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[ uh-oh.

iris knows what that look means. to be fair, it's a look she's worn plenty of times herself, especially during their childhood. it's why they took joe's car for a joyride and crashed it into an oak tree. iris doesn't think she's ever seen her father so mad.

the gust of wind, as always, whips iris' hair back. she straightens in place, fingers still laced around her ankles as she waits.

she's torn between laughing and ... that achey feeling, once she hears the lyrics to the song. once sees the book he's brought with. she'd mention it, if he wasn't smiling at her so brightly. it would blind her if he really was the sun. ] Powerful. [ all joking aside, a lot of songs in that album remind her of her power.

don't be fooled. she may be kind and understanding, but iris west can slay. ]

[ he brings his book, his suit, his most prized shoes, and his so-far favourite new album to her room for safe-keeping from the inevitable onslaught of dark matter. who else would he entrust to take care of what he values most if not the person he values most? ]

[ maybe selecting this song wasn't the right choice — it makes things awkward, considering how it opens, and barry's immediate reason for picking it is because of the opening … — but it's easier to express himself by using alternate ways than his words for now. ]

[ it's how he's been feeling since the speed force, after dad told him iris had been the one to insist she try and pull him out from that whole other world. he understands henry had believed he could pull him out from the speed force's clutches, but iris has always been the one to encourage him to step up. if anyone could unwrap him from what has given him a new life, it's the person who he'd first thought to see after waking up from a coma, the person who he'd realised he was something different with, and the very person who had believed in him without needing much proof or reason to place her faith in a stranger dressed up in leather. ]

[ that bright beam doesn't waver. he thinks to say her name again, but he knows he'll end up saying it for almost everything, then. there's rules, even if they're just for him, and so he can't say her name thereafter unless it's the only word he can use to try and win this game. ]

Love.

[ landmine? quite possibly. ]

[ when we were kids, i loved you before i even knew what the word love meant.

there were so many times he wanted to tell her, and didn't. there were so many times he wanted to tell her he was the flash, and he didn't. he'll utilize every other venue so long as he doesn't have to say the words. iris is a writer; all she has are words. except that's not always true, is it? the second barry finally told her how he felt, all the words in the world were stolen from her. there's so much she could say now, but they're playing a game that isn't a game, and love is hearing what no one else hears, and seeing what no one else sees. it's not about destiny. destiny can't create this feeling. iris is learning.

she may win the game, but she's already lost. ]

Hope.

[ where there is love, there is hope, and barry allen won't feel awful forever. he won't be tired forever.

call it a hunch. ]

[ this is perhaps the closest he'll get to acknowledging the feelings she's placed in his hands and the ones that have been cupped in hers for years. barry's always found it difficult to express himself, and perhaps that's why, when he runs, he lets off a golden streak of lightning in his wake. he could easily spell out what he wants to tell her by running, expecting that light to linger in his stead as she looks down at the city and the message he's practically written along the streets for her. ]

[ he looks at her, then lets his gaze drop. he smiles to himself as his mind wanders back to the room gideon had been stowed away inside. as confronting as it'd been to discover wells' true secret, barry hadn't found only fear spark inside of his chest. ]

[ written by iris west-allen. when he thinks of hope, he thinks of that byline. ]

Future.

[ she's almost thankful his gaze lowers.

it allows her to watch him with little to no obstruction. it allows her to linger, and wonder, and smile to herself. later, iris will fall asleep draped in blankets. she'll dream of golden streaks and striking orchards and walking the world side by side with barry. in these dreams, they will not be afraid. ]

Warm.

[ she almost said bright, but considering recent events, it didn't feel, but somehow warm does. ]

[ he hums for a moment, gaze still downcast. if he thinks about that word, he thinks of her — and the sun, joe west, the team at star labs, even the speed force — but he can't find a word to encapsulate them all. ]

[ his brows furrow together, and he thinks of that moment in the west house by the dining table, where he'd been feeling unstoppable. proposing to be even more invincible than he'd been after the speed force had let him go, barry can easily recall how he'd bounced on the balls of his feet and been eager to leap into the future. the memory is followed by a wake of sadness, but barry tries not to dwell on it. ]

Invincible.

[ it's her turn.

iris lowers her gaze, though the smile on her lips doesn't falter. it had felt like the start of something new. before zoom stormed into what had once been a safe home, the stars aligned and everything felt so clear. they'll never have that exact moment again, but for those precious few seconds, they truly were invincible. ]

Force.

[ she keeps that memory as vividly as he does. she remembers. how could she not? ♪ ]

[ is it cheating if he says — ]

Speed.

