Chapter 77 – "The Date"
It had been a few weeks since Caitlin and Ronnie finalized their divorce.
The papers were signed. The closure was real.
For Caitlin, it was bittersweet. A chapter of her life had ended. And while it was painful at first—full of sleepless nights and long talks with Barry and Cisco—it also brought something else.
Freedom.
And unexpectedly... happiness.
Not the kind that exploded in fireworks or echoed through fanfare, but something quieter. A gentle peace. One that grew louder every time a certain sarcastic, cigarette-scented narcissist entered the room.
Dante.
He'd been there. Not with sympathy or forced comfort. But with his own brand of support—ego-heavy, beautifully chaotic, oddly charming. He made her laugh when she didn't want to. He teased her when she was brooding. And somehow, without trying, he made her feel like herself again.
They talked more and more. Shared long conversations through comms when Barry and Dante were in the field. Dante would banter mid-fight just to hear Caitlin's laugh in his ear.
She didn't even notice she was smiling more.
But Barry did.
So did Cisco.
---
One Tuesday Afternoon
The Cortex buzzed with quiet energy. Barry and Cisco were in the fabrication lab testing out a new mini-drone Cisco called "Buzzball." Wells was in his underground lab muttering about quantum algorithms while his daughter hung out with Wally West—(neither of them speedsters in this timeline)
And Caitlin?
She was alone in the Cortex, reading over some bloodwork.
The door slid open.
> "You always look too professional when I walk in," Dante's voice drawled as he entered.
Caitlin glanced up with a raised brow. "Maybe because I'm doing actual work?"
> "That's adorable," he grinned.
He walked over, hands casually in his jacket pockets.
> "Hey," he said after a beat, looking almost—almost—serious.
> "Yeah?" Caitlin said, her attention still partly on the screen.
> "Do you want to go on a date?"
Caitlin froze.
Not because she didn't want to say yes—but because she didn't expect him to be that straightforward. This was Dante, the king of teasing, the lord of sarcasm. The last person she thought would just say it.
She looked at him, trying to read his expression.
He was smirking, but underneath it—was something genuine.
Soft. Sincere.
She smiled.
> "Yes."
Dante raised a brow. "You didn't even hesitate."
> "You didn't even ask with a plan."
> "Touché," he smirked. "Alright, I'll pick you up at eight. Dress like you're ready for dinner and possibly chaos."
> "So... normal Tuesday?"
> "Exactly."
And with that, he turned and walked out, already pulling out his phone and texting—probably Cisco.
---
7:00 PM – Central City
A modest, cozy house sat just two blocks from Barry's place. Small porch. Worn red door. A few potted plants someone clearly tried to keep alive but had mostly surrendered to nature.
Inside, the knock came just as Dante was tightening the cuff of his sleeve.
He opened the door to find Barry and Cisco standing there.
> "Okay," Cisco said, glancing around, "I thought you lived in a café."
Dante gave him a deadpan look. "Who do you think I am, Batman?"
Barry chuckled, stepping inside. "To be fair, you never told us where you live. Cisco found you using a tracker he installed in your jacket three weeks ago."
> "Excuse me?!"
> "For safety purposes," Cisco said quickly. "You're basically allergic to communication."
Dante groaned, leading them into the living room. It was clean, surprisingly organized. A bookshelf lined one wall. Posters of old bands, motorcycles, and a black-and-white photo of Lisa from BLACKPINK taped to the fridge.
Barry raised a brow at that. "Really?"
> "Don't judge me," Dante muttered as he walked to his room.
The door was slightly open, and the two friends followed.
Inside, it looked like a chaotic war between "I care about how I look" and "I'll just wear black again." Clothes were strewn across the bed. A leather jacket hung from the closet door. Cologne bottles were everywhere.
> "Help me not look like I'm going to a biker funeral," Dante said, holding up two shirts. One black. One even blacker.
Cisco snorted. "You need contrast, man. Women like contrast."
> "Are you sure? Caitlin is a scientist. She likes logic."
> "Then logically," Barry said, "let us handle it."
The next twenty minutes were a flurry of arguments over shirts, hair gel, and what "stylish but dangerous" actually meant. At one point, Dante just stood in front of the mirror, arms crossed, while Cisco styled his hair like a barber from a 90s sitcom.
> "If this doesn't work," Dante warned, pointing at his reflection, "this is on your head, Cisco."
> "Please," Cisco said, admiring his own handiwork, "that hair could end wars."
Barry adjusted Dante's collar. "You actually clean up pretty well."
Dante looked at himself in the mirror.
Black slim-fit jeans, crisp grey shirt, leather jacket. Hair styled perfectly. A faint smirk on his face.
> "Alright," he said, grabbing a small bottle of cologne and spritzing once. "Let's see if Frostbite likes fire."
> "Was that your pickup line?" Cisco asked.
> "No. I have much worse."
---
8:00 PM – Caitlin's Apartment
Caitlin was waiting.
Simple blue dress. Hair curled gently. A necklace she hadn't worn in years. Nervous fingers adjusting everything over and over.
When the knock came, she took a breath.
Opened the door.
And there was Dante.
Looking... not like Dante.
He looked like someone who had tried. No cigarette. No sarcasm in the first second. Just a soft expression and hands in his pockets.
> "Wow," he said, eyes scanning her with obvious admiration. "You're... you."
Caitlin smiled. "And you're wearing a color that's not black."
> "This is character growth."
> "So... where are we going?"
> "That's a surprise."
> "Should I be worried?"
> "Absolutely."
He offered his arm. She took it.
---
Later That Night – Somewhere by the Water
The surprise?
A small rooftop dinner above a closed bookshop. String lights, quiet music from an old speaker, and pizza from her favorite place.
> "You didn't want to do fancy?" Caitlin asked.
> "Fancy's not me," Dante said. "And honestly... I just wanted to eat where I can hear you laugh."
She blinked.
He looked away immediately, grabbing a slice.
> "Don't make that face. It's one date. I'm not getting poetic."
But Caitlin was smiling.
And she didn't stop smiling all night.
They talked. They laughed. They argued about whether Bruce Wayne could beat Tony Stark in a rap battle. They shared stories about childhood. And when it was time to go, Dante walked her home.
At her door, he paused.
> "So... did Cisco's styling work?"
Caitlin leaned in.
Kissed his cheek.
> "It worked."
Dante turned to her, his smirk returning full force. "Then I guess I owe him one."
> "You really don't."
> "Agreed."
She laughed, opening the door.
> "Goodnight, Dante."
> "Goodnight, Snow Queen."
And just as she stepped inside, he added:
> "Same time next week?"
She didn't even hesitate.
> "Absolutely."
---
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