Barry tugged the door of his apartment shut, his mind racing faster than his legs usually did. The crimson Flash suit clung snugly to him, its lightning bolt emblem gleaming faintly under the dim hallway light. He adjusted his cowl and took a step forward, ready to vanish in a blur of red.

But then he froze.

A soft jingle of keys reached his ears, and he glanced up sharply. Just a few feet away, his neighbor—you—stood at your door, keys in hand. The sharp metallic click of the lock echoed louder than it should have, and your gaze snapped up at the sound of his door.

Barry’s stomach plummeted.

For a split second, he considered dashing away, disappearing before you could fully register what you were seeing. But it was already too late. Your eyes widened, and Barry could practically see the gears turning in your head. He stayed rooted to the spot, like a deer caught in headlights, the bright red of his suit doing nothing to help him blend into the shadows.

He opened his mouth, some desperate attempt at an excuse bubbling to the surface. "Uh—"

Nope, nothing. His mind betrayed him.

Instead, he lifted a hand awkwardly, almost like he was waving, though it looked more like a nervous twitch. His face, partially visible through the mask, was a mix of sheepishness and sheer panic.

"Hi," he said finally, voice a little higher than usual.

You didn't say anything. Maybe you were too shocked. Maybe you were just trying to figure out if this was some elaborate prank. Barry wasn’t sure which option he hoped for.

"Okay, uh... I can explain." He ran a gloved hand over the back of his neck, the motion creasing the red fabric. "Actually, no, I can’t. But, uh, this isn't what it looks like. Well, actually, it kind of is..."

He trailed off, groaning internally at his own awkwardness. This was not how he wanted his double life to come out.

Barry offered a nervous chuckle, shifting on his heels awkwardly.