about: S1 | Desperate for someone to talk to after fighting with Eddie, Iris leaves a pre-paid phone for the Flash. If none of her friends will talk to her, maybe he will. text!fic
notes: takes place in late s1, 1x18; Eddie's now a part of Team Flash, but Iris is still in the dark. It's post-Barry-learns-how-to-time-travel but pre-Barry-tries-to-save-his-mom. (text format done like iknowitainteasy's "Little Numbers") / cross-posted on tumblr and ao3
guide: Plain text is Iris. Italics are Flash.
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Part One
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Today (9:43pm)
Hi, Flash, it's me, Iris West. If you're reading this, then you got my message off my blog and decided that I wasn't totally insane for doing this. The phone's totally pre-paid, a burner phone, so I promise that no one has to know about you having it. I promise not to track you down with it, or give your number to the CCPD. I just don't have a lot of people to talk to right now. Plus, so far, you seem like a good listener. Let me know if / when you get this message.
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(9:58)
So, the box isn't up on the roof anymore. I'm guessing you picked it up. You probably did. You're also probably busy, which explains the lack of response. Just let me know that you got the box, when you can.
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(10:16)
Look, I know that this is weird. We've only talked a few times, and here I am buying you gifts, but maybe this could be good for you too. Everyone could use a friend, right?
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(11:30)
Well, I'm going to bed, but maybe you'll come around and message back.
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(12:15a)
Guess I'm a little late, huh?
(12:30)
Thought your timing was always perfect
(12:31)
Not always.
(12:31)
Iris, this really isn't that good of an idea. You have people you can talk to.
(12:33)
Yet none of them are talking to me. My dad, my friends, my freaking boyfriend — something's up, and I don't need you to spy or anything. Just help me out?
(12:34)
I run fast, I'm not exactly a psychologist
(12:35)
Good. Because I can't afford therapy.
(12:36)
You should go to sleep, Iris
(12:37)
Been trying for an hour. Can't do it.
(12:37)
Distract me at least?
(12:38)
You don't seem easily… distractable
(12:38)
Is that a word?
(12:38)
It's totally a word
(12:39)
Soo the Flash makes up words. Fascinating
(12:39)
You make up articles
(12:40)
I do not! Everything I say is totally true and fact-checked
(12:40)
Didn't fact check my name before you started calling me the Streak
(12:41)
Oh please, it had potential. You just wanted something cooler
(12:41)
I'm a cool guy. I save old ladies and entire buildings. I've even stopped a giant hurricane
(12:42)
Uh huh, why don't I believe you?
(12:42)
Because you only believe what you can prove
(12:43)
I believe in the impossible
(12:43)
But we've proven that
(12:44)
I believe in you
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(12:50)
Why aren't you talking to your friends?
(12:54)
You know how sometimes you can just feel when something's off? They look at you, but their smile's a little too painted on, or they settle for looking at your eyebrows or your nose instead of directly into your eyes, and you ask a question and the answer's out of their lips before they could've possibly processed it so you know it's a stock answer.
(12:56)
It's probably too much information, but I normally live with my boyfriend and tonight I'm back at my dad's because Eddie will not tell me what's going on.
(12:57)
Maybe he has good reason
(1:00a)
Don't give me that, please. What could be a good reason for lying to me? For pulling back when I finally think we're doing really really well?
(1:01)
He's pretty busy, Iris
(1:04)
I'm busy too. I might not be catching five criminals in one night, but I'm tracking down everything I can about the meta-humans. I'm getting to the bottom of my mentor's true disappearance. I'm protecting Central City by knowing exactly what it is that we're dealing with.
(1:05)
You don't think it's better to not know
(1:07)
Ignorance doesn't solve problems, Flash. It only leaves you unprepared for them.
(1:08)
What if he's trying to help you?
(1:11)
My friend already tried that. Said Eddie's trying to keep me in the light, but it's not like I'm some innocent kid. My dad's a detective. My best friend moved in when we were kids because his mom died. I've seen and known about awful things my whole life. And I'm still me.
(1:12)
What do you want me to say? That he's lying to you because he's awful, or that he's doing the right thing, or that he'll tell you when he's ready? I'm not the one you want to be talking to.
(1:14)
Are you working with him?
(1:14)
I'm working with everyone in Central City to keep our city safe
(1:15)
Are you working with my dad?
(1:15)
I'm working with /everyone/
(1:18)
Do you know the Reverse Flash? Do you know what Harrison Wells is involved in? Do you know how STAR Labs plays a part in the meta-human pandemic? Does everyone who works there know what's going on? Are they helping, or are they hurting CC?
(1:20)
You don't want help, Iris. You want an interrogation.
(1:21)
I want answers, Flash. About everything. And no one will help.
(1:23)
The Reverse Flash is dangerous, like he could get to anyone and everyone, and I still barely know what he's capable of or what it is that he wants. Keep messing around with this, and you're going to get hurt. You don't have a badge or a gun, like your dad or Eddie. You don't have to do this.
(1:27)
The Reverse Flash hurt one of the people I love most in this world. I can't walk away. I can't let him keep doing this. I can't watch more dangerous meta-humans like him rise to power bc STAR Labs doesn't want to claim responsibility and help out with their mess. Who's to say Reverse Flash didn't come from there?
(1:30)
You know the people at STAR Labs. You think they're hiding something?
(1:31)
Everyone else is.
(1:33)
You can't live like this, doubting everyone, accusing them of lying to you
(1:34)
Then prove to me they're not.
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(1:45a)
Fine. I'll help you, but you can't tell anyone.
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(1:50)
I don't have anyone to talk to, remember?
(1:51)
Your secret's safe with me.
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(1:53)
you know, I never doubted it would be…