## Later in the Evening - Still at Jitters - 8:34 PM
The dinner had stretched into the kind of comfortable hanging-out that happened when people discovered they genuinely enjoyed each other's company. Their table had accumulated empty coffee cups, cleaned plates, and the relaxed posture of individuals who'd moved past the initial social tension into actual friendship.
Karan was listening to Kendra explain the historical basis for warrior mythology in ancient cultures when his phone buzzed with an incoming text. He glanced at it discreetly, expecting maybe a message from Cisco about training schedules or Caitlin about medical checkups.
Instead, he saw Wells' name on the screen, and his stomach immediately tightened.
**Wells:** Karan, I need you and Barry back at the facility immediately. We have a situation that requires discussion. Please don't alarm your companions—make a polite excuse and return as soon as possible.
Karan's enhanced hearing picked up Barry's phone buzzing at almost the same moment, and he saw his friend's expression shift from relaxed enjoyment to barely concealed concern as he read what was presumably the same message.
Their eyes met across the table, and Karan could see Barry was thinking the same thing he was: *What situation could require immediate return that Wells won't specify over text?*
"Everything okay?" Iris asked, noting Barry's changed demeanor with the kind of perceptive attention that came from years of friendship.
"Yeah, just..." Barry held up his phone with an apologetic expression. "Dr. Wells needs us back at the facility. Something about medical monitoring that can't wait until tomorrow."
It was a plausible excuse—they were both supposed to be recovering from extended comas, so regular medical check-ins made sense. But Karan caught the slight narrowing of Kara's eyes that suggested she found the timing suspicious.
"Medical monitoring at 8:30 at night?" Kendra asked with obvious skepticism.
"Wells is particular about maintaining consistent testing schedules," Karan added, trying to support Barry's cover story. "Something about circadian rhythm effects on enhanced physiology. I don't really understand the science, but apparently it matters."
"That's... oddly specific for routine monitoring," Iris said, though her tone suggested she was trying to be understanding rather than accusatory. "But I guess when you're dealing with unknown medical complications from the explosion, you have to be thorough."
"Exactly," Barry said, already standing and pulling out his wallet. "I'm really sorry to cut this short. Tonight's been great—genuinely great—and I'd love to do this again when we don't have medical obligations."
"Me too," Karan added, sliding out of the booth with what he hoped looked like reluctance rather than the growing anxiety he felt about what situation could require immediate return. "This has been exactly what I needed—spending time with people who understand what we're dealing with without it feeling like a therapy session."
"Well, the evening doesn't have to end just because you two have to leave," Kara said, looking at Kendra and Iris. "I mean, if you both want to stay and talk more? I'm fascinated by what Kendra was saying about warrior archetypes in ancient cultures."
"I should probably head out too," Kendra said, though her expression suggested she was reluctant to end the conversation. "Early class tomorrow, and I want to actually be awake for Dr. Chen's lecture on comparative creation myths."
"Rain check, then," Iris said warmly, standing to give Barry a hug that lasted just long enough to make Karan look away out of respect for his friend's complicated feelings. "And Barry? Take care of yourself. Whatever enhanced capabilities you have, you're still recovering from a nine-month coma. Don't let Wells push you too hard."
"I won't," Barry promised, though his smile was tight with the stress of maintaining his cover story.
As they made their way toward Jitters' exit, Karan felt Kendra's hand briefly touch his arm. "Text me when you get back?" she said quietly. "I want to make sure whatever medical situation Wells is concerned about isn't serious."
"I will," Karan replied, appreciating her concern even as he recognized that she probably suspected the "medical situation" was cover for something else. "And thank you for coming tonight. I know meeting new people while dealing with all this is complicated."
"It was worth it," Kendra said, her smile genuine. "Iris and Kara are both impressive. And it was nice to see that there are other people trying to build something positive out of this mess."
They separated at the door—Kendra heading toward campus, Barry and Karan moving quickly toward where they'd parked the car Cisco had provided. As soon as they were out of earshot of the coffee shop, Barry's polite mask dropped entirely.
