Chapter Text
Stress was filling every inch of Barry’s body at the moment. Not exactly a new sensation for him, but always an unpleasant one, nonetheless. He was currently moving into his temporary apartment for the school year. He had a few roommates that he had texted but had yet to meet face-to-face. Cisco Ramon, a self-proclaimed nerd who was incredibly easygoing; Caitlin Snow, slightly neurotic but very compassionate; and Ronnie Raymond, Caitlin’s boyfriend and all-around nice guy. It’s not that Barry was scared they were all going to turn out to be awful people, it’s just that- well- what if they didn’t like him.
All his life he had been told he was annoying, a crybaby, and a freak. Iris had always done the best she could to protect him, but it hadn’t always worked out. Iris was his best friend and sister throughout most of their lives. University had put a small dent in it, with the two of them running on such different schedules, but they still managed to text each other every day. Iris West was the most important person in Barry Allen’s life and vice versa. However, the constant bullying had put a not so insignificant dent in Barry’s self-esteem. As a result, Barry’s one and only goal for his roommates was that they could end the school year tolerating each other.
He had gotten most of his boxes into the apartment with some help from Ronnie – Ronnie definitely worked out – and only had two left. Hefting one of the boxes up, Barry spun around and knocked into someone. The box slipped out of his hands and onto the stranger’s foot.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I couldn't see anything because of the box and then it just slipped, I swear! Are you okay?” Barry’s frantic words falling out at a pace quicker than the stranger could likely understand. And oh. Whoever the stranger was, they were incredibly attractive. Striking blue eyes, buzzed hair (black from the looks of it), and tall.
Hello, hot stranger I totally just injured.
“Try to watch it next time, kid.” The man drawled. Barry flushed and the man gave him a once over with a smirk before walking away. Hot voice, hot face. Gotta tell Iris. Barry stared at the mystery man’s back for a moment before he saw Ronnie walking out of the apartment building.
“You okay, Barry?” He threw a concerned look at Barry before looking over his shoulder and spying the man. “Snart didn’t do anything to you, did he?”
“No, no, I hurt him, really.” Ronnie raised an impressed eyebrow. “It was an accident! The box...” Barry trailed off helplessly. Ronnie gave him a grin before nodding along.
“Uh huh, right. The box.” He let out a small laugh. Barry made a protesting noise while motioning towards said box.
“They’re heavy!”
"I believe you!"
Ronnie had grabbed the other box and teased Barry all the way up to their apartment. By the time they had made it to the door, Barry was bright red and Ronnie had a full smile on his face. Caitlin had raised an eyebrow at the pair but hadn’t questioned it, taking the box from Barry’s hands. Cisco was currently trying to install the TV that he very adamantly claimed he could set up by himself.
“Cisco, man, you are totally going to end up hurting yourself or the TV at this rate.” Ronnie peeked over Cisco’s shoulder. Cisco threw a hand up in Ronnie’s face and shoved him away.
“Shush, Ronnie. When I totally set this up properly, you’re going to bow down to me.” All of Cisco’s words had been muffled by the flashlight in his mouth, but Ronnie had gotten the hint. He threw his hands up in surrender, even though Cisco couldn’t see him.
“Ronnie! Help me unpack the stuff Barry got for the kitchen!” Caitlin was a force to be reckoned with and something told Barry that Ronnie might be doing most of the unpacking, but Caitlin would do all of the setting up.
Barry took a seat on the sofa to catch his breath and take a break from the frantic day. He rested his head on the back of the sofa, staring aimlessly at the ceiling.
Maybe Cisco knew that ‘Snart’ guy.
“Hey, Cisco?”
“Hm?” He peeked his head out from behind the TV to look at Barry before returning to his task.
“Do you know anyone named Snart?” Cisco’s head whipped out from behind the TV, nearly hitting it.
“How do you not? I always forget how different majors are so separated. Leonard Snart is a big guy in the engineering department. Scary guy.” Cisco shuddered. He gave Barry a suspicious look before turning back to the TV. “Why do you wanna know about him?”
“I may have dropped a box on his foot,” Barry said sheepishly. “How scary are we talking?”
“Oh, my sweet summer child, it was nice knowing you.” Barry could see Cisco shaking his head. Barry let out a nervous laugh.
“You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding,” Barry could so not take bullying in college, it goes so far past embarrassing. Cisco lifted his right hand and made a so-so motion.
“Eh. Could go either way. Snart isn’t a particularly vengeful guy about the small stuff. His partner in crime, though? Up for debate.” Barry was so doomed. So actually doomed. There was no way he was going to tell Iris about any of this. She’d either laugh in his face or go threaten Snart. Maybe both.
“Cisco, what did you say to Barry, he looks like he’s seen a ghost!” Caitlin put a hand over Barry’s forehead. He hadn’t even realized she and Ronnie had walked in.
“I was telling him about Snart! He asked,” he said. Caitlin sighed and put her hands on her hips.
“Whatever you heard from Cisco, ignore it. He liked to dramatize everything; you know that.” Ronnie was nodding from behind her. It was true, it had only taken two weeks of texting to realize Cisco really liked to make things more interesting than they really were.
Caitlin was right. Cisco was being dramatic and there would like be nothing from Snart. Probably. Even though it seems like he either knows someone in the building or lives here himself. Everything was going to be just fine. Nothing could go wrong in his sophomore year of college. Nothing at all.