[ and he smiles at that, knowing it may be too literal of an association. but since emerging from the speed force, barry had believed he had a new lease on life. a fresh, healthy outlook on the world around him and on himself. though zoom had torn it away from him temporarily, attempting to force his hand into becoming a mere reflection of hunter, he thinks he still holds onto the tangible lessons the energy force had taught him. ]

[ whether he implements those teachings is another question entirely. ]

[ ha!

she knows — she knows — that the word she is about to use will make him pull a face. if she's being entirely honest, she might be counting on it. ] Streak. [ okay, okay. so it wasn't the best name to give central city's fledgling superhero, but nobody's perfect, and at the time, iris was more interested in learning his real name.

they have oliver queen to thank for that.

sort of. ]

Edited 2016-07-04 13:29 (UTC)

[ poking his tongue out, he looks like he's tasted a lemon. nose wrinkling, expression shifting into one that's almost offended — his response is immediate and almost instinctual at this point. ]

Ugh, no. [ his knee bumps into hers, as if he's about to pull himself up onto his feet and kick off to show her how he's more flash than streak with his lightning. but he stays put and leans forward to correct her. ] Flash.

[ and then he closes his eyes, smacking his palm against his forehead. instead of pulling his face free, he buries his head in his hands, elbows resting against his legs as he groans. ]

Yes.

[ her hands furl into fists and she lifts her arms up into the air. victory is hers and it tastes so sweet. actually, it doesn't taste like anything, but if it were to taste like something, iris is pretty sure it would taste like brownies. she pats his shoulder comfortingly as he buries his head in his hands.

he was a worthy competitor. but also stop being so cute, barry. ]

Allen, 1. West, 1.

[ it was a low blow, and iris can accept that. he's the flash! they both agree. ]

[ keeping his head in his hands, he peers up at her through the cage of his fingers. shaking his head, he's smiling; she may be able to tell from his cheeks, even if his smile is hidden from her view. if winning makes her happy, then he's happy, even though he's not looking forward to her bragging rights for the rest of the evening. ]

[ he's grateful he hasn't slipped up on the more deeper words. as quick as he is to run away, barry knows what he's running from. ]

[ lifting his head from his hands, he rests his elbows on his legs and slouches. ] What will you do with your victory, Miss West?

[ she is totally 100% gonna brag.

#slay ]

I'm glad you asked, Mr. Allen. I plan to start with — [ her voice trails off as she brings herself to her feet. nowhere near as fast as barry, she takes her time in walking over to her desk. she comes back with the basket of goodies he left on her doorstep, and sitting back down with them. ]

— victory food. [ she lifts up a brownie in his direction. see? she'll even share. ]

[ watching her stand, barry remains on the floor. his eyes follow her as she walks to her desk to retrieve those brownies he'd brought her. he thinks to quickly flash to turn off lemonade, but he remains where he is, cross-legged and following her with his eyes. ]

[ he smiles, and almost laughs. he turns his body around so he can face her properly, hands on his legs and perhaps looking a bit more boyish with the way he sits. ]

You plan to start with a victorious brownie? Is there going to be a dance?

Maybe when we get to Formation.

[ now there's a victory dance if the world's ever heard one.

#iris west came to slay

once the teasing fades from her expression, her smile softens shortly after. she breaks off a small piece of the brownie and tucks it into her mouth, letting the chocolate melt on her tongue. there's a moment of silence or two, and she looks up again. ] I missed this. [ just doing normal things with her best friend. ]

What?

[ barry rocks where he sits, suddenly becoming restless with energy he hasn't used. sitting and thinking of words and their meanings and possible associations had kept him busy. trying to peel back what iris was both saying and not saying had him wrapped up in watching her expression and trying to pull apart her tone. but now the game is over, barry's almost childlike again. ]

Eating brownies?

[ barry's all restless energy, and iris is so steady, in contrast. there's little that would stay her hand. she is never one that keeps from acting when she needs to, but who she is at her core is so unfalteringly steady. she gives a small, harmless scoff at his response. all she's done since she got to wonderland is eat brownies.

it's a good thing she found the training center. someone teach her how to wield a sword. ]

No. Hanging out.

[ without anything earth-shattering happening immediately after. ]

[ all that restless energy that makes up barry — the flash or the person, sometimes he's not so sure where he once began and where the flash now ends — seems to disappear, albeit slowly. it isn't a quick drop in movement, as he slows in his restlessness of shifting around, drawing his knees to his chest while his legs are still crossed, hands moving along his legs from his kneecap to his ankle. he settles by taking his previous position on the ground, cross-legged and looking at her. ]

[ quietly, ] Me too.

[ being the flash had interrupted almost every aspect of his previous life — the life he thinks he still holds onto, but often shoves inside the closet for the cowl he decides to wear. he doesn't want to be like oliver, playing two roles, becoming caught up in the whole persona of a playboy who isn't true to who he is anymore. hanging out with iris is who barry allen is, it's how the flash had begun — and he's started to forget that. ]

[ unfolding his long legs, he pushes himself up. with his hands raised above his head, he stretches, and he's sure he hears a crack somewhere. ]

That's why we should have a croquet game. A real one. [ he looks at her pointedly and arches his brow. ] You still need to do nerdy things with me, right?

