⊱ ──────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ──────── ⊰

𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
here for a good time, not a long
time

⊱ ──────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ──────── ⊰

JULIET SHUT THE drivers door as she got out of the car, glaring over at Cisco. "Remind me to never drive with you again."

In order to deal with Savage, Oliver had brought them to a completely remote farmhouse near Central City. Clearly, by the cars already parked in the driveway, Oliver, Felicity, Thea, Diggle, Laurel, Caitlin, Carter, and Kendra. Cisco had been the one navigating Juliet the backseat, but with the combination of the horrible cell service and Cisco's — quite literal — backseat driving, Juliet had frankly had enough.

"It's not my fault you're a bad driver," Cisco argued as they went up to the house.

Juliet flicked her hand, causing Cisco's head to get knocked to the side. "Say that again and I'll launch you across the entirety of Central City."

With a little help from Juliet's powers, they got the cart of Cisco's stuff up the stairs. Juliet entered into what seemed to be a very nice house.

"We need to find a way to neutralize Savage's advantage," Oliver was saying as they entered the house. "Barry, Jules, you're late."

"Sorry," Barry replied. "Turns out, it's not easy finding the ass-end of nowhere."

"Yeah, for real," Cisco agreed, pulling his phone out of his pocket and staring down at it. "The roaming charges alone are going to bankrupt me."

"We're discussing how to take away Savage's new-found power," Oliver revealed.

"His magic stick thing," Felicity added.

"Uh, Staff of Horus," Carter corrected.

"There's an energy field around it, one that stopped Barry from touching it," Juliet said. "I could try and infiltrate it with my own, but before I could test my hypothesis, the church kind of blew up."

"Maybe wear mittens next time," Felicity suggested.

"What if we made some sort of insulated gauntlets?" Caitlin asked.

"Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah," Cisco responded. "The magnetic shielding could disrupt the—"

"Staff's magnetic polarity," Felicity finished.

"Well, while the geek squad works—" Oliver began.

"Heard that, honey."

"While they work to get the staff away from Savage, we need to know everything there is to know about him."

Juliet followed after Oliver as he moved into the living room, where they were setting up everything. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. Barry stopped next to her, placing a hand on her back and starting to run it up and down gently, as if he could sense her tenseness — which he probably could. He then leaned down and planted a kiss to the top of her head.

"Well, I googled reincarnated nutjobs and came up with nothing," Thea voiced.

Carter placed a case down on the couch next to Laurel. "Uh, Kendra and I would be the reincarnated nutjobs. Savage is merely immortal."

"Merely?" Laurel repeated.

Thea sighed. "Welcome to the new normal."

"Anyone who's been around for four-thousand years should leave a trail," Diggle announced. "I'll check with A.R.G.U.S. See if they have anything on him."

"Uh, Laurel and I can check police reports and stuff like that," Thea offered.

"Good," Oliver approved before looking at Kendra. "We need to find a way to utilize your new ability."

"My ability?" Kendra questioned.

"It might give us an advantage."

"Yeah, whatever you do, don't let him train you," Barry cut in. "I'm sorry, but when it rains, I can still feel where you shot me with those arrows."

Juliet rolled her eyes. "Such theatrics you have."

"I'll handle her training, then," Carter stated.

"Hey," Barry interjected, looking down at Juliet as he absentmindedly twirled one of her stands of hair around his finger. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Juliet replied. "Just currently figuring out how the fuck we're supposed to beat an immortal."

Her phone suddenly rang. Juliet pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the screen for a second. She answered it and put her phone up to her ear, stepping around Barry to venture back towards the doorway of the house a bit.

"Hello?" Juliet greeted.

"The weird one," Merlyn's voice came from the other end.

Juliet pulled her phone away from her ear for a second, her eyebrows knitting in confusion. "How'd you get my number? And why the fuck did you refer to me as the weird one?"

"Unimportant. Is the speedster with you?"

She glanced at Barry for a second, who was staring at her curiously. "Yes, my own boyfriend's with me. What's going on?"

"Me, you, Barry, and Oliver are going to have a meeting with Vandal Savage," Merlyn admitted.

Juliet blinked. "We're going to have a what now?"

"Negotiation is the only way out of this situation. Suit up and make it here quick — which won't be hard for you two."