"What do you think Wells wants?" he asked, his voice tight with barely controlled anxiety.
"Nothing good," Karan replied grimly. "He specifically said not to alarm our companions, which means he thinks whatever situation he's dealing with might cause us to react visibly. That's not the kind of phrasing you use for routine medical monitoring."
"Could it be something with the team? Cisco or Caitlin having problems?"
"If it was a team emergency, he would have said so. This feels different." Karan unlocked the car and they both climbed in, Karan taking the driver's seat because Barry's stress was making his movements slightly too fast for normal human perception. "This feels like Wells discovered something he wants to discuss away from public observation."
The drive back to S.T.A.R. Labs took twelve minutes that felt like hours. Barry spent most of it vibrating his leg with nervous energy, occasionally checking his phone as if Wells might send additional information. Karan focused on driving while his mind raced through possibilities.
*Discovery of a new threat? Intelligence about criminal activity? Concerns about our public visibility? Or something worse—maybe he's figured out that I know his real identity?*
That last possibility made his hands tighten on the steering wheel. If Eobard had somehow determined that Karan knew Harrison Wells was actually a time-traveling supervillain, this "immediate return" could be a trap rather than a genuine emergency.
"Karan," Barry said quietly, "if this turns out to be something bad—I mean really bad—we stick together, right? We don't let Wells separate us or manipulate us into turning on each other?"
The question was so earnest, so vulnerably honest, that Karan felt something tighten in his chest. Barry was asking for reassurance that their partnership was stronger than whatever complications Wells might introduce.
"We stick together," Karan confirmed. "Whatever Wells wants to discuss, we face it as a team. No exceptions."
They pulled into S.T.A.R. Labs' parking garage at 8:51 PM, the facility's exterior looking deceptively normal despite whatever situation was waiting inside. The main entrance was still lit, security systems active but not showing any signs of crisis or emergency response.
"Looks calm," Barry observed, though his tone suggested he didn't find that particularly reassuring.
"Looks can be deceiving," Karan replied, manifesting just enough of his armor's enhancement to sharpen his senses and prepare for potential confrontation. "Stay alert. If this feels wrong, we leave. No arguments, no trying to handle it alone."
They made their way through the facility's corridors with practiced efficiency, heading toward Wells' private office on the second floor. The building was quiet—most staff had left for the evening, leaving only the skeleton crew that maintained overnight operations and monitoring systems.
Wells' office door was open, warm light spilling into the hallway in a way that would have seemed welcoming if Karan's enhanced hearing hadn't picked up the tension in the room beyond. Multiple heartbeats—Wells, certainly, but also at least two other people.
*Cisco and Caitlin,* Karan identified, recognizing their distinctive cardiac rhythms from weeks of training together. *So whatever this is, Wells wants the whole team present.*
Barry knocked on the doorframe, his voice carefully controlled. "Dr. Wells? You said it was urgent?"
"Come in, both of you," Wells' voice called back, carrying none of the immediate alarm that would suggest crisis. "We need to discuss something that affects both your futures as heroes."
Karan and Barry exchanged quick glances before entering the office. The scene inside was exactly what Karan's enhanced senses had suggested—Wells behind his desk, Cisco and Caitlin standing on either side of him, all three wearing expressions that ranged from concerned (Caitlin) to excited (Cisco) to calculatingly neutral (Wells).
"Sorry to pull you away from your evening," Wells said, gesturing for them to take seats in the chairs positioned in front of his desk. "But something has come to my attention that requires immediate discussion and planning."
"What kind of something?" Barry asked, settling into his chair with the kind of tension that suggested he was ready to bolt if necessary.
Wells pulled up a holographic display that showed what appeared to be security footage from various locations around Central City. "Over the past week, I've been monitoring certain... patterns... in criminal activity. Specifically, patterns that suggest someone is planning a sophisticated operation that will require superhero response."
