Ethan walked through the front doors of STAR Labs, the heavy steel frames feeling colder than usual. The sleek, futuristic design of the building loomed over him, yet today, it felt like something else. The lab's sterile, high-tech interior was still as polished and precise as ever, but something about the air felt different. Heavy. Charged.
The explosion—Barry's accident, the one that had changed everything—was still fresh in his mind. The hum of machinery, the soft click of keyboard keys, the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the breakroom, all these things were now tainted with a strange familiarity. He had been here so many times before. Back when everything had been... normal.
But now?
He could feel it. The spark.
Ethan's steps were slower than usual as he crossed the main atrium. His body was still adjusting, still vibrating with an energy that he couldn't understand. Every sound, every movement around him, felt too vivid, too pronounced. The rhythm of the world had changed, and he wasn't sure how to keep up.
He passed by a large window that overlooked the lower levels of the lab. Through it, he could see Caitlin Snow at her desk, her head bent over a pile of papers. She was always so focused, always so determined, but today her brow was furrowed in a way that made Ethan pause. There was a faint sense of worry in the air around her, and something about it called to him.
He inhaled sharply, his body reacting instinctively to the emotions lingering in the space between them. What's going on with me? he thought, pressing a hand to his forehead. The overwhelming awareness of everything around him felt almost suffocating at times, but Caitlin... Caitlin was different. He could sense it.
He didn't even know why he was here. He didn't have any clear reason, other than the fact that STAR Labs had always been a place of comfort for him, a place that had been home to both him and Barry for so many years. Now, though, everything felt strange. A stranger in his own skin.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed forward, heading toward the lab's central elevators. His hands were still shaky from the overwhelming sensations, the pulse in his veins still quickened. He reached for the elevator button and pressed it, the sharp sound of the chime cutting through the noise in his head. He felt as though he couldn't stop moving.
The doors slid open, and Ethan stepped in, his thoughts still tumbling over one another. He needed answers. He needed Caitlin. She was the only one who might understand what was going on.
When the elevator arrived at the lab floor, he stepped out and immediately spotted Caitlin again. She hadn't noticed him yet, but Ethan could feel her presence like a magnetic pull. She was seated at a desk with her back slightly hunched, scrolling through something on her computer, furiously typing notes. It seemed like she was lost in her work, but there was a tightness to her shoulders that made Ethan hesitate.
He cleared his throat as he approached, trying to shake off the sudden unease that had settled in his chest.
"Hey, Caitlin," he said softly, trying to keep his voice steady.
Caitlin looked up, startled, but her face softened when she saw it was him. "Ethan!" she said with a relieved smile, standing up from her desk. "You startled me there. I didn't expect anyone... not today." She paused, glancing down at her desk. "I'm kind of buried in paperwork after the explosion. A lot to process, you know?"
Ethan nodded, unsure how to start the conversation. His senses were still heightened—he could hear the steady hum of the ventilation system, the faint tap of Caitlin's fingers on the desk, and the quickened beat of her heart when she smiled at him. All of it was too much.
"I... I needed to get out for a while," he said, his voice low. "Everything's been kind of overwhelming, and I thought maybe coming here would help." He paused, staring at the floor. "Things are... different."
Caitlin studied him for a moment, her expression shifting from professional to concerned. "I get it," she said gently, her voice calm. "The explosion... it changed everything for a lot of us. Not just with Barry, but... well, all of us. I can't pretend to know exactly what you're going through, Ethan, but if you ever need someone to talk to... you know where to find me."
Ethan nodded, the words calming him more than he expected. Caitlin was always good at listening, even when there was little to say. But today, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more, something unspoken between them.
"How's Barry?" Ethan asked, glancing over at her as she fiddled with her pen.
"Barry's... he's been pushing himself, as usual," Caitlin replied, giving a soft sigh. "But he's doing better. I think he's still recovering, mentally more than physically. Everything's been happening so fast." She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a quiet concern. "And you? You look a little... off. You haven't been hurt, have you?"
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but the words didn't come. Instead, the hum in his mind grew louder, almost unbearable. His eyes darted around the room, unable to focus on one thing for too long. The walls seemed to be pressing in on him, the air crackling with an energy he couldn't explain.
"I don't know what's happening to me, Caitlin," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "After the explosion, I've been... different. My senses are heightened, I feel... I don't know... like I can't keep up with everything around me. It's too much."
Caitlin's expression softened as she stepped closer to him. "Ethan, you've been through something unimaginable. The energy from the particle accelerator... it's changed Barry, and it might be doing something to you too." She hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're not the first to experience this. It's just... maybe your body's reacting differently."
Ethan's head spun. "It's not just that, Caitlin. I... I hear things. I hear people's heartbeats. I can see things happening in slow motion. And it's like I'm moving faster than I should be. Like the world's... I don't know, bending around me." He could feel the frustration building in his chest, a lump forming in his throat. "I don't know how to control it."
Caitlin stepped back, her brow furrowing as she processed his words. "It sounds like... like your body is reacting to the Speed Force." Her voice was quiet, measured, but there was something in her eyes—something almost fearful—that made Ethan's stomach twist.
"Speed Force?" he echoed, the name unfamiliar but... it stirred something inside him. Like he had heard it before, but from someone else. Someone important.
Caitlin nodded slowly. "It's a... well, it's complicated. But it's possible that after the explosion, you were affected by the same energy that gave Barry his abilities. The Speed Force is a kind of energy field that interacts with certain people, giving them superhuman speed. Barry's been dealing with it for a while now. And I think... I think it's starting to affect you too."
Ethan's mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest. The Speed Force. It sounded so surreal, but at the same time, it made perfect sense. His body was reacting to something. Something beyond his control. Something that was awakening within him.
"I didn't ask for this," Ethan muttered, his voice tight with frustration.
"You don't have to," Caitlin replied softly. "But whatever happens, you're not alone. You've got Barry. And you've got me."
Ethan looked up at her, her words bringing a small sense of comfort. But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning. Whatever the Speed Force was, it was inside him now. And he had no idea what would come next.
But one thing was certain—he was no longer the same person. The spark had been ignited. And now, he would have to learn to control it.