Disclaimer: NEW chapter and I'm still not the owner.
BETAED by the lovely FATEISoverrated, who has taken this challenge with fervor and returned back quality work that I am unafraid to publish! I know, it's really exciting :)
Part One: Evolution of Nothing
Chapter 1: When Barry Met the Family
Barry was never part of a big family. He had been orphaned as a young boy after his mother's death, and never been adopted. As a result of being an orphan with no siblings, he relished the idea of a large family. Iris, herself, had been orphaned; however, she was adopted as a baby. Iris had a brother and a sister and was close to her father and sister-in-law, so it was no surprise when, after seven months of dating, Iris asked if he'd want to meet her family. Barry had been completely enamored with the idea, especially since he had no family himself to introduce to Iris.
Iris' father, Ira West, was a physicist and a brilliant man. Barry had been enraptured by her father and, after that, looked forward to meeting the rest of Iris' family.
The next member of her family that Iris introduced him to was her older sister Charlotte. Barry couldn't say he was impressed by Charlotte. She and her husband, Edgar, seemed to think they were on top of the world since Edgar made a small fortune as a jeweler. While Barry did think the man was a suave businessman, and their daughter Inez was cute (when she was quiet), he found the family to be a little too pretentious for an ordinary man like Barry Allen.
Barry was entirely happy when their visits to Charlotte and Edgar became monthly, awkward dinners in public restaurants. He was even happier that, as he and Iris grew closer and closer, Ira would invite them over almost every weekend. Unfortunately, the man had a tendency to forget he invited them over, and it took Barry almost two months of meeting Ira to get over the awkward feeling invoked from the arrival for lunch, only to find out Ira had already eaten and was planning to take a nap.
By this time, Barry became comfortable with Iris's family just the way it was. So, when Iris mentioned her brother, Rudolph 'Rudy' West, was moving from Blue Valley, Nebraska, to Keystone City, Barry hadn't been very thrilled. Iris had told him that Rudy was similar to Charlotte in his mannerisms, and Barry translated that as sister-speak for 'He's sort of a pretentious bastard'. His wife, Mary, was apparently meek and quiet; Iris had relatively little to speak about her beyond the fact that they got along fairly well. They had a son, Wallace, who Iris was tremendously fond of for reasons she hadn't really elaborated on when they'd talked about the Wests.
After a grueling hour long car ride (because a speedster in a confined box at a mere speed of 50 miles per hour, equals a very fidgety Barry), they had come to the West household. Standing outside the door, Barry felt undeniably hesitant. He wasn't sure how he'd feel if another one of Iris' siblings turned out, well, difficult to be around. For Iris, he was going to make the situation the best it could be.
"Iris!" Greeted Rudolph, after opening the door, a beaming smile on his face.
The man was tall, taller than Barry, with hair that was a dark brown, like the color of burnt toast. He had a beard too, a scruffy beard. He wasn't wearing a suit like Edgar had when Barry first met him; just jeans and a flannel shirt. The man led both Iris and Barry into the small town home. The living room was to the left after entering, with cozy brown couches, and a small television. The long entrance hallway leads to a small kitchen and a small backyard through there. Upstairs were two bedrooms. Overall, the house was tiny, and Barry felt strange as he looked over the Wests situation. It was completely different from the pretentious Rhodes, so why did Iris think Rudy pretentious?
"Nice to meet you Barry," said Rudy politely, "Iris has told us a lot about you."
"The pleasure's all mine, Rudolph," Barry grinned, "And I can assure you everything Iris told you was probably the cold hard truth. After all, once a reporter, always a reporter."
Rudy gave a pleasant chuckle, and Barry found himself chuckling as well. Iris smiled, looking pleased as she sat beside Barry.
"Mary!" called Rudolph loudly, "Iris is here!"
Five minutes later, a red-headed woman pattered into the room. She was holding a small, red-headed six year old on her hip. He was clutching a Flash action figure to his chest while clinging to his mother like a koala bear. Barry couldn't even make out the boy's eye color. Nothing like two-year old Inez and her bratty tantrums for attention.
"Who's this little man?" asked Barry, grinning as Mary said her quiet hellos and sat down beside Rudolph, Wallace still clinging to her.
"Wally, Barry asked you a question," said Mary softly, as her son nuzzled deeper into her neck.
To Barry's surprise, a dark look flashed on Rudolph's face, before it was replaced for a jovial smile. He lightly nudged his son, who snapped to attention, but continued clinging to his mother. Barry felt uneasy at seeing the dark look and the boy's maybe too timid behavior.
"I'm Wally," whispers the boy, before burying his face back into his mother's neck.
"He's shy," said Rudolph, a tight smile on his face, "Nothing like I was at that age. No idea who he gets it from, since Wests are never this quiet. Boy, go play upstairs."
"Ah, is that a Flash toy?" asked Barry, glancing at the action figure.