Before she could say anything else, Merlyn hung up. Juliet stood there for a second, pulling her phone away from her ear and looking down at it. So much had happened in that short phone call it was making her dizzy.

Barry nodded to her. "J, what is it?"

She let out a deep breath and turned to him. "We have a meeting with Vandal Savage."

"We have a what now?"

Juliet resisted the urge to smile at how they were so similar. "Merlyn set it up. Just . . . whatever. I'm fucking over it."

She teleported into her suit — which she had brought with her instead of leaving it at S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry was in his suit within the next second. He gathered Juliet in his arms and sped off. Like she always did when he ran with her, she shut her eyes and just allowed the wind to whip across her face and through her hair. After a short amount of time, they arrived in the deserted warehouse Merlyn had set the meeting in. Barry placed her down, and Juliet looked to see Oliver standing there in his suit with Merlyn.

"Thank you for coming," Oliver said. "I know this is more than a little crazy."

Juliet shrugged. "Well, he didn't leave me with much of a choice. Fuck you for calling me weird, by the way." She sighed and walked closer to them. "Are you being for real? We can't negotiate with terrorists. Or a four-thousand year old bad guy. Whoever he is."

"Just think of this more as a fact-finding mission. Maybe Savage slips up and gives us something that we can use to our advantage."

Merlyn laughed. "Thea said you were being a little bit more humorous lately."

"I'm sorry, how do you know so much about Savage, anyway?" Barry inquired.

"I don't know anything about him, Mr. Allen. No one does. And that is why I'm afraid of him."

"That's not the only reason to be afraid of me," Savage interjected, and Juliet looked to see him walking into the warehouse like he had just appeared out of thin air. "I assure you. Thank you for joining me."

"What do you want?" Oliver demanded.

"What all living things want. Not to die."

Juliet raised an eyebrow. Being an immortal sounded awfully boring.

"I thought that wasn't a problem for you," Barry voiced.

"Only if I take the life force from Prince Khufu and Priestess Chay-Ara," Savage explained.

"Kendra and Carter."

"The three of us are locked in a vicious circle played out over thousands of years. None of your concern."

"We've made it our concern," Oliver argued.

He then drew it an arrow and shot it. The arrow embedded itself deep in Savage's chest. Savage grunted in pain from it, but he pulled it out like it was absolutely nothing. Juliet blinked in surprise, staring at the bloody arrow.

Savage held it up to them. "Robin of Locksley. I taught him how to use a bow. He taught me how to not feel pain."

"So you're a psychopath," Juliet supplied. "Huh."

"I'm the enemy you can't defeat. The only way for you and yours to live through this is to render unto me what is mine." Savage walked up to Juliet, pointing the tip of the bloody arrow right by her face. "Turn over Prince Khufu and Priestess Chay-Ara within twenty-four hours or I will lay waste to this city, killing everyone that you hold dear."

Juliet's eyes glowed red, and she concentrated on him, pushing her hand forwards so that his body moved away from her. "Get away from me."

Savage didn't seem unnerved by her — he just walked over to Oliver. "And after that, I will travel to your home and do the same thing there."

"All right, I'm just curious, did you rehearse that speech in a mirror this morning or is this all just off the cuff?" Barry asked.

Savage laughed at him for a moment before his face went completely stone-cold. "Why would you risk the lives of your friends and family for two strangers? Two-hundred-and-six-times I have killed them. What hubris possesses you that makes you think that you can prevent me from doing so again?"

Barry shook his head. "Not hubris. Hope."

"I came to this meeting out of curiosity. It is now sated. Bring Khufu and Chay-Ara to Jurgens Industrial in twenty-four hours or I will see you dead and buried under the bodies of your loved ones."

He let the bloody arrow fall to the floor with a clatter before walking away. Juliet glared at his figure until she couldn't see him anymore.

"We're not giving up Kendra and Carter," Oliver protested.

"That's not your decision to make," Merlyn countered.

"This is a cycle that has played out for the last four-thousand years."

"Savage may be immortal, but he isn't a God," Barry added.

"No, but he's the next best thing," Merlyn argued. "Oliver."

Oliver whirled around to face him. "What?"

"You better be certain that your stubbornness does not get my daughter killed. Because if that happens, I will come for you, and in a way that will make you beg for the likes of Vandal Savage."