"What kind of operation?" Karan asked, studying the footage with growing unease.
"A heist," Wells replied, zooming in on specific details. "Targeting a convoy transporting valuable technology through the industrial district. The planning is comprehensive, the tactics are sophisticated, and the individual coordinating the operation appears to understand exactly how to exploit your response patterns."
Cisco pulled up additional displays showing what looked like tactical analysis. "We've identified at least three separate instances over the past two weeks where criminal operations seemed designed specifically to gather intelligence about how you two respond to different situations. The jewelry district robbery wasn't just a crime—it was a data-gathering exercise."
"Someone's been studying us," Barry said slowly, his expression shifting from confused to concerned. "Analyzing our response times, our tactical approaches, our capabilities..."
"Exactly," Wells confirmed. "And based on the patterns we're seeing, they're preparing for an operation this Saturday evening. A convoy heist that will be coordinated with a distraction designed to draw you away from the actual target."
Caitlin pulled up medical and psychological profiles. "Whoever's planning this understands that you prioritize civilian safety over property protection. They're going to create a hostage situation—genuine enough to require immediate response—while their primary team executes the actual robbery."
Karan felt his enhanced perception sharpen as implications clicked into place. "You're saying someone is going to endanger civilians specifically to keep us occupied while they commit a different crime."
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Wells replied, his voice carrying grim certainty. "And based on our analysis, you'll have to make a choice—respond to the hostage situation and let the robbery proceed, or prioritize the convoy and potentially allow civilian casualties."
"That's not a choice," Barry said immediately. "We save the people. Every time."
"Which is exactly what this criminal is counting on," Wells said. "They've analyzed your response patterns and determined that you can be manipulated through your moral priorities."
The office fell silent as everyone processed the implications. Someone—some criminal mastermind—had been studying them specifically to exploit their heroic instincts. Had been putting civilians in danger as part of a larger plan to steal from S.T.A.R. Labs.
"Who is it?" Karan asked. "Do we know who's planning this?"
Wells pulled up a final display showing what appeared to be fragmented intelligence reports and surveillance footage. "His name is Leonard Snart. Former career criminal, exceptional tactical mind, known for elaborate planning and execution of sophisticated heists. He's been operating in Central City for years, but he's never attempted anything on this scale before."
"Why now?" Barry asked. "What changed?"
"You did," Cisco said quietly. "Both of you. Snart is facing a fundamental problem that every career criminal in Central City now faces—how do you commit crimes when there are heroes who can respond in minutes? He's adapting. Learning how to operate successfully despite your presence."
"So what do we do?" Karan asked, looking at Wells directly. "You didn't call us back here just to tell us we're being studied. You have a plan."
Wells' smile was calculating, carrying that edge of manipulation that always made Karan's instincts scream warnings. "I have several plans. The question is which one you're comfortable executing."
He pulled up a tactical map showing the proposed convoy route, the likely location of the distraction, and multiple response scenarios.
"Option one: We cancel the convoy transfer, eliminate the target, and force Snart to abort his operation. This is safe, prevents the heist, but also allows a sophisticated criminal to escape without consequences."
"Option two?" Barry asked.
"Option two: We proceed with the convoy as scheduled, but we provide you with intelligence about both the distraction and the heist. You coordinate your response to handle both situations simultaneously—Barry manages the hostage extraction while Karan intercepts the convoy robbery."
"That requires splitting up," Karan observed. "Which means neither of us has backup if things go wrong."
"Option three," Wells continued, "is that we allow the operation to proceed largely as Snart expects, but we position additional resources to respond once he's committed to the heist. CCPD tactical teams, technological countermeasures, perhaps even reaching out to other heroes for assistance."
"Like Supergirl," Cisco suggested. "She was in Central City last week. Maybe she'd be willing to provide backup?"
Karan felt his stomach drop at the suggestion, even though it was logically sound. "We don't have direct contact with Supergirl. How would we even coordinate that?"
