Silence prevailed as Derek and Caitlin sat beside each other in silence. The moon seemed as though it hadn't moved an inch despite the time that had passed, looming over them, larger than usual.
Caitlin wore a soft smile while Derek's expression remained neutral, also staring upward.
The moonlight blessed her face with a tantalizing glow as she made it clear she basked in it, taking a deep breath as both her hands were placed on the ground beside her, her heels hanging off her toes as the wind tickled her heels.
"Who exactly am I looking for? Who I am now, or who I was…before?"
Perhaps he was thinking out loud or maybe he was asking, but without taking her eyes off the moon above, Caitlin answered.
"Both. After all, leaves on a tree can be different, but they all stem from the same branch, tree and roots."
"What if there isn't much there?"
A pause erupted.
Derek still remembered the emptiness he'd felt when he first tried to uncover his past upon arriving. Like grasping at air, nothing stood out to him. Only cold darkness.
However, Caitlin didn't flinch as she turned.
"Then plant the seed and we'll all watch it flourish together."
A part of Derek previously thought this would give him the chance to farm some easy understanding, however, it was him that now lay like an open book.
He realized that in her presence, the weight of his past felt a little lighter.
They said nothing, silent as they did something akin to sharing a silent promise, a connection that hinted at something deeper, something worth nurturing.
At that moment, Caitlin broke eye contact for a split second, her gaze shifting to something else.
"Send me back to STAR Labs for a second. I need to get something." Caitlin hopped to her feet, placing her heels back on her feet as Derek looked up to stare at her, confused.
"Uh…alright."
-BLOP
Derek's Eclipse expanded as it formed into a large cave-like opening while Caitlin stepped in without hesitation.
The Eclipse didn't close or collapse, only enveloping her as Derek felt her emerge from the Eclipse in STAR Labs.
Asking himself what exactly she was so eager to get, he remained patient, and no more than a minute later, Caitlin reemerged from the Eclipse before him, this time carrying a silk tarp on her shoulder while she brandished a comb and scissors in her hand.
Derek stared at this, immediately realising what she was up to and scratching his head.
"Now? Really?" He asked, her eager smile never letting up.
"Better late than never. I think we both know you're long overdue for a haircut." Caitlin kicked off her shoes, her bare feet touching the cold rocky earth as her height decreased by a few inches.
She kneeled, sitting on her heels directly behind Derek as he continued to stare at her.
"Are you planning to strain your neck through the entire haircut?" Caitlin asked, snapping her scissors a few times as he finally sighed, letting up as he turned with a smile.
"Do you regularly keep barbering equipment where you work?" Derek asked as Caitlin swung the tarp around him, tying it around his neck.
"No, these are just random utilities I found in STAR Labs. I'm pretty sure this comb belongs to Cisco. It's nothing like the regular set in my apartment but it'll do. We'll work with what we can…"
Derek raised his eyebrows as Caitlin suddenly fell quiet, her hands paused at the back of his neck.
"You don't have one of your Eclipse's in my home, do you?" An undertone of malice oozed from Caitlin's tone as the tarp around Derek's neck tightened.
"What? No, of course not. I don't even know where you live." Derek answered quickly, the danger to his airway making him sweat.
"Good. I'm happy to hear you aren't irredeemable."
-ZIP
Caitlin tied the knot, patting Derek's shoulders as he exhaled.
"Is there a particular style you're looking for?" She asked, prepping her comb and scissors as she fiddled with his hair, searching for where best to start.
"Hm, not really. I'm not particularly knowledgeable about modern hairstyles. Do whatever you think will look best."
Caitlin chuckled upon hearing this.
"Believe it or not, neither am I."
"You? Aren't you a self-trained Barber?"
"I've only been cutting my own hair for my whole life in practically the same style."
"I understand. What about bangs. That could look great on you."
Caitlin paused for a moment seeming as though she fell into deep thought.
"I've recently been thinking the same thing. I've been doing things I never thought I would be for the past year so I've found myself expanding my knowledge on many things."
Derek nodded in understanding.
"That's good. Especially since you don't have a life outside work, it's good that you're getting out there."
Caitlin audibly gasped, seeing Derek's blank expression, indicating he was being honest.
Derek looked up, seeing her aghast expression as he raised an eyebrow.
"First Barry and Cisco make a joke about that and now you?"
"You don't, do you?"
Caitlin smiled playfully while replying, "I do! I cook and I eat and…I read and…I help you guys." She clearly struggled as Derek chuckled.
"So what you're saying is you do everything that has nothing to do with having a life?"
"You don't have to be rude about it." Caitlin lightly smacked the back of Derek's head.
