[ 😬

Sighs. ]

"Found" as in you stumbled upon from a great distance?

Or "found" as in he harassed you?

[ Barry may be a baby Flash at this point, but even he understands that those who are familiar with him must know that wherever he goes, his shadow follows him. Thawne is a fixed point in Barry's story. He's also a pain in the ass. What's he done? ]

Where are you?

[ lbr it's quicker Barry comes to him. ]

[ Streaks of golden kinetic lightning brighten the streets. Within three minutes, Barry's scaled the side of Wayne Tower and skids to a halt along its roof, assuming that that's where Damian is. (He seems like a roof kind of guy.) His Converse shoes still smoke, but at least it's not as bad as it had been in the labyrinth.

Seeing Damian's scratched up face, Barry instantly frowns. ]

Did he do that to you?

[ Seems a little out of character, in all honesty. Thawne prefers his scarring to be psychological. ]

[ It does irritate Barry that Thawne's tugging on people's pigtails. He could do it to a stranger and still get under Barry's skin. But he spares them both that admission. Damian doesn't want it, and Barry's not keen on being seen as trying to placate someone who seems allergic to a lot of his mannerisms.

He draws his brows together. It's all business for him now. ]

What do you know about the Reverse Flash?

I don't know what Batman knows.

[ tbf!!!

Barry sighs, his shoulders sagging. Crossing his arms against his chest, he immediately undoes them, keeping one slung around himself as he rubs at his chin. He thinks to tell Damian Zoom killed his dad, but how important is Henry Allen's death in the grand scheme of things? ]

He keeps telling me about Flashpoint. I don't know what that is yet.

[ Does he have a plan? No. Barry Allen does not come to Damian Wayne with a plan. What's the point? While he hasn't spent years chasing after and running from Thawne yet, he's learned quickly that many plans are best unmade regarding his arch-enemy. ]

We have a deal. I think it benefits him if he keeps his word.

[ Thawne has no one here but Barry; they both know it. ]

There are cells in S.T.A.R. Labs. He can be confined in one if I can get them up and running. [ He can't help his heavy exhale. ] We've done it before.

[ Just one error?

Barry's not quick enough (ha) to stop himself from cocking his brow in surprise. It's strange to him how this boy acts so grown when he should… what? Be interested in playing hopscrotch instead? He's one of the few people here who's offered him some sort of alliance. Is he really going to second guess it because the kid's a kid? ]

Did you want a lift or…?

[ Is he going to find his own way there? ]

Okay.

[ At least Barry waits until Damian's near the door leading into the tower before he takes off at superspeed, down the side of the Tower and on his way to S.T.A.R. Labs.

—Where he can be outside the main entrance, leaning against the doorframe with a burrito and coffee in hand. What? He's hungry. Damian's slow. Even in a supercharged car, everything will always be slow to Barry Allen. ]

I was going to get you one, but I figured you wouldn't be fond of a cold burrito.

[ Slowpoke. ]

[ Liar!

Of course, Barry takes it in stride. Taking a big bite of his burrito - ]

Do you want one now? It'll only take a second.

[ Is he stalling? Yes, he's stalling. He's also being polite (and he's a little hungry after having to wait… twenty or so minutes, nevermind the fact he still has his burrito to eat). ]

[ That's just… plain rude. Okay! Fine. He'll continue to eat his burrito as he takes a brief (Flash time) moment to scrutinise Damian. The kid looks okay. He was walking okay. The scowl and general air of superiority feels normal. He's okay. Good.

Barry cocks his head. ]

Come on.

[ Twirling on his foot, he turns and opens the door to the building. (He opens doors very well, even if he's never really opened the door to S.T.A.R. Labs in a long time. He kind of usually just runs through?) ]

The Pipeline's on one of the top floors. [ idk which ] I can take you there, but I have a feeling you'd want to have a look around.

[ The foyer of the lab is gigantic. Its floors are spotless, its counters sterile. There's nothing that really stands out, other than its cleanliness. Barry's been keeping it clean since finding it in Etraya, wanting it to be so spotless one can see their reflection in the linoleum floor and the cream walls. There's no Flash regalia in sight. It's a boring foyer for a boring building. ]

[ Walk and talk. That's easy. Barry feels the need to move, so walking helps shrug away the need to fidget. ]

We imprison our metas here.

[ It sounds… so odd, saying it aloud. Generally everyone on Team Flash simply knows what it's for. They've only really spoken about the Pipeline's use a few times. Whatever! Damian doesn't seem like the type to judge. ]

The ones who are dangerous. [ An important correction! ] The cells have meta power dampeners in them, so anyone with super strength can't break out and someone who can teleport just keeps finding themselves blocked.

[ As he approaches the nearest elevator, he presses the button firmly and steps back, waiting for the lift to appear from wherever the fuck it is in this enormous building.

He clears his throat - ]

We held the Reverse Flash in one. He couldn't break out.

I… don't think he knew how.

[ Granted… Thawne has always prioritised taunting him over anything else. Did he know how to break out? It's unfortunate Barry isn't from a few years from now where he knows he, Barry, can break out of the pipeline. ]

If he did, he'd gloat. This Thawne loves [ (derogatory emphasis) ] to gloat about how much he knows and how little I do. I think it's his one other skill aside from being obnoxious.

[ The elevator stops and groans, and the doors silently open. Barry gestures for Damian to go in first. Guests before, well… whatever Barry is tot his place! ]