"Actually," Caitlin said, pulling up communication records, "she left contact information with CCPD after the aircraft rescue. Captain Singh has a direct line to her support team in Metropolis. If we requested assistance for a major operation, there's a good chance she'd respond."
The conversation was moving in directions that made Karan increasingly uncomfortable. Bringing Kara into this situation—asking her to operate alongside them during a planned tactical response—would create complications that extended far beyond the immediate heist.
"What about a fourth option?" Karan asked, trying to redirect before they committed to plans that involved Supergirl. "What if we don't try to prevent the heist at all? What if we let Snart think he's succeeded, then track him back to wherever he takes the stolen technology?"
"That's... actually not a terrible idea," Cisco said slowly. "If we let him steal the convoy, we could track the cargo remotely. Let him think he got away with it, then roll up his entire operation once he feels safe."
"It's risky," Barry said. "What if we lose the tracking signal? What if he has technology that can detect our surveillance?"
"Both valid concerns," Wells agreed. "But it's also the approach most likely to result in Snart's capture rather than just preventing a single operation. If we stop this heist, he'll simply plan another one. But if we use this heist to identify his base of operations, his support network, his full capabilities... then we can eliminate the threat permanently."
The phrasing—"eliminate the threat permanently"—made Karan's enhanced senses tingle with warning. Wells wasn't talking about arrest and prosecution. He was talking about something more final.
"We don't eliminate people," Karan said firmly, meeting Wells' gaze directly. "We stop crimes, we protect people, and we let law enforcement handle prosecution. That's the line between heroes and vigilantes."
"Of course," Wells replied smoothly, though something flickered behind his glasses. "Poor choice of words on my part. I meant eliminate the operational threat through legal channels."
"So what's the decision?" Caitlin asked, looking between Barry and Karan. "The convoy is scheduled for Saturday evening—tomorrow—which means we need to finalize our approach tonight."
Barry and Karan looked at each other, and Karan could see his friend wrestling with the same concerns he was feeling. Every option carried risks. Every choice involved trade-offs between security and effectiveness.
"I need to think about this," Barry said finally. "Can we take a few hours to discuss our approach before committing to a specific plan?"
"Of course," Wells said, though his tone suggested he found the delay frustrating. "But understand that time is limited. Snart is executing his operation tomorrow evening whether we're prepared or not."
"We'll be prepared," Karan assured him, standing up with Barry. "Just give us until morning to finalize our tactical approach."
As they left Wells' office and made their way back through S.T.A.R. Labs' corridors, neither of them spoke until they were certain they were out of earshot of any surveillance systems.
"That was a trap," Barry said quietly. "Not the information about Snart—that's probably real. But the way Wells presented the options... he was trying to manipulate us into a specific choice."
"Agreed," Karan replied. "The question is which choice he actually wants us to make, and why."
"And whether we should do the opposite just because he's pushing us toward it."
They reached the residential wing where both of them had rooms, and Karan pulled Barry into his quarters so they could talk without worrying about monitoring.
"Okay," Karan said once the door was closed. "Real talk, no filters. What do you actually think we should do?"
Barry collapsed onto Karan's couch, running his hands through his hair with obvious frustration. "I think we should handle the hostage situation—that's non-negotiable, civilians always come first. But I also think we need backup for the convoy interception that doesn't involve splitting up or bringing in heroes whose identities we're supposed to be keeping separate from our civilian lives."
"You mean Supergirl," Karan said.
"I mean Supergirl," Barry confirmed. "Cisco's right that she'd probably help if we asked. But that creates complications about how we maintain secret identities when we're coordinating with heroes we're also interacting with as civilians."
"Especially when she just had dinner with us an hour ago without knowing we're the heroes she'd be working with," Karan added. "That's a recipe for compromised identities all around."
"So what do we do?"
Karan thought about the problem from multiple angles—tactical, ethical, practical. "What if we bring in Kendra? She has flight capabilities, combat training, and she already knows our identities. She could provide aerial support for the convoy interception while you handle the hostage situation and I coordinate between both operations."