Wally nodded, but kept his face in his mother's neck. Barry's heart constricted at the obvious reluctance from the kid. He was usually pretty good with kids, with or without the mask. He felt Iris' hand on his, giving him a gentle squeeze. Despite the fact that she didn't know he was the Flash, she knew Barry liked kids and was naturally good with them, for the most part.
"Wally, go upstairs," said Rudy, sounding a little angry. Barry was clueless as to why the man seemed so agitated.
Wally slipped off his mother's lap, threw a reluctant glance her way, and then was out the door instantly. Mary didn't even flinch. She merely took the opportunity to edge closer to her husband, playing the role of devoted wife to a T. Barry watched the boy go, marveling at the kid's speed. For an ordinary human, the boy was fast.
"He's a fast runner," Barry complimented with ease, "Does he play any sports?"
Apparently, that was the wrong question to ask. Iris's hand suddenly squeezed his so tight that the blood circulation nearly cut off. Mary stiffened and her hands folded in her lap. Rudy's face darkened again, before the man laughed with a bitter edge to it.
"I wish! Boy's too full of daydreams," said Rudy with a sigh, "He's too shy to get on the field and talk to anyone, and he's terrified off the other kids. All day he is reading books from the library or watching T.V. Lazy, that's what kids of this generation are like. Back when I was his age, I loved playing outside with the other kids. There has not been a single West kid that's ever been as- as- quiet as that boy. Even Mary was a social butterfly back in school. I have no idea why he's like that."
"Dad was pretty antisocial," Iris quickly inserted, "And Wally is a lot like our dad. Who knows, maybe he'll turn out a genius like his grandfather."
While Mary shot Iris a grateful look, Rudy's fists clenched, and Iris again looked uneasy. Barry felt like a stranger in this household, and a little on edge. Apparently bringing up the abnormal son or the genius grandfather in front of Rudy, opens a can of worms that lead to, well, this.
"Just what I need, a crackpot for a son, just like my father," said Rudy bitterly. Barry tried to hold back a frown, but his eyes must have shown his irritation. The way Rudy stressed that Ira was his father; it Barry uncomfortable, like he was trying to suggest that Ira wasn't Iris' father. A tense silence hung in the air.
Finally, Mary opened her mouth and stepped in to say, "It's probably just a phase dear. He'll grow up and out of it, into a man just like his father."
"He better," mutters Rudy.
It was obvious that Iris wasn't pleased. Her expression had changed to that of a hell-cat's after Rudy had insulted their father and her nephew, and she now had a sour look on her face. Barry could sympathize with her, and felt a tug of pity for the little boy if Mary wanted her son to be like his father instead of his grandfather. Apparently, neither Charlotte nor Rudy could see the sheer brilliance in their father as Iris could.
After that, the conversation turned to lighter topics, such as Iris, Barry and Rudy's respective jobs. Iris and Barry's jobs were so intertwined, with Iris being the lead reporter for Central City, and Barry's job as a forensic scientist, that often times their stories overlapped. Rudy's job, however, was that of a mechanic, and his stories weren't as exciting as either of theirs, but there was far more humor. Despite his flaws, Rudy was a wonderful orator, and he knew how to entertain an audience.
"We had a wonderful time today, Mary," said Iris, as the day came to a close, "If you ever need anything, Central is only an hour away. Please, don't hesitate to call."
"Thanks for everything, Mary," Barry smiles, as the woman gave him an awkward hug, "And it was a pleasure meeting you, Rudy. You both have a wonderful home."
"It was our pleasure," said Mary with a smile, "I want to go to Central's mall sometime next week. Maybe we should meet then, Iris?"
"That would be perfect," said Iris with a smile.
Before Mary and Iris could take off about their shopping trip, Barry moved to open the door. He didn't want to get stuck stabbing for conversation with Rudolph. Despite the man being a great conversationalist, they hardly had anything in common. It was difficult to relate to Rudy.
He was interrupted, however, by a loud crash. The sound of a thud rang in his ears, and his first instinct was to check for property damages outside. However, to his relief, it had come from upstairs, where Wally was. Barry glanced at Rudy, whose face tightened, and Mary, who hardly even flinched, and assumed this sort of thing a regular occurrence.
"Boy! What happened?" called Rudy up the stairs.
From the side staircase, the small boy appeared, carrying the Flash action figure with him, and holding onto the railings. Barry's eyes zoned onto the figurine, and he felt a quick smirk tugging at his lips. The next time he met this kid, he'd make sure to talk about the Flash.
"Well?" demanded Rudy, looking stern.
"Dropped my lego set off the bed," said the boy quietly, so quietly that Barry almost had to strain his ears to hear.
"What was your lego doing on the bed?" asked Mary, looking taken aback.
"I was playing," said Wally weakly.
"Not your Flash game again, was it?" asked Rudy angrily.
