retriever the second you’re in the room. But for once, Barry doesn’t care. He’s always been the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve—and he’s not about to stop now.

So this morning, he’s got a plan.

Step one: grab coffee from that café you mentioned liking.

Step two: casually stroll over to your desk like he’s not totally panicking inside.

Step three: slide the coffee over, chat for a bit, and then—

Bam.

Ask you out.

Simple, right?

He exhales, running a hand through his hair and staring at the coffee cup like it holds the answers to the universe.

“Okay, Barry,” he mutters. “You got one shot. Don’t screw this up.”

And with that, Central City’s fastest man heads off—not to chase a criminal this time, but maybe, just maybe, to catch a heart.