"That puts a lot of responsibility on someone who's still figuring out her own abilities," Barry pointed out.
"But it also gives her the chance to be part of something larger than individual training sessions. And it keeps our circle of trust limited to people who already know what they're getting into."
Barry was quiet for a long moment, clearly weighing the options. "Okay. Let's talk to Kendra tomorrow, see if she's willing to take on a field operation with minimal preparation. And let's talk to Cisco about remote tracking options that don't require us to let Snart actually steal the convoy."
"Compromise approach," Karan said. "We try to prevent the heist while also gathering intelligence about Snart's operation. Best of both options two and four."
"Exactly. And if something goes wrong—if the situation becomes more complex than we expect—then we call for backup. But we start with what we can handle as a team."
Karan's phone buzzed with an incoming text, and he glanced at it to see Kendra's name.
**Kendra:** You okay? That medical situation sounded concerning.
**Karan:** Fine. Turned out to be precautionary monitoring rather than actual emergency. But we need to talk tomorrow about something that came up. Are you free in the morning?
**Kendra:** For you? Always. What kind of something?
**Karan:** The kind that's better discussed in person. Meet for coffee before your morning class?
**Kendra:** CC Roasters at 8 AM?
**Karan:** Perfect. See you then.
He set his phone down to find Barry watching him with a slight smile.
"What?" Karan asked.
"You and Kendra," Barry said. "That's becoming something, isn't it?"
"That's becoming complicated," Karan corrected. "But yeah, probably something too. Why?"
"Because it's nice. Seeing you connect with someone who understands this life. And because if we're going to ask her to risk herself helping us stop a sophisticated criminal operation, you should probably be honest about how you feel about her."
"What does that have to do with operational planning?"
"Everything," Barry said quietly. "Trust me on this—the worst thing you can do is wait until it's too late to tell someone how you feel about them. I've spent years making that mistake with Iris. Don't make the same one with Kendra."
The advice was raw enough that Karan recognized it came from genuine pain rather than abstract philosophy. "I'll think about it. After we survive Saturday."
"After we survive Saturday," Barry agreed. "Which brings us back to the immediate problem—what do we tell Wells tomorrow morning?"
"We tell him we're going with a modified version of his options," Karan said. "We'll coordinate with CCPD, we'll handle both situations as best we can, and we'll trust our judgment in the field rather than trying to follow a predetermined script."
"He's not going to like that."
"No, he's not. But he's been manipulating us since we woke up from our comas, and I'm tired of dancing around the fact that his interests might not align perfectly with ours."
Barry's expression shifted to something more serious. "You really think Wells has an agenda we don't know about?"
"I think Wells has multiple agendas we don't know about," Karan replied carefully. "But the question isn't whether he's completely honest with us—it's whether we can work with him despite that dishonesty."
"That's a depressing way to think about the man who's been helping us develop our abilities."
"That's a realistic way to think about someone who controls most aspects of our lives and has access to technology and resources we don't fully understand."
They sat in contemplative silence for a moment, both of them processing the complicated reality of their situation. Then Barry stood, stretching with movements that were slightly too fast for normal human perception.
"I'm going to head to bed. Try to get some sleep before tomorrow becomes today and we have to deal with all of this again."
"Good idea," Karan agreed. "And Barry? Thank you. For backing me up in there, for trusting my instincts about Wells, for being a genuine partner in all of this."
"That's what friends are for," Barry replied with a tired smile. "Even when friendship involves stopping sophisticated criminals and navigating the complicated politics of our suspicious guardian."
After Barry left, Karan sat alone in his room, thinking about everything that had been revealed and everything that remained hidden. Tomorrow he would meet with Kendra and ask her to risk herself for an operation she had minimal preparation for. Tomorrow night, they would face a criminal who had been studying them specifically to exploit their heroic instincts.
And through all of it, they would be operating under the observation of Eobard Thawne, who was using their development as heroes for purposes Karan could only partially understand.
