Chapter 74 – "After the War"
The war was over.
For the first time in weeks, Central City was quiet. Peaceful. Almost... boring.
No alien invasions. No collapsing timelines. No cosmic flames.
Just the Cortex, filled with the warmth of victory—and one very unconscious Dante.
> "Technically," Barry said, hands on his hips, "he saved the world."
> "Technically?" Cisco scoffed. "The guy went full flaming god mode in space and erased a Dominator fleet. He deserves, like, a Nobel Prize and a nap."
Dante was lying flat on the floor of the Cortex. Arms and legs spread out like he'd been dropped from the ceiling. Hair wild. Suit still burnt. Completely knocked out.
> "He looks dead," Caitlin said, kneeling beside him to check his pulse. "But his heart rate is... surprisingly relaxed. Like a baby."
Cisco pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
He slid it between Dante's lips with dramatic flair.
Caitlin rolled her eyes and added a soda can to Dante's hand.
Joe chuckled and carefully rested sunglasses on his forehead. "Now he just needs a beach towel."
Barry stood over him and snapped a photo.
> "This one's going on the wall. The day the idiot saved the universe and took a nap in the Cortex."
Everyone laughed.
They didn't know what else to do.
Dante had burned brighter than anyone expected. And now… he was just peacefully snoring on the floor.
---
The Next Morning
The teams began to leave.
Oliver and the Arrow crew said their goodbyes—quiet nods, firm handshakes. Even Diggle hugged Barry before stepping into the breach Cisco opened for them.
Then the Legends filed out—Sara slapping Dante's shoulder gently (he didn't even stir), Nate throwing a blanket over him like a bro cape.
> "He's earned the sleep," Sara said.
Even Batwoman dropped by long enough to mumble "Nice job" before Cisco breached her back to Gotham.
And finally…
It was Kara's turn.
She stood by the shimmering blue breach, arms crossed, cape fluttering gently behind her. Barry stood beside her, smiling but clearly tired.
> "You sure you don't want to stay a little longer?" he asked.
> "If I stay," Kara said with a soft smile, "I'll start thinking about moving in."
> "Could be fun."
> "Barry," she smirked, "I'd eat your whole fridge by Wednesday."
Cisco chuckled from the console. "He already shares it with Dante. That thing's basically a black hole."
Kara laughed, then turned toward the breach.
But just as she was about to step through—
> "Mmmmmmhhrrrrghhhh—!"
A loud, ugly yawn echoed through the Cortex.
Everyone turned.
Dante sat up from the floor, one hand rubbing his eye, the other still holding the soda Caitlin had given him.
> "Man…" he groaned. "I think I'm dead."
He blinked around the room.
Everyone was gone—except Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, Joe...
And Kara, standing just at the edge of her portal.
He squinted at her.
> "Whoa. You going without a kiss goodbye?"
Kara smirked.
> "Are you sure about that?"
Dante blinked.
Then turned slowly to Caitlin—who was speaking softly with Joe in the corner.
He smiled.
A little softer this time.
A little more real.
> "No," he said, voice low. "I've got someone I want."
Kara raised her eyebrows, lips curling.
> "Oooooooh."
Dante turned back to her with a grin.
> "Sorry, love. I know your heart's probably shattered, but what can I say?"
He smoothed back his wild hair dramatically.
> "I'm him."
The room exploded in laughter.
Even Caitlin looked over, shaking her head with a smile.
Joe let out a low chuckle. "Lord help whoever ends up with that one."
> "He's exhausting," Barry said.
> "But weirdly charming," Cisco added.
Kara laughed and walked up to Dante.
She didn't say anything at first.
Just leaned down—
And winked.
> "Save your drama, space boy. I like happy endings."
Then she stepped through the breach and vanished.
---
Back in the Cortex
Dante stood up slowly, stretching until his back popped.
Caitlin walked over to him, her arms crossed. "You okay?"
He looked at her for a long moment.
> "I dreamt I burned," he whispered. "And then… I was just floating."
> "You weren't floating," she said. "You were falling like a comet on fire."
> "Sounds hot."
> "Literally."
They both laughed.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
> "Thanks for not giving up on me."
> "You scare me sometimes," she admitted.
> "Good. That means I'm consistent."
> "But I trust you."
That silenced him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
> "...I trust you too, Snow Queen."
---
Later That Day
Cisco sat beside Dante on the Cortex floor—again.
This time with snacks.
"Not saving the world today?" Cisco asked.
Dante shrugged. "Only if someone needs it."
> "Kinda crazy, huh?" Cisco added. "You... changed."
> "Nah," Dante replied, biting into a granola bar. "I just remembered who I was before I became a monster."
Cisco looked at him.
> "And who was that?"
Dante glanced across the room at Caitlin.
> "Someone who wanted to be worth something."
---
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