"Flash game?" mouthed Barry to Iris, and received glare in reply.
When the boy didn't respond, his mother sighed, "I told you no legos on the bed, Wally. Pick it up, and we'll talk about your punishment later."
"Yes'm," Wally murmurs, before running back upstairs to his room.
"Flash game?" asked Barry, trying to sound good-natured and amused rather than derogatory. He'd learnt quickly that Rudy could take the slightest thing as an insult.
"He's fond of the Flash," Mary sighs, "He likes to re-enact Flash scenarios with his lego bricks. We bought him his first action figure for Christmas this year, and he's been hooked ever since."
"It's a stupid past-time if you ask me," said Rudy loudly, and Barry was sure the boy upstairs could hear, as intended, "Boy's got his head in the clouds. Told his teacher he'd grow up to be a super-hero! I have no idea how I ended up with him for a son."
Barry's jaw nearly dropped at the viciousness of Rudy's last statement. He didn't have any kids, and his memories of his mother and father were few and from his oldest memories, but he was certain you didn't say things like that around your son; even if he was only a floor away. Barry was positive even Superman could hear him all the way here in Central City.
"Just a phase," soothed Mary, smoothing her hands over her skirt.
"Right," said Rudy bitterly, before forcing a twisted smile that looked painful, and saying, "Well, see you around Allen."
"Yeah, see you," Barry weakly smile.
"Bye, Mary, Rudy," said Iris, pressing a quick kiss to each of their cheeks.
The two of them walked slowly to the car. Barry was driving, so he was gentle in turning the ignition on, and drove a little slower than the speed limit. He really wished he could just slam the gas pedal and drive out of the house, before he became witness to another scenario of crazy parenting from Rudolph West, but then, being a speedster and a cop meant abiding to the speeding laws lest he let his speed get a little out of hand.
It was only when they were a good distance away, Iris finally spoke again. Her voice was low and miserable, "I'm so sorry."
"About what?" asked Barry kindly, though he had a fair idea.
"Rudy- He wasn't always like that," said Iris, quick to defend her brother, "He wasn't always that bitter or mean. After Edgar and Charlotte became quite successful, and I got my job, Rudy started to feel bitter. He never went to university because he wanted to play football for a career. That didn't pan out when a knee injury put him out of commission and then, well, he became that. By then I was going to university, and Dad didn't have as much money left for Rudy, so he sort of fell through the cracks."
"He's- different," Barry tried, looking to find the right thing to say, "But well, he's not- He's not- Wally isn't-
"Oh God, no! I made sure to check on that," Iris answered immediately, "As far as I know, Rudy only verbally abuses Wally. He's such a sweet kid Barry. He doesn't deserve that. I wish you'd had a chance to interact with him more. Rudy and Mary used to live near me when I was younger and in university. I watched over Wally all the time. They only moved to Blue Valley when he was three and a half because they wanted the more suburban lifestyle; a half a year after I graduated and when I moved to Central for better job opportunities."
"You're doing pretty well for yourself, if I must say," teased Barry lightly, before taking on a more serious tone, "Has anyone ever- intervened?"
"I used to fight with Rudy about it, but Mary, she- She's his enabler. Whenever I tried to point it out to her, she'd blame Wally, saying he's going through a phase and he'd get over it and then Rudy would be happy. I love Mary, but she's so fixated on this perfect family ideal and in love with Rudy, that she'd never step up and protect her son because that would mean accepting that Rudy's wrong and that he's not a good father," said Iris with a sigh and an angry, dejected look on her face, "That's why I didn't want to introduce you to Rudy and Mary for so long, and why I cut back on visits to Blue Valley myself."
"Hey," said Barry, taking her hand, "I don't care if he turned out to be one of the Flash's rogues! I'm not dating Rudolph West, I'm in love with Iris West, and I can deal with the in-laws. Besides, I love your dad too much to leave you now."
"I always knew you were only in this relationship to talk nerdy with my father," mock-groaned Iris, her lips twitched with amusement, and the pained look lessened.
"Besides, now that they're close by, maybe we can have Wally over a bit more?" offered Barry, "I mean- if you'd want him in your house."
Iris grinned, and laughed; then she pressed a kiss to Barry's cheek, "Was that a sly way of asking me to move in with you?"
"If it was, would you say yes?" asked Barry, giving a nervous chuckle, "But- I mean- Only if you're ready!"
"I don't think I'm quite ready to take that plunge," Iris hesitantly smiled, "But I'm glad to know that my family hasn't scared you off from a future with me."
"Hey, I'm a brave man, Iris West," Barry said this with a challenging grin, "Throw me your worst."
Iris laughed, and like that, the atmosphere was carefree. It wasn't one of their best nights. Nor was it close to being a happy memory, but it was something. A sort of unity between the two of them began, ensuring that there would be a future.