*One crisis at a time,* he reminded himself as he prepared for bed.
*First Kendra. Then Snart. Then figuring out how to survive in a world where your mentor is secretly your enemy.*
Just another day in the life of Central City's heroes.
If they survived long enough to tell the story.
—
## CC Roasters Coffee Shop - 8:03 AM
Kendra arrived at CC Roasters exactly three minutes after Karan, which he suspected was deliberate—early enough to show she took the meeting seriously, late enough to avoid seeming overeager. She spotted him at their usual corner table and made her way over with the kind of purposeful stride that suggested she'd already consumed at least one cup of coffee before leaving her apartment.
"You look terrible," she said without preamble, settling into the chair across from him and studying his face with undisguised concern. "Either Wells' medical monitoring was more intense than you let on, or something else kept you up all night."
"Something else," Karan admitted, sliding a coffee across the table that he'd ordered for her—black with one sugar, the way she'd mentioned preferring during one of their previous conversations. "And I need to talk to you about something that's going to sound either incredibly presumptuous or dangerously reckless depending on your perspective."
"Well that's not ominous at all." Kendra took a sip of the coffee, her expression softening slightly at the gesture. "Okay, I'm caffeinated and curious. What's going on?"
Karan took a moment to organize his thoughts, trying to find the right balance between honesty and not completely overwhelming her with information. "Someone's been studying us. Barry and me, I mean. Analyzing our response patterns, our capabilities, figuring out how to exploit our tactical approaches."
"Someone meaning a criminal?" Kendra asked, her voice dropping to ensure they weren't overheard by the handful of early-morning customers scattered around the coffee shop.
"Someone meaning a very sophisticated criminal named Leonard Snart who's planning a major heist tomorrow evening. He's going to create a hostage situation specifically designed to draw us away from his actual target—a convoy transporting valuable technology through the industrial district."
Kendra's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "So you're facing a tactical dilemma. You can't be in two places at once, and this Snart person is counting on you prioritizing civilian safety over property protection."
"Exactly. Which is where..." Karan paused, recognizing he was about to ask something significant. "Which is where I'm hoping you might be willing to help."
"Help how?"
"Barry handles the hostage situation—his speed makes him ideal for rapid civilian evacuation. I coordinate between both operations and provide support where needed. And you..." He met her gaze directly. "You intercept the convoy robbery. Use your flight capabilities and combat training to prevent Snart from succeeding while we're occupied elsewhere."
Kendra was quiet for a long moment, her fingers wrapped around her coffee cup as she processed what he was asking. "You want me to take on a sophisticated criminal operation with minimal preparation, using abilities I'm still learning to control, based on intelligence about a person I've never encountered."
"Yes," Karan said simply. "And I recognize how completely unreasonable that sounds."
"It does sound unreasonable," Kendra agreed. "It also sounds necessary. Because if you're right about Snart exploiting your response patterns, then you need someone he hasn't studied. Someone whose capabilities he won't expect."
"That's my thinking. Though I should be completely honest—this isn't risk-free. Snart has been planning this operation for weeks. He'll have contingencies, backup plans, probably weapons designed to counter enhanced individuals."
"Weapons like what?"
Karan pulled out his phone and showed her the intelligence Wells had provided—technical specifications for what appeared to be cryogenic projection technology. "Something called a cold gun. Capable of flash-freezing targets through directed energy. Wells thinks Snart is planning to field-test it during the heist."
Kendra studied the specifications with the kind of analytical focus that suggested her combat training included tactical assessment. "Effective range of fifty meters, freezing time of three to four seconds for human targets. That's... that's actually concerning. Do we know if it works on people with enhanced physiology?"
"We don't. Which is part of why this is dangerous." Karan set his phone down, his expression serious. "Kendra, I'm not going to lie to you or minimize the risks. This could go wrong in multiple ways. Snart could have capabilities we haven't identified. The cold gun could be more effective than we expect. You could find yourself in over your head with no immediate backup."