Juliet stared at the ground Merlyn walked away. She knew they had to find a way around handing over Kendra and Carter, but she didn't know how.

ϟ ···················· ϟ ···················· ϟ

"WHY ARE YOU freaking out?" Juliet questioned. She was leaning against the wall of the small barn outside with her arms crossed, watching Barry pace back and forth, clearly full of restless energy. "Ever since last night, you've been, like, panicked. And I know it just isn't about Savage."

"We need to talk to Cisco," Barry insisted.

Juliet stared at him in concern. "Are you okay? Seriously, baby, what's going on?"

"Where were you two?" Cisco inquired, making their conversation end.

Juliet jutted her thumb towards her boyfriend. "Ask him."

Barry turned to face him. "Hey."

"You missed the whole save the city or turn my girlfriend over to an immortal psychopath briefing."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Um, dude, I . . . last night, I — um, I ghosted."

Juliet's head whipped over to Barry, and her eyes immediately widened in understanding. Ghosted was the term they used when Barry saw another him while he was running, usually having to do with time travel.

Cisco stared at him. "No."

"Yeah," Barry said. "I think I'm gonna—"

"Don't say it."

"I think I'm gonna time jump—"

"I just told you not to say it!" Cisco exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what else I'm supposed to do," Barry admitted. "There was another thing. When I ghosted, I wasn't alone." He looked over at Juliet. "I was running with you."

"Oh," Juliet let out. "So what you're saying is that you're going to take me back in time with you?" Barry nodded. "Okay, not the most romantic date, but I guess you can't do much when you're dating a speedster."

"Barry, the first rule of time travel is you don't talk about time travel because by having this conversation, we're screwing history," Cisco protested.

"Look, I know that time travel has consequences," Barry stated. "I mean, the last time you vibed—"

"Well, I'm not vibing anything right now. Okay, um, all right, look, don't panic. A, you don't know that you time-jumped for a bad reason. It could have been a good one, right? B, now that you know you time-jumped, you might not do it, right? So, knowing the future might change the present which might change the future."

"What?"

Juliet stared at him. "I'm confused."

Cisco nodded in agreement. "My head hurts."

"Barry, Juliet," Oliver called, and she looked to see him coming towards them. "I need your help."

"Anything," Juliet responded, desperately wanting to get out whatever the hell kind of conversation that was. "What is it?"

"We're going to need your lab. I need you to run some tests on something that has to do with Damien Darhk."

Juliet shared a confused look with Barry before shrugging. Whatever. She extended her hands out to the two of them, and they immediately took it. Juliet focused on all three of them before teleporting them. They ended up in the lab at CCPD.

Oliver gave them a blood sample and a hair strand. "Here."

Juliet took them. "Okay. What exactly what do you need me to do with these?"

"Find out if they match genetically."

She gave him a strange look. "Right."

Juliet got to work. It wasn't hard, just a simple DNA test on both of them to match the gene sequences. While Barry looked at his computer to see what was found, Juliet watched Oliver. He was pacing back and forth, full of restless energy — much like how Barry had been earlier. What was going on?

Barry took the printed out piece of paper of the results and walked over to Oliver. "Okay, here you go. We gene-sequenced the hair strand with the blood sample you gave us, still not sure what it has to do with Damien Darhk, but the Y chromosomes match." His eyebrows then furrowed in thought. "Are you okay?"

Juliet stared at Oliver, frowning in concern — he was looking down at the sheet of paper in complete shock. "You look like you're about to be sick again."

"Thanks for this," Oliver responded. "It's a big help."

Juliet took the piece of paper from him when he distractedly handed it to her. "Ollie?"

Oliver stopped. "Jules, Barry."

"Yeah?" the two chorused.

"Don't tell anyone about this."

Juliet looked from the piece of paper up at Barry in utter confusion. Safe to say, she didn't know what the hell was going on. Why had Oliver asked them to do this? Why had he seemed like his whole world turned upside down?

"All right, I'd like to know what's going on here," Felicity announced.

"Felicity . . ." Barry trailed off.

Juliet's eyes widened. She handed the piece of paper over to Barry — when it came to hiding things quick, he could probably do it better than her.

"Yes, I tracked you down. I find people for a living. Actually, I don't get paid."

Barry then put the piece of paper in his pocket at super speed.

Felicity pointed at him, obviously catching on. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Barry asked innocently.

