everyonelives | as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[It doesn't take long for him to get an answer. One ring, two rings, and Barry's bright voice appears on the other end of the line.]

Hey, William. Everything okay?

( It's still bright for William as he holds a hand above his forehead and takes two steps into the shade. )

Uncle Barry, hey! It's - yeah. Kind of. Mia and I are in Central City with a few friends. And, the FBI is going to be meeting us because there's this list out on the internet and -- long story short, I joined up with a group that helps the supernatural and Mia is supernatural, and we're all on that list, us, our friends, but it's going to take more than just me to take it down. And I was wondering if I could borrow Star Labs. If me and the FBI can... borrow Star Labs. Also, if you have time, we'd love to see you. Did I mention we're on a clock?

Yeah, of course.

[The answer comes without hesitation, because his lab is William's lab, always. It takes him a second to take in the rest of the information and figure out what else he had to offer.]

I could get Chester on it too. Three hands are better than two, right?

( He loves you, Uncle Barry. )

Yeah, if he's available. The faster we can get this database down, the safer everyone will feel.

( And while the damage won't be done, the repetitious danger they could be in might be. People move in. )

We're out a rest stop outside of Central City, so, can we meet you there in a half an hour? We have ... a pretty big group. And my boyfriend.

A boyfriend.

[He had not heard about a boyfriend, this is totally new-to-Barry information.]

Does your dad know about this boyfriend, or is this information that Oliver doesn't need to know?

Oliver will know, but when I tell him -- when we're on his doorstep. We're all on our way to Star City. This list dropped in the middle of our road trip. You get first meeting.

( Behind Mia, of course, and that was -- something else. )

Lucky me.

[He will keep his mouth shut to Oliver then. It probably won't be long, and honestly Oliver will have bigger things to worry about. Until then:]

I'll have Iris make up some rooms for you guys too, so you have somewhere to crash.

[He doesn't know how long this is going to take but better they get some good sleep before they hit the road again.]

It's me, Mia, Cooper, his best friend and Cooper's dad. You have room for five of us?

( But, yes, he'd like to not turn around and jump back on the road. He needs Barry time! )

[The narration is going to assume at this point that Barry and Iris have traded in their loft for a house, especially when they started having kids.]

The kids are out of town. We could put Mia in Nora's room, and you and your boyfriend in Bart's - that still leaves the guest room and the couch, so yeah. We can make that work.

[And, because speedsters, directly on the heels of those words is a text from Bart: Please don't bang your boyfriend in my bedroom. Not that I expect you to, because you're a polite, reasonable person, but apparently some of Nora's friends need that spelled out for them.]

( The narration following concurs. He puts Barry on speaker as he reads the message. )

We'll keep it strictly PG. )

News really does travel fast in your family.

[Barry laughs, because he can guess the reason why.]

Yeah, well, when you've got quick fingers, texting is a little too efficent.

[Bart responds with a gif, and leaves it at that. Second gen hero time will be planned for the next time they're all in one place, but that's something for when things are less hectic.]

Quick fingers is like an understatement.

( He laughs and switches back off speaker. )

So, you can meet us at Star Labs?

( Meanwhile, should Cooper and his father return from their foraging, Cooper might notice Mickey's not back from... wherever he went. )

["Yeah, I'll see you there. Drive safe, okay?"

And with that, Barry will hang up and go to hunt down a third hacker for this project.

Cooper does notice that, and he passes off his bags to his dad and steps back.]

Forgot something. I'll be right back.

[Sullivan thinks nothing of it (3 vs. 2 lmao), and nods, giving Cooper a chance to swing around and see if he can spot his friend (13).]

( Cooper catches sight of the end of a familiar green coat around two corners, but he the coat slips out of view. Listen check, Coop. )

[That is a (4) as he totally follows Mickey's shoulders around the corner, totally unprepared for whatever he's walking into.]

( As Cooper rounds the corner he sees a young man standing close to Mickey.

"Kinky."

Mickey doesn't look as if that was his aim, so his hands come to the young guy's shoulders. He tries again (1) gaze intense, head shaking a bit as he TRIES too hard. )

Don't move.

( The guy's (3) keeps him interested, but he's more confused than anything. Even amused.

"Right. I'm not. Do you want me to close my eyes, too?"

The young man's hand comes to his front zipper, trying to move this along.

Mickey is just failing at compulsion, Cooper. )

[And with an (18), he actually catches on to that, but none of this is a situation he wants to be in so he just turns around and stumbles back.]

Wow. Sorry about that. I ... sorry. Carry on.

[He knows what the person being compelled thinks is happening, and he knows what is actually happening and he's just going to ... wait in the car.

They will discuss this later when they're actually in Central City. It's fine.]

( A few minutes pass.

Mickey, rattled, doesn't stick the landing, (10, 10) and lets the twink loose with blue balls and an expletive before rejoining the group. He stands awkwardly before climbing back into Cooper's car.

William rejoins the group, too.

"We have a place to stay tonight and Barry has put down the welcome mat at Star Labs." )

Great.

[Awkwardly glances over at Mickey, before stepping up and nudging his dad for the keys. He wants to talk to him and clear the air, but he doesn't want to do it around other people.]

Hey Dad, want to switch it up? I could use the break to drive for a bit.

[Sullivan raises an eyebrow, before shrugging. "Sure, if you want."

Cooper nods with relief as he catches the keys.]

You should ride with the Queens. Get some sleep.

( As much as William doesn't love the idea of being in such close quarters with Sullivan Sr (17), he sees something is going on with Cooper wanting to drive and can see how odd Mickey is being. He didn't even regroup with the group. He doesn't object, Mia gets back behind the wheel, and William gives his laptop a rest while trying to get some rest.

Mickey's not expecting Cooper to get into the driver's seat. )

Where's your dad?

Riding with the Queens for a bit.

[But since they're alone, he pulls back out onto the highway before drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.]

I wanted to talk to you.

Yeah, you pulled that switch-up. Real subtle. Look, you may be out and proud, but some of us just -- have rest stops.

( A (6) to lie his way out of that one. )

Hey, I'm not judging.

[Coop isn't really sure if this is about that or about something else (6), but he can tell that something isn't right with his friend.]

I've had my fair share of truck stop hookups. But ... was it a hook up or are you hungry?

( Alright, so he's never been a good liar. He's dense on a good day. )

... I'm hungry. And - that wouldn't have sucked. Or. I was trying to compel him. It wasn't working.

Okay.

[He pauses, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel as he thinks it over.]

We need a better solution. Do you actually ... need to eat from a real person? Maybe we should hit a blood bank while we're in Central City.

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