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[thescarletspeedster]

It's nearing the end of Derek's shift at Semele's. It's barely the end of Barry's at the precinct, but the fun part about being a speedster means there's no need for time to prepare. When the clock sounds, he's out of his work clothes and into his Flash suit in no time, racing towards the bar.

He's in and out so fast that no one could see, though some of the regulars must be used to the telltale crackle of electricity by now. In his wake is a note taped to Derek's office door.

Corner of Parliament and Girard. Use your nose!

Pleased, Barry races off to the spot, ready to affix his next note.

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[triskehale]

Derek is in his office at Semele's, bent over a stack of invoices, when a sudden gust of wind sends a flutter through the office. The familiar scent of electricity hits his nose and he smiles to himself, rubbing tired eyes before pulling himself to his feet.

He's expecting to find Barry already changed into his regular clothes when he steps out, but what he finds instead is a note carrying a lingering trace of Barry's scent. He quirks a brow and then steps into his office to grab his things before shutting the office door behind him.

"Kira, I'm taking off," he calls out as he heads for the door, and she hollers back his approval as he steps outside.

He heads for the intersection and tips his head back a little, subtly scenting the air with the note clutched in his hand. Already, he's fully distracted by the game and eager to see what comes next.

[thescarletspeedster]

Barry is all but vibrating with excitement, darting between Girard St. and Semele's to watch, and when he spies Derek leaving on schedule he races back, checking that his note is still there.

Appian Way. Take the suit!

Grinning, Barry darts to the next checkpoint. He needn't have worried, the CSI tech he's paid to wait with Derek's nicest suit is already at the corner with another note, and Barry runs up the side of a building to spy.

[triskehale]

When Derek arrives at the designated intersection, he's surprised to not find Barry's scent, but his own. There is a bemused looking man holding a garment bag, and he holds it and a piece of paper out to Derek. He takes them, looking a little flabbergasted, and the man nods before turning to walk away.

Derek reads the note, and he can't help but to smile softly at Barry's neat scrawl. He knows that he hasn't been the easiest to deal with lately, so dragged down by the loss of Luke, and this is undoubtedly an attempt to take his mind off of it all. He lets that concern and caring wash over him, and heads for Appian Way.

He scents the air, seeking out familiar warmth of Barry's scent or the cool burst of electricity, all the while listening for his heart. It reminds him fondly of being with his siblings in the preserve when he was young, playing their own enhanced version of hide and seek. He loves Barry even more for bringing back such a memory, even if it was unintentional.

[thescarletspeedster]

There's no one to meet Derek at Appian, but there is a note taped to a lamp pole with a big black arrow drawn on it. The path it points to leads into the trees of Petros, and if one follows it long enough, they'll reach the riverdock.

Barry is there first, of course, placing his Flash suit into a cache so he can pull on his civvies. He's a little sweatier than he'd like and his hair is wild, but Barry has a moment to smooth it before he sees Derek coming down the path.

[triskehale]

Derek spots the arrow and approaches the sign with a smile, reaching up to touch it before turning in the direction it’s pointing. He can smell Barry, and soon enough he can hear the siren’s song of his thrumming heart.

He lets out a breath when he finally catches sight of Barry standing on the dock looking pink-cheeked and excited, and Derek can’t help the radiant grin that spreads across his face as he approaches.

“Found you, hummingbird,” he says once he’s on the dock, reaching out to snag him by his narrow waist and pull him in for a kiss. “You’re really something else.”

[thescarletspeedster]

"You were faster than I thought," says Barry, laughing into the kiss. "Had to rush. How's my hair?" He drags his hand through it again, trying to see in the reflection of the river, but it's moving too much.

He looks back at Derek in his suit and grins. "I just thought, maybe we could do something different."

[triskehale]

“Fluffy,” Derek replies with a fond chuckle, reaching up to smooth down a ruffled bit above Barry’s ear before cupping his cheek and kissing him again. “But I like it.”

Barry looks him over and Derek slowly turns in a full circle to show off his suit, quirking an eyebrow at Barry’s explanation. He’s already in such a better mood than he’s been in all day, or maybe even in weeks, and the night has barely started.

“I could go for something different,” Derek tells him, sliding one hand into his pocket as he looks around the dock. “I’m all yours tonight. What did you have in mind?”