"You just super-speeded something into your pocket that Juliet handed you."

"Oh, it was nothing," Juliet told her, trying her best to keep it cool when her mind was absolutely screaming. "Oliver just wanted us to track down something about Damien Darhk."

"I want to see it," Felicity stated.

"Why?" Barry asked.

"Because you two don't want me to see it."

"I'm sorry, Oliver specifically asked us—"

"Show me," Felicity ordered.

Juliet and Barry shared a glance. They were, quite literally, cornered. Barry sighed and took the folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her.

"It's just a DNA test," Juliet said as Felicity unfolded it.

Felicity immediately froze in shock when she looked down at the paper. "No, it's not."

Her eyebrows knit in confusion. "What do you mean it's not?"

The blonde didn't say anything else. All she did was turn around and walk out of their lab like she was on a God damn mission. However, Juliet didn't miss the anger, the hurt, the betrayal that flashed across Felicity's face as she looked down at that piece of paper. What had been so important about that?

"That didn't seem like it was about Damien Darhk," Barry commented.

Juliet slowly looked up at him. "I now understand why you never pursued being a detective."

He frowned. "Hey."

"We have to get back, anyways." She offered her hand out to him. "Coming?"

Barry slipped her hand into hers — a familiar gesture, yet one that always made her heart race. "Let's go."

When they returned, the house was buzzing with tension. Night had fallen, and the twenty-four hours that Savage gave them was drawing to a close. Two select people were missing — Felicity, who was still on her way back from the CCPD, and Oliver, who had gone wherever after leaving their lab.

They had to figure out something to do, and fast. It was only when Juliet heard voices outside that she knew Oliver and Felicity were back. She walked up to the door, Barry trailing behind her, and opened it. However, when Juliet went out onto the porch, she didn't expect to see Oliver and Felicity standing on the pathway with tears in their eyes. Oliver seemed sunken into himself, and Felicity looked angry. She glanced between them in concern.

"But you don't trust me," Felicity voiced. "You never will. And how can I be with someone who doesn't trust me?"

Oh.

Felicity turned around and stalked off. Juliet watched her go, concern filling her insides.

Oliver stepped closer to her. "Felicity . . ."

It was no use. Felicity apparently had enough. It wasn't Felicity walking away from Oliver, probably from a breakup, that raised Juliet's worry. It was the broken tone Oliver had used trying to call out to her.

"Are you guys okay?" Barry questioned — obviously not.

Juliet's frown deepened as she watched Oliver just stare blankly at the ground like his whole world shattered. "Ollie? What's going on?"

"Nothing, I'm fine," Oliver answered.

"No, you're not."

"Is everyone inside?"

"Oliver—"

He looked at her seriously, his eyes that had once been swimming with sadness now guarded. "Is everyone inside, Jules?"

She nodded.

Oliver then brushed past her and went inside the house. Juliet sighed — what a fucking mess. She shook her head and took Barry's hand in hers, leading him back inside.

"We're coming up on Savage's deadline," Oliver announced.

"Where's Felicity?" Thea inquired.

Oliver ignored her question. "Are the gauntlets working?"

"They're gonna have to be," Caitlin replied. "We're out of time."

"I think they'll work," Cisco admitted, wearing the gauntlets they had made. "That staff's gonna go from Can't Touch This to Invisible Touch."

Oliver took a deep breath. "Savage doesn't know Kendra has access to her full abilities, which makes you our ace in the hole. We're gonna put you up against Savage. You attack with the element of surprise. I will lay down cover fire. Jules, mind control. Barry, you speed in and—"

"Snatch the staff," Barry finished. "I got it."

"Where do you need us?" Diggle asked.

Oliver stared at him, Thea, and Laurel. "This is me, Barry, Juliet, Kendra, and Carter. We've got it."

"Ollie!" Thea protested.

"No, we're not risking any more lives tonight than we have to."

Barry nodded, sparing a glance down at his girlfriend. "Suit up."

Juliet didn't know what it was, but she had a really bad feeling about this.

〖   ϟ   〗

I can't believe the flash ended yesterday :( this show has been such a huge part of my life bc it was the first show I ever truly fell in love with, and of course, juliet wouldn't exist without it. what an incredible nine years <3

anyways I see taylor in two days and I genuinely don't think I'm going to be able to survive like I might cry the whole time