[ the day of the particle accelerator being turned on had been his nerdy day, and it'd been the last one they'd shared together. it feels like years ago since she's made fun of him for what he likes and what she doesn't mind being dragged along to. ]

[ the answer to that question is of course.

there isn't a date iris west won't cancel. there isn't an argument she won't make if it gets barry out of work, or persuades her father to see his side. and there aren't many nerd things she would refuse to partake in. she doesn't need to share his interests to support his enthusiasm.

it begs the question: has iris west ever accompanied barry to a comic con? ]

Depends on the nerdy thing.

[ she unfurls to her full height after barry does, not that her height is anything impressive. she's all of four feet and four inches, more than well accustomed to barry towering over her even with heels. shortly after, she plops on her bed. the day is catching up to her. ] Do you even know how to play croquet?

Do I know —

[ he scoffs. of course he doesn't know how to play croquet. barry dislikes all sports save for running and sometimes basketball and baseball. he's not athletic by any means, preferring to be all brains and less brawn. but he pretends — and horribly so — that he's the best croquet player in the room. ]

[ pulling his shoulders back, it's easy for him to look down at her with an arch to his brow. challenging and almost incredulous, if not for how iris can read him and know he's being as excellent as an actor like a brick to the face. he walks over to her bed and sits on the edge, almost tentatively, before he becomes comfortable within a second and falls back against the sheets. ]

Of course I know how to play.

Uh huh.

[ amusement thick in her voice, iris turns sideways to face barry when he falls back against the sheets along with her. her hands are splayed over her stomach and her gaze lingers on him with that amusement, eyes twinkling in response to it. she really did miss this. ]

My aim's pretty good.

[ this is a warning, barry. if y'all play croquet, iris would take no prisoners. ]

[ staring up at the ceiling, barry notes how it lacks any glow in the dark stickers. he liked them best in his room; able to peer up at the galaxy before him without needing to open the window, he found the dark wasn't so scary if he could notice the stars glittering in the sky. he stores that away as a reminder for when his room is cleaned from the dark matter in his room. ]

[ turning his head, he laces his fingers together on his chest, before he stretches his arms above his head. ]

I'm pretty quick. [ she may have better aim, but he knows he's got the speed — quite literally, too. that impatience that often overtakes him seems to have only been amplified by being struck by lightning. he gives her a pointed look. ] The game may be over before it even begins. Just a friendly warning.

I wouldn't be too confident.

[ speed or no speed, iris west is a force to be reckoned with. and if he really wanted to win fair, he wouldn't use his superhuman advantage, she's just saying. an amused expression flits across her features, eyes closing as he stares up at the ceiling. a lot of things concerning science go over iris' head, and that includes stars and galaxies and universes. barry explains it in a way that she understands. the universe never seems so big or scary then.

she breathes in deeply, shifting on her side, allowing some of that heaviness to sink into her bones. ]

I just might surprise you yet.

[ iris always surprises him. he thinks he'll be surprised when she doesn't. ]

[ he looks back up at the ceiling, a little aware she's looking at him. for a good portion of his life, all he's ever wanted is her attention. now that he knows he has it, barry wants to shy away from it. if this is what it's like to feel invincible, he's not so sure if he knows how to wear it. the speed force had made him feel cocky and overconfident at first, but when that had simmered down, he'd been able to listen to his instincts and the impulses that wouldn't lead him astray. ]

[ with zoom, they told him to create a time remnant. now, they tell him to enjoy the moment, even if he finds himself wanting to bury his face away from her. that invincibility he felt in joe's dining room had been something warm and comfortable, and though he feels it now, he doesn't want to voice it. he can't, and he won't. ]

[ he remains on his back when he thinks to turn his head again, pressing his cheek against the linens of her bed as he looks at her. ]

[ playfully, he narrows his eyes. ] You talk a big game, West. [ he taps her hand with the back of his own. ] Can you deliver?

[ iris doesn't have to open her eyes again to know he's being playful. she can picture the look on his face perfectly: the mischief, the glint in his eye, the sunshine smile. her lips pull at the corners, much as she fights a smile of her own, cheek sinking further into the pillow. iris west never feels invincible. surrounded by the impossible while remaining decidedly human, she's mindful of her own fragility in a world that makes heroes and villains out of men.

she isn't brave because she's invincible. she's brave because the odds have never stopped her. ]

I always do, Barry. [ she unsuccessfully fights a yawn. ] I always do.

[ her eyelids are heavy. it comes suddenly, without waiting. she doesn't say anything else after that, silence filling the room. it's comfortable, at least to her, and it isn't long before iris is dozing off. she forgets there was a victory to celebrate. nothing truly feels much like a victory these days as it is.

(and she's still waiting for barry to come home.) ]

Edited 2016-07-07 06:57 (UTC)

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