fandomhigh | Public Service - On the Edge, Monday, Period 2

"Okay Rookies," Reno said, hands in his pockets as he stood on the Causeway, where he'd ~~handwavily~~ told his students to meet. "I hope you all brought your armor with you, because today's that 'moment of truth' day, yo. We're gonna be headin' to Edge today, to check out the situation, pick a good place in the town itself for these water filtration units we're gonna be settin' up, that sort of thing. You'll all be happy to know that the radiation levels are nice an' low today, and there haven't been any monsters spotted in the area. But if I find out any of you took your armor off anyway, I'll kick your asses straight back to detention and you'll be writin' essays for me for the rest of the year that I probably ain't gonna read anyway."

This was Reno's way of telling his students that he cared.

"This is a class of ten, so I'd prefer if we decide to split up that you guys break it up half-and-half, but I don't wanna see you in groups of less than three if it really comes down to it, yo. Maybe I'll re-think that as the semester goes on and you guys prove you can handle yourselves out here, but for the time being, anyone who strays out of sight alone is joining the jackasses who took off their armor in detention."

Again, he was saying he loved you, guys.

"Now, c'mon, let's get going, or I'm going to just kill the whole class period lecturin' you on this side of the portal, yo."

And with that, he led his students through.

[Open!]

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Barry wasn't exactly nervous. Just exhausted. After the weekend he only wanted to sleep for a week.

Not that he ever slept that long anyway.

Instead he went over the weapons he was bringing, checked some scanning equipment he was bringing along and double checked his armor to make sure it was in proper working order.

"Hey," Kathy said softly, coming to stand by him. "You look pretty beat. You think your brain'll let you get a nap in after class?"

"And catch shit from Reno?" Barry said offering a weak grin. "Nah. Can't give him the satisfaction."

Her return smile was full of sympathy. "You do remember you have a dorm room, right? He'd never even have to know."

But that was as far as she was going to push. Barry knew his own mind and body far better than she did.

"I, umm, talked to Anders a bit last night," she said, figuring he could pick up plenty from just that, without her having to give more details for the squirrels. "I'm not trying to pry or anything, but if you ever want to talk...I mean, obviously, I wasn't there, but sometimes that can help? Because you won't have to worry about my feelings or anything." She ducked her head. "I know you're not big into anything approaching touchy-feely, but I just thought I'd offer."

"I wasn't there either," Barry said shaking his head. "I just watched the whole thing. With Elsa."

He frowned a little.

"It's not what I'd call a fun weekend."

"That can be pretty bad on its own," Kathy said. "Because you're watching everything as it happens, knowing that there's nothing you can do from where you are. All of the tension and none of the adrenaline release, as it were. Not till everyone was back and safe."

She offered him another smile. "If you're okay, or of you'd rather talk to Elsa, that's cool. I just wanted you to know there was another friendly ear around if you thought you could use one. And I don't come with any preconceived notions of how you 'should' or 'shouldn't' feel, just because you were in your warehouse and not in...that place."

"Yeah."

Barry was quiet for a moment or two.

"Thanks. I may take you up on that offer but I'm not so sure I'm ready to talk about it just yet."

"You make it sound like that friendly ear comes with an expiration date," Kathy ribbed gently. "You gave me pockets, Barry. You're pretty much stuck with me forever now. We're gonna be old and in nursing homes and I'm gonna break a hip bouncing my way to your room to pester you about something."

So there, Barry. So there.

Barry chuckled softly and shook his head in amusement.

And he'd probably regret what he was going to say next...

"Elsa and I had our first kiss yesterday."

Cue goonie adorable feeling look on Barry's face which he immediately try to mask. Why did he even say that?

"I saaaaaaw that!" Kathy said, doing her best to tamp down any squealing. It was hard, so she just limited herself to a bit of bouncing on her toes. "Your face! I saw it! I saw your face when you said that!"

Barry looooooved Elsa. Barry looooooooved Elsaaaaaaaaa.

"Stop that!" Barry hissed. "Jesus! Leave my face out of this!"

"You're the one who made the expression, not me!" Kathy said, dimpling. "I just noticed it. Because I'm observant."

And also Barry was in loooooooooooooooooooove.

"Shut it! Jesus fucking Christ!" Barry hissed. "Stop it!"

Are you really going to make him flail, Kathy?

Right. Because Barry had never made her flail for funsies.

"Stop what?" she asked. "Being observant? I can't do that, Dave. Or just pointing out that sometimes your face is awesome? Isn't that a compliment?"

Public Service - On the Edge, Monday, Period 2

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