Ch - 21 Feelings?

Swayam didn't leave S.T.A.R. Labs just because of the silence—he left because his own emotions were spiraling out of control. The facade he maintained in front of Eobard Thawne was starting to take a toll on him, and today had been the tipping point.

Ever since being pulled from his old life into a world he had thought was fictional, Swayam had lived with constant stress. His life had been difficult, but at least it had a certain stability. Now, he found himself in an unpredictable, dangerous universe where he had to be constantly on guard. If Eobard Thawne ever perceived him as a threat, it wouldn't be difficult for the villain to eliminate him.

On top of this vigilance, Swayam had to be careful not to disrupt the major events of the timeline. He had a strong desire to help, but every action could potentially alter history in drastic and unpredictable ways. Even though he was surrounded by the protagonists, there was no guarantee their protection would extend to him indefinitely.

Yes, he had managed to imitate the abilities of the team around him, but it wasn't enough to make him invincible. Each ability he mimicked needed time to develop and grow, and he couldn't afford to openly demonstrate his powers. Not yet.

After an hour of wandering outside, calming his mind, and trying to get a handle on his emotions, Swayam finally felt ready to return to S.T.A.R. Labs.

When he walked back in, the first thing he saw was Caitlin pacing anxiously. She froze when she noticed him, her eyes softening with relief. She wanted to ask him how he was feeling but hesitated, clearly afraid of triggering another emotional outburst.

Swayam saw her inner conflict and smiled gently, walking up to her. Without a word, he pulled her into a soft hug, speaking quietly into her ear, "I'm alright, Caitlin. Don't worry."

Caitlin stiffened at first, surprised by the embrace, but then relaxed. When she heard him use her full name, though, she pulled back just enough to correct him, her voice playful despite her lingering worry. "It's Cait, not Caitlin. Don't forget."

Swayam chuckled, feeling a little lighter in her presence. "My bad. Cait... my Cait."

Caitlin blushed deeply, hiding her face against his chest. Swayam couldn't help but notice how adorable she looked, her shyness overwhelming her. They stayed like that for a while, the warmth of their connection soothing both of them.

From across the room, Cisco's voice broke the moment. "If you guys need a little more private time, I'm sure I can hold down the fort here. Feel free to head home." He smirked, clearly enjoying their awkwardness.

Caitlin pulled away from Swayam instantly, shooting Cisco a glare. She hurried to her workstation, but even from a distance, Swayam could see the occasional glance she threw in his direction, each one followed by a shy look down at her table.

The night passed with an air of awkwardness, and Caitlin eventually took an early leave, clearly too flustered to stay any longer. Swayam, following her lead, also left shortly after. Cisco stayed behind, muttering something about ingredients for Barry's diet, but the room felt emptier without Caitlin and Swayam.

The next day, when they regrouped to discuss Barry's new diet, the speedster entered the lab covered in blood and bruises. Caitlin immediately went to work patching him up, wincing slightly as she saw the extent of his injuries. "Sorry," she murmured as she applied some ointment, "the abrasions are healing quickly, but I know this must hurt."

Barry nodded, wincing. "Yeah, I got my ass handed to me."

Cisco, more focused on Barry's suit than his injuries, examined the bloodstains. "You got blood on my suit, man!" he said with mock indignation.

Barry gave a tired laugh. "I think some of it belongs to the attacker."

Harrison Wells pulled up information on the meta-human Barry had encountered, projecting an image onto the screen. "Danton Black. A bio-geneticist specializing in therapeutic cloning."

Caitlin added, "He worked for Stagg Industries. They stole his research and then fired him."

Barry shook his head, recalling the fight. "He can create duplicates. Clones of himself."

Cisco couldn't resist. "That's some poetic irony. The cloning guy can literally clone himself."

Harrison's analytical mind quickly connected the dots. "He must have been experimenting on himself when the particle accelerator explosion happened."

Cisco grinned. "Captain Clone. I'm calling it now."

As they discussed the situation, Caitlin remained distracted, her thoughts still on Swayam, who hadn't arrived yet. Her anxiety lifted when he finally entered the lab, just as Cisco was declaring his new villain name.

Swayam, noticing the lighthearted conversation, asked, "What are you coming up with now, Cisco?"

Cisco, still smiling, looked over. "Sam, you're back! Feeling better?"

Swayam nodded. "Yeah, much better." He glanced at Caitlin briefly before turning to Barry. "I wanted to apologize, Barry. I lost control yesterday, and I said things I shouldn't have."

Barry, who had been brooding over his argument with Joe all night, shook his head. "You don't need to apologize, Sam. You were right. I've been acting like a fool, and I've been ungrateful to Joe. He was just trying to protect me, and I lashed out."

Swayam was about to respond when Barry continued, his voice heavy with doubt. "The truth is, I'm not ready for this. I can run fast, but I'm not a fighter. I barely managed to hold my own against one meta-human. How am I supposed to protect anyone when I can't even protect myself?"

Wells, sensing Barry's self-doubt, tried to encourage him. "Barry, today was a setback, but that's all it was. Every great endeavor faces challenges. You won't learn to fly if you don't crash a few times."

But Barry wasn't convinced. "This wasn't some grand endeavor, Dr. Wells. It was a mistake."

With that, he walked out, leaving Swayam feeling a deep pang of empathy for his friend. Swayam understood what it was like to feel overwhelmed, to be thrust into a situation that felt impossible. As he watched Barry leave, he hoped that Barry, like him, would find the strength to keep moving forward, even when the odds felt insurmountable.