"Well, there is another option," Daniel said, his expression becoming noticeably less enthusiastic. "And I really don't like this one."
Cisco immediately looked at him. "Umm... you should know I'm against violence."
Daniel shrugged. "I like violence."
"That isn't reassuring."
"But don't worry. This won't hurt Caitlin. If anything, it'll be more of a pain in the ass for me."
Cisco frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Daniel pointed toward the Pipeline cell. "You can't keep Caitlin locked in there forever. Eventually, she'll have to come out. And if she does while she's still like this, she's definitely going to drain the energy out of someone."
Caitlin leaned against the glass, listening to them.
"Otherwise, I'll die, darling," she said matter-of-factly. "Compared to everyone else, I'm much more afraid of dying."
Daniel nodded. "That's why there's an alternative. Although it'll probably be a pain in the ass for me."
The moment Caitlin understood what he meant, her expression changed.
"You're thinking of letting me feed from you."
Daniel nodded.
A wide smile slowly spread across Caitlin's face.
"Oh, I like that idea."
Cisco immediately shook his head. "Nope."
Caitlin ignored him completely.
"Do you have any idea how much energy is inside you?" she asked, pressing her palm against the glass. Her eyes glowed faintly white as she stared at Daniel. "I've felt it since the first time I saw you. It's practically calling to me."
Daniel sighed. "That's exactly why you're not supposed to get excited about this."
"I can't help it."
Her smile became softer, almost affectionate.
"You'd really let me feed from you?"
"That's the plan."
Caitlin laughed quietly.
"Daniel, you're wonderful."
Cisco looked between them. "Why does that sound more threatening than romantic?"
Caitlin didn't even acknowledge him. Her attention remained fixed entirely on Daniel.
"You don't understand," she said softly. "I've spent days trapped in this cell, starving while everyone keeps looking at me like I'm some monster that needs to be contained. Then you walk in and offer me exactly what my body needs."
Her smile widened.
"And not just a little."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Don't get carried away. I have more energy than you think, and if you take too much, it'll hurt you. Excessive energy can become poison."
Caitlin's smile only grew.
"I won't."
She tilted her head, her expression almost innocent.
"I'll be careful with you."
Cisco groaned. "That sentence somehow made this worse."
Daniel continued as if he hadn't heard him.
"You realize she's already obsessed with you, right?" Cisco asked. He looked at Daniel with genuine concern. "I mean, seriously. Where did the normal Caitlin go?"
Daniel sighed.
"Yeah. I've noticed. Recently, I seem to be getting popular, but not in the way I want."
Caitlin smiled sweetly from behind the glass.
"Obsessed is such an ugly word."
She slowly dragged her fingers down the glass without taking her eyes off Daniel.
"I prefer devoted."
Daniel looked at Cisco. "You can let her out."
Cisco hesitated. "You're sure about this?"
"Yeah. Open the Pipeline."
Cisco gave him a doubtful look before reaching over and pressing the control.
The locks disengaged one after another, followed by a mechanical hiss as the reinforced door opened.
Caitlin stepped out immediately, her eyes locking onto Daniel.
She moved toward him with an almost unsettling eagerness.
Daniel immediately raised his hand and covered her mouth before she could get any closer.
"Whoa. Easy."
Caitlin blinked, then looked at him with an innocent expression.
Daniel sighed. "Yeah, keep the kissing part out."
Cisco looked away, trying not to laugh.
"Thank you," he muttered. "I really didn't need to see that."
Caitlin gently pulled Daniel's hand away from her mouth.
"I was only happy to see you."
"I know," Daniel said. "But remember the deal. You need to control yourself."
Her expression softened, though the obsessive smile remained.
"But I'm hungry," Caitlin said.
"Yeah, okay." Daniel extended his hand toward her for a handshake.
Caitlin stared at his hand.
"Totally unromantic."
"Look, recently the romantic side of me is dead. I buried it in my backyard because, honestly, it's making my life hard."
Recently, being a playboy had become a lot harder than Daniel had expected. Once the women around him started becoming aggressive and possessive, even a simple interaction could turn into a headache.
Instead of shaking his hand, Caitlin took it and gently pressed his palm against her cheek.
Daniel looked at her suspiciously. "What are you doing?"
Frost immediately began spreading across his hand as Caitlin absorbed the heat from his body. Unlike before, she wasn't desperately trying to drain him. She was carefully taking only what she needed.
Daniel looked at the frost covering his skin.
"Well, compared to last time, this is more delicious."
She slowly licked the frost from his hand.
Daniel stared at her for a moment.
Cisco stared too.
"Okay, I'm leaving," Cisco announced.
He turned around and walked toward the exit before either of them could say anything.
Daniel watched him go.
"He's getting better at knowing when to leave."
Caitlin smiled and kept hold of Daniel's hand.
"I like him."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You were threatening to freeze him earlier."
"I've changed my mind."
"That's comforting."
*****
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