"Hey, I'm not doing any better. My social life consists of stopping wars between Metahumans and now hiding out in desolate biomes."
"Maybe we can help each other change that one day. When this is all over." Caitlin chuckled.
"Maybe."
For the next hour, the two continued to talk, their laughter echoing in the cavern below.
Their chatter distracted them from the intense conversation they'd just had a few moments ago, as well as everything that was to come, their minds focused on the words coming out from the other's mouth while at times, silence would prevail.
It wasn't awkward silence or silence brought up by a lack of conversation, but rather one they both basked in and cherished.
On one hand, Caitlin ran her fingers through Derek's silk-like hair, sometimes just to appreciate the smooth texture that acted like a bed of warmth on the cold cliff they sat on.
Derek's attention unknowingly remained focused on her gentle hands on his scalp, the calming sensation prompting him to close his eyes and enjoy the moment.
'Feels better than I thought it would.'
Perhaps it was his hyper-sensitive senses that made him appreciate the feel of softness.
The sound of the scissors clipping together rang out while the wind carried away the hair falling from his head until finally…
"I'm done."
-BLOP
Derek summoned a mirror in his hand upon Caitlin breaking the silence.
As he did, he stared at his reflection.
"Woah…"
With his hair remaining the longest at the top, it now seemed neater and more manageable, fashioning a rather impressive textured fringe considering Caitlin was only using scissors, a comb and her fingers.
However, despite the length of the top, his sides were undercut, prompting the top of his hair to lay over them.
"This was my father's hairstyle when he was around our age. I didn't think I'd be able to get it right considering I've only seen images of it, but what do you think?" Caitlin grinned excitedly, already knowing the answer to her question, removing the tarp from him.
"What do I think? Do you even have to ask? This is amazing!"
While the length of the top of Derek's hair allowed him to keep his previous wild appearance, he now fashioned a clean undertone that made him look, not only civilized but also seamlessly blended in with his sharp facial features, enhancing his looks.
'Crazy what a haircut can do.' He thought.
However, as the seconds passed, Derek placed his mirror back into his Eclipse.
"Caitlin…"
"I know, Derek."
Derek turned, seeing Caitlin standing with a straight demeanour, cutting him off as she had already beaten him to it.
Time was of the essence and they'd already spent a few hours on this cliff. However, though distracted, neither of them forgot why they were truly here.
Derek rose to his feet, raising his hand as he stuck out three fingers.
"Three things will help us win the coming battle."
Derek started.
For the next half hour, he meticulously explained his plan, watching as Caitlin's expression grew more and more bewildered, all while answering any questions she asked.
Until finally…
"That's your plan…? Those three things will be essential for our victory? How did you even…" She asked everything he had said still running through her mind.
"Not just for our victory, but for our survival."
Caitlin didn't know if hearing this should have increased her trust in Derek or just considered him a madman.
But before she could conclude…
"We don't have much time left. Cisco just entered STAR Labs and he's looking for you."
-BLOP
Derek's Eclipse formed into his cave-like portal behind him.
Caitlin breathed in as she stepped forward. But before entering the Eclipse, she looked back once more, staring into Derek's eyes.
"Promise me…"
Derek's expression remained neutral.
"You're plan is crazy, but that's what we might need if everything you say is true. So when this is all over, we'll all grab a drink together again, as Team Flash. Just...don't die."
Perhaps it was PTSD from a similar past experience or simply the bad feeling she had in her gut she thought she was used to by now that made her say this.
A pause erupted as Derek's expression remained stoic, the portal ready in front of him. And in the next second, his face tightened in determination as he clenched his teeth.
"I promise you, Caitlin. I will not die."
Just as he said this, she nodded, turning and walking toward the portal while she stepped in, and faced away.
And with this, the eclipse finally collapsed around her as she disappeared.
Once again, Derek was left staring at mid-air as his Eclipse rejoined with him.
"But before that…I need to do something."
Derek turned sitting as he crossed his legs and stared at a screen before him.
"I need to answer a single question."
[Prestidigitation]
[Highly trained in the art of stage magic, including sleight-of-hand, escape artistry and hypnotism, Malcolm's skills in these areas were one of the reasons he was called "The Magician" by the League of Assassins]
This was the screen Derek stared at, but he'd already seen it a dozen times before. He was instead focused on one part that he still hadn't explored.
[...and Hypnotism…]
"Let's find out. Who am I truly and where does the Bond name come from?"
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Its been a long time everyone.
I'd like to say I'm back but we all know at this point my word is as reliable as Iris West's entire character. And that's saying something.
Lets just hope we can get a new chapter tomorrow.
Also, I just finished the volume on my Patreon so check that out if you're interested.
patreon.com/SonderNow