"So why ask me at all?" Kendra's voice carried genuine curiosity rather than accusation. "If it's this dangerous, why not bring in someone more experienced? Supergirl was just in town—surely she'd help if you asked."
The question was more complicated than Kendra realized, given that Supergirl was currently maintaining a civilian identity as someone they'd just had dinner with. "Because bringing in outside heroes creates complications about secret identities and operational security. And because..." Karan paused, trying to articulate something that felt important. "Because you're not outside anymore. You're part of this team, even if we're still figuring out what that means."
Kendra's expression softened at that, and Karan saw some of her defensive wariness ease. "You really mean that. This isn't just about needing someone with flight capabilities—you actually want me to be part of what you're building."
"I do. Barry does. We both think you'd make our team stronger, not just because of your abilities but because of how you approach problems." Karan leaned forward, his voice earnest. "But I also need you to understand that saying yes to this means accepting real danger. And if you're not ready for that—if you'd rather wait until you've had more time to develop your capabilities—I'll completely understand."
"When would this operation happen?"
"Tomorrow evening. Saturday, approximately 8:30 PM based on our intelligence."
"That's..." Kendra did quick mental math. "That's less than thirty-six hours from now. Not a lot of time for preparation or coordination."
"No, it's not. Which is why I'm asking now rather than waiting until the last minute. If you say yes, we'll spend today and tomorrow running through scenarios, developing contingency plans, making sure you're as prepared as possible."
"And if I say no?"
"Then we adjust our approach and figure out a different solution." Karan's voice was firm. "Our friendship isn't contingent on you agreeing to risk yourself for our operations. That's non-negotiable."
Kendra smiled at that, genuine warmth breaking through her analytical assessment. "You know, most people would try to manipulate me into saying yes. Appeal to my ego or my sense of responsibility or my desire to prove myself."
"Most people are assholes," Karan replied. "I'm trying very hard not to be an asshole."
"You're succeeding." Kendra took another sip of her coffee, clearly thinking through the implications of what he was asking. "Okay. I'll do it. Not because I feel obligated or because I'm trying to prove something. But because you're right that this team is becoming important to me, and because sitting on the sidelines while you and Barry risk yourselves doesn't feel like the kind of person I want to be."
Relief washed over Karan, stronger than he'd expected. "Thank you. And I promise we'll do everything possible to make sure you're prepared and supported."
"I'm going to hold you to that." Kendra pulled out her phone, already shifting into planning mode. "What's the next step? When do we start tactical preparation?"
"This afternoon, if you're free. Cisco's setting up simulation scenarios at S.T.A.R. Labs that will let us practice coordination and response protocols."
"I'll be there. Though I should probably mention—I'm going to need to skip Dr. Chen's afternoon lecture. Think she'll accept 'preparing for superhero operation' as an excuse for absence?"
"Probably not. But I'm sure we can come up with something more conventional." Karan grinned despite the weight of what they were discussing. "How do you feel about 'family emergency requiring immediate attention'?"
"Vague enough to avoid follow-up questions, sympathetic enough to justify missing class. I like it." Kendra finished her coffee and stood, gathering her things. "I should get to my morning class before I'm late for that too. Text me the details about this afternoon?"
"I will. And Kendra?" Karan stood as well, trying to find words for something that felt important. "I really appreciate you trusting us with this. Trusting me."
"Don't make me regret it by getting yourself killed tomorrow," Kendra replied, though her smile was warm. "I just finally found people who understand this weird superhero life. I'd prefer to keep you around."
As she walked away, Karan found himself thinking about Barry's advice from the night before—about being honest with people you cared about before it was too late to say what mattered.
*After Saturday,* he promised himself. *After we survive whatever Snart throws at us, I'll figure out how to tell her that she's becoming more than just a teammate.*
But first, they had to survive Saturday.
And that, he suspected, was going to require every bit of capability, courage, and luck they could muster.
---
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