[thescarletspeedster]

"It's...probably pretty cheesy," Barry starts, but he's heartened by the widest smile he's seen on Derek in weeks. "And a thing only old people do, but it looked cool, and I found a Coupoff and - "

Barry spreads his hands in front of the docked cruise ship. "River dinner cruise? There's dancing, and I got four extra drink tickets that - will do nothing for us but we'll look cool with champagne flutes?"

[triskehale]

“I like cheesy,” Derek says easily, giving Barry a smile that borders on shy. It’s true, though. Barry is his first real, healthy relationship so he never got to do most of the standard, cliche things that come with dating, and he’s always been a romantic. “I proposed to you on the spot where we first kissed on Valentine’s Day, if you don’t recall.”

He smirks at Barry, and then lets his gaze turn in the direction of his flailing hands. He quirks a brow as he takes in the river boat, and lets out a surprised huff of laughter. It certainly wasn’t what he was expecting and it isn’t something that he would choose on his own, but he’ll certainly give it a try.

“I assume there will be food,” Derek teases, holding out his hand for Barry to take so he can lead them onto the boat.

[thescarletspeedster]

"Yeah, man, river dinner cruise, remember? Don't worry, I bought us three meals each, hence the Coupoff." Barry blushes a little, hoping it's not too cheesy. He's never been on a river cruise himself, or even seen one that's not from an 80s film set in Paris, but it seemed nice.

There's really no escaping the insanity of Darrow, but being on the water somehow feels at least a little insulated. And anyway, if Darrow were to pull its usual shit, why on earth would it target a boat of old people on the water? As if on queue, an immaculately dressed couple in their 70s passes them on the gangway, stopping to admire their suits.

"Such nice young men," the woman says, squeezing her husband's hand. "And so well appointed!"

"Almost," agrees her husband, and steps far too close to Barry, who closes his eyes until the flower has been firmly fixed in his lapel.

"Okay," he says as they move along. "So that happened."

[triskehale]

Derek can’t help but to be a little amused as the old man leers at Barry, even as the wolf in him wants to growl. He waits until the couple walks away, and then not so discreetly reaches up to slide his palms along the sides of Barry’s neck to scent him.

“You smell like Bengay,” he explains, wrinkling his nose a little and laughing as he slings an arm around Barry’s shoulders. “Is this what I’m going to have to deal with all night? Senior citizens vying for a spot on your dance card?”

[thescarletspeedster]

"He wasn't being creepy," says Barry, though he holds still while Derek scents him, "Hackles down! I mean, they can't all be that old."

He waits in silence as three more silver haired couples file past, followed by a pair in their forties. "See!" says Barry, gripping Derek's arm. "Besides, being the best looking people on a boat can't be a bad thing. Maybe we'll get free cake."

[triskehale]

“If you say so,” Derek drawls back, looping an arm around Barry’s narrow waist as old people waft by in pairs. Barry’s comment makes him snort, and he sneaks a hand down to discreetly pinch his ass.

“My, aren’t we feeling confident?” Barry just looks so excited, and Derek has been in plenty worse places than a boat full of senior citizens. Perhaps it’s a sappy thought, but he would enjoy being just about anywhere as long as Barry is there with him.

“Technically, I’ll be the youngest person on the boat. Since you’re my elder,” he teases, leading Barry up the ramp to the boat and leaning in to kiss the tempting length of his neck while he takes out the tickets. “What are the odds that they’ll play some disco?”

[thescarletspeedster]

"Guess I'll fit in then," says Barry, watching the mostly older crowd mill in the gathering room off the gangway. He wonders if maybe this was a bad idea, but whatever, it's a night off from their usually insane lives. A bit of normal toothless fun, with people who've managed to live out of their twenties, might do them good.

"The first glass is complimentary, sir," says a woman, waving away Derek's tickets to hand them each a glass of champagne. Barry takes his and grins. It's probably the films he grew up on, but he always feels fancy with a flute in his hand.

[triskehale]

Derek catches a faint whiff of anxiety from Barry as they survey the crowd. It’s nothing too serious, but Derek tightens his arm around Barry’s waist and turns his head to press a kiss to his temple.

“Thanks for dragging me out,” he says quietly, kissing him again before reaching out to take his own champagne flute with a nod of thanks. He leads Barry deeper into the room, tugging him off to the side and watching the senior citizens file onto the boat.

