Chapter 76 – "Rasputin"
The city was safe.
The sun cast golden rays over Central City as the wind breezed through the trees. Birds chirped, and civilians walked the streets peacefully, oblivious to the metahuman Barry had just apprehended an hour ago. For once, it was a normal day.
Inside the Cortex, the Flash's team enjoyed the rare calm.
"YOU PROMISED ME!" Cisco's voice echoed dramatically through the room.
Dante, seated lazily in a spinning chair, groaned. He had his legs propped up on the console, cigarette resting between his fingers like a Bond villain.
> "Dude," Dante sighed, "let it go. I lie. It's like... my thing."
Caitlin tried to hold back a laugh but failed, covering her mouth as she chuckled.
Wells raised an amused brow from across the room. "He does lie... frequently."
> "I don't care!" Cisco insisted, crossing his arms like a child denied ice cream. "You said—and I quote—'If I survive, I'll sing whatever song you pick.' That was the deal!"
> "And I survived, so technically I should get to renegotiate," Dante said with a smirk.
> "No renegotiation! You're singing or I swear I'll make you cover BLACKPINK."
That made Dante pause.
He turned his head slowly, eyes narrowing at Cisco.
> "You wouldn't."
> "Oh, I would. DDU-DU DDU-DU on full blast, baby."
Dante looked away.
Then back.
Then away again.
> "...Fine. But only because I kind of have a thing for Lisa and Jennie."
That stopped the conversation dead.
Barry, having just blurred into S.T.A.R. Labs after another metahuman scuffle, stumbled to a halt mid-step.
> "Wait, what?"
Cisco blinked.
Caitlin tilted her head.
> "Really?" she asked.
Dante gave a shrug and a crooked grin. "What can I say? They're hot."
Cisco stared at him like he was seeing Dante for the first time. "I don't even know you anymore."
> "Don't worry," Dante added, smirking. "I still don't really like the songs. I just appreciate the... choreography."
Barry doubled over laughing.
Even Wells cracked a rare smile.
Caitlin looked at Dante, clearly enjoying the absurdity of the moment.
Cisco wasn't letting it go. "One song, Dante. One. Or I will cry. I swear to God, I'll cry. Like ugly cry."
> "Okay, okay, okay!" Dante threw his hands up. "God damn it."
Cisco grinned and whipped out his phone. "Yes! You're gonna love this."
Dante eyed him with suspicion. "What's the song?"
Cisco tapped a few times. Music started.
Dante listened for half a second, then blinked. "Seriously? Rasputin?"
Cisco nodded with a devilish smile.
> "By Boney M," Barry confirmed. "A certified Cisco classic."
Caitlin gave a playful shrug. "It's catchy."
Dante let out a long, dramatic sigh. He stood up, walked to the center of the Cortex where the screen glowed faintly in the background, and took one last drag from his cigarette before dropping it into a soda can.
He closed his eyes, tapping one foot softly to the beat.
> "This is gonna be embarrassing," he muttered.
> "Oh, we're recording," Cisco said, already holding up his phone.
Barry leaned against the wall, watching with a grin.
Caitlin sat on a chair, her eyes quietly focused on Dante.
And then—he began to sing.
---
"There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear…"
---
The room fell silent.
Dante's voice was... stunning.
Deep, rich, and clear. It carried effortlessly through the Cortex like a tidal wave of rhythm and power. No autotune, no mic—just raw, unexpected talent.
Cisco's mouth dropped open.
Barry blinked.
Caitlin tilted forward in her chair, genuinely surprised.
Dante moved with the beat, tapping his foot harder now, a half-smirk tugging his lips as he got into it. He didn't just sing—he performed.
---
"He could preach the Bible like a preacher
Full of ecstasy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire…"
---
He winked toward Caitlin as he sang that line, and she blushed, laughing.
Then came the chorus, and Dante threw his hands in the air theatrically.
---
"Ra Ra Rasputin
Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that really was gone
Ra Ra Rasputin
Russia's greatest love machine
It was a shame how he carried on…"
---
Cisco joined in on backup vocals, dancing badly.
Barry actually clapped along.
Wells muttered something about "musical theater trauma" and walked out.
Dante powered through the verses with surprising charisma, not even looking at the lyrics. The rhythm flowed through him like a second skin, and by the end of the second chorus, he was twirling an imaginary cane and doing a dramatic bow.
"He ruled the Russian land and never mind the czar
But the kasachok he danced really wunderbar…"
By the time the song finished, Dante was panting lightly, arms out like he'd just finished a Broadway audition.
A moment of stunned silence.
Then Cisco screamed, "YESSSSSSSSS!"
Barry clapped hard. "That was amazing!"
Caitlin smiled warmly. "You have a beautiful voice."
Dante looked at her, pretending to fan himself. "Say that again. I need it for my ego."
She rolled her eyes but smiled wider.
> "Okay," Dante said, hands in his pockets. "Now delete that video, Cisco."
> "Not a chance in hell."
An Hour Later
The video was already trending on TikTok.
Apparently, someone (ahem, Cisco) had uploaded it with the title: "When your friend survives space battle and turns out to be a musical god."
Dante groaned as he watched it go viral.
> "Great. I'm a meme now. Again"
> "You were already a meme," Cisco said. "Now you're just a famous one."
Caitlin nudged Dante's shoulder. "Come on. Admit it. You had fun."
Dante paused, then nodded slowly.
> "Okay. Yeah. I did."
> "So... BLACKPINK cover next?" Barry joked.
Dante gave him a look.
> "I swear, if I end up singing Boombayah, I'll burn the Cortex down."
They all laughed.
And somewhere in the midst of that joy—between the teasing and the music and the soft looks between Dante and Caitlin—the team remembered something simple:
That heroes weren't just gods of fire and thunder.
Sometimes, they were just... human.
Flawed. Loud. Dramatic.
But capable of beautiful, unexpected things.
---
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