Prompt: "You can't protect me."
xXx
"It's too late, Iris. You can't protect me," Barry says mournfully, voice grave, expression serious.
"Barry, please don't do this," she pleads, hanging on to his arm, trying to force him to a stop.
Suddenly there's an added pressure on his legs, and he looks down to see the twins hanging on to either one, hugging him tight.
"Don't do it, daddy!" they chant in unison, and Iris nods at him, giving him a somber look.
He shakes his head again, heaving a dramatic sigh, and presses the back of his hand to his forehead.
"I've got no choice. Tell my family I love them!"
Iris rolls her eyes at him.
"Barry, we are your family," she laughs, and Barry holds up a finger to shush her.
"Iris, you are ruining the atmosphere we've created here! And you are vastly underestimating the seriousness of this situation."
He hears a giggle come from down below and notices Dawn stifling her laughter behind a pudgy little hand.
"And you too, little lady! I swear, Iris, look what you've started. This could be a life or death situation, and you're laughing."
"Okay, okay, we get it. We're all serious here," she says, schooling her features, and he nods approvingly, freeing himself from Iris's grasp and extracting his legs from Don and Dawn's clutches.
He gives them a mock salute, and plunges in to the huge mass of people around them, immediately losing sight of them in the crowd.
"Is Daddy really gonna die?" Don sniffles tearfully, and Iris lifts him into her arms, rubbing his back consolingly.
"Awww, baby, no. He's just going to find a place to eat for us while we wait here. There's just a lot of people to go through—Disney is a scary place in the summer."
"Oh," Don hiccups, and Dawn tugs at Iris's dress.
"Mommy, can we go see the princesses while we wait?" she asks, eyes wide and excited.
"Not yet, sweetie. Let's wait till you're dad comes back. He'll be disappointed if he finds out we went to see them without him."
It's not until fifteen minutes later that Barry emerges from the crowd, looking completely disheveled, and scoops the twins into his arms.
"I have returned from war!" he announces triumphantly, giving Iris a quick peck on lips, "and I found the perfect place to eat."
"But daaaaaaddy," Dawn whines, "I wanna see the princesses first!"
Barry pinches her cheek and laughs, shooting Iris a wink.
"Well, you're in luck sweetheart, because we're eating at Cinderella's castle. With the princesses."
The kids squeal and clap their hands excitedly, and Iris gives him a thumbs up, mouthing the word 'Nice'.
"Well, you owe me," he says, placing the kids back down on the ground and slipping an arm around her waist, "I did risk my life for this."
She leans her head against his shoulder and sighs happily, never getting tired of this.
"Barry, you are such a dork."