“What are you going to do when we’re old?” He says in a warm, teasing tone as he clinks his glass against Barry’s. “Maybe lean the other way and take us to a rave?”

[thescarletspeedster]

"If I do age," says Barry, leaning into Derek as they watch the water roll slowly by. There will be more to see when the boat takes off, but now the lapping water is soothing. "I'm sure I will, but with my healing rate, my cells renew faster than they can deteriorate. I haven't thought a lot about it, especially since at home I disappear. I didn't think there'd be time for it to be a problem."

Barry's brows lift. "That being said, I will never, ever take us to a rave."

[triskehale]

Derek pauses with his glass resting on his bottom lip as he takes in this sudden information, blinking owlishly as he processes it. The fact that Barry might not age, or at least age slower, didn’t really occur to him.

“I age slower too,” he finally says, still looking a little stunned as he drains his glass. Eventually he looks over at Barry and his expression softens as he takes in his gorgeous, boyish face. “As long as you don’t trade me in for a younger, hotter wolf when I get old, it’ll be fine.”

[thescarletspeedster]

"That's not gonna be a problem," says Barry with a laugh. Younger wolves might exist, but hotter? Not in any version of the multi-verse. "I guess we'll find out together," he says. "I'll be sad if I never get any silver hairs. Not looking like a goofy kid anymore? That's the best part of getting older. Though."

His eyes cut sideways, and their fellow passengers are too old to hear, "Being young and agile has its advantages."

[triskehale]

“You do not look like a goofy kid,” Derek says with a laugh, sliding his hand up the back of Barry’s jacket to rest against the small of his back. Barry leans in close and his words make Derek grin, leaning in to press a lingering kiss to the corner of his mouth.

You are perfect for me, he thinks, nudging his nose against Barry’s jaw in a puppyish way before he steps back and takes his glass, setting them both down on a nearby table. Music has started to play, and a few couples are shuffling near the edge of the dance floor.

“Should we show this crowd what these kids can do?” Derek says with a grin, holding his hand out for Barry to take. “Your dance card is full up, hummingbird.”

[thescarletspeedster]

Barry takes Derek's hand - it's not an option, whatever trepidation he feels, Barry will always trust Derek. Still - "Sometimes I still think I'm going to burst into song," Barry admits as they walk onto the dance floor, trying not to wince when the couple next to them seems to mimic their movements.

"Just throw me overboard if I do. Believe me, I won't be mad."

[triskehale]

“Hey, it won me over.” It’s not entirely true. Derek was already pretty smitten with Barry even before their date, and before being so thoroughly serenaded. “How about I drag you off somewhere and kiss you instead?”

He pulls Barry in and rests a hand on his hip, leading him in a lazy waltz. Somehow, even after all these years, those dance lessons his mother forced him and his siblings into taking have never left him.

“Because if I throw you overboard, I’ll have to jump in after you,” he says with a smirk, lifting their joined hands to twirl Barry underneath them before pulling him in close again. Someone nearby lets out an awed sort of noise, but Derek can’t look away from Barry. “And I like this suit.”

[thescarletspeedster]

Barry laughs as Derek spins him, only to catch him expertly in his arms to resume the dance. "They might jump overboard to cool off," he murmurs, but he doesn't look at their observers. With Derek in front of him, smiling and in that suit, there's no way he could look at anything else. Barry's no great dancer himself, but Derek is a great lead, and as instep as they are Barry doesn't step on his feet once.

Sometime during the song, the boat finally begins to leave dock, and Barry feels a hint of boyish excitement. "I wish we could take a real trip."

[triskehale]

"Wouldn't that be something?" He says warmly, but he only has eyes for Barry. With this particular age bracket there is bound to be some dirty looks thrown their way, but Derek doesn't care. Darrow has always been more accepting anyway. More tolerant.

The song crescendos and Derek shows off a bit, twirling Barry again and then bending him back in a dip as the song ends. There's a small smattering of applause and Derek chuckles before pulling Barry back up and leading him out to the deck of the boat, one arm around his waist as they look out over the water.

"I wish we could too," he says after a moment, breathing in the fresh air. "I've never really taken a fun trip anywhere. It was too hard to wrangle a little pack of prepubescent werewolves, I suppose."

There was the trip out to New York after the fire with Laura, and the trip back to Beacon Hills without her, but neither of those were particularly enjoyable.