Not My Destiny
Disclaimer: I've had the idea recently of Iris deciding to decide her own future instead of going along with destiny and the original timeline but wasn't sure how to go about doing it until I thought about the whole death of Iris in the future thing from season 3. Though it has been awhile since I watched season 3 so this may suffer for that. Warning: This will NOT be for WestAllen fans.
"Barry, we need to talk." Announced Iris after asking him to follow her to somewhere more private at STAR Labs.
Ignoring the concerned and worried looks from not only Barry but the others present as well. Shortly after Iris had learned of her fate in the near future with the latest problem to hit their lives, Iris had started to do some thinking and some realizing. Thinking that actually led to a decision being made even while knowing it was going to cause heartbreak. Once in the now rarely used Lounge the Lab has, Iris took a deep breath while Barry watched on in concern. "Iris, what's up?" He asked in concern as he came up to her.
"I, I did some thinking, Bear." Began the woman.
"About what?"
"About, about the future after you told us what happened and it, like I said, got me to thinking and realizing a few things."
"Iris, nothing is gonna happen to you, okay? I promise, we are going to do everything we can to prevent that future from happening."
Her heart broke in that moment as his firm earnestness was making what she needed to tell him even harder. Taking another deep breath and releasing it, Iris pressed on. "Trust me, I don't want that future anymore than you or the others do, Barry. But I also realized after thinking about things that you and I… Aren't really right for one another." She finally told him.
Causing him to gape at her in shock and disbelief as he hadn't been expecting that whatsoever! "Iris, you're scared, I get that, I really do. But you can't let that affect us! We're, we're meant for each other, Iris. Its destiny, the original timeline even says so."
"And that's the original timeline, Bear, that's the destiny of that time's Barry and Iris. The timeline where we didn't grow up as siblings since your mom never died in that timeline. I've tried to be all for the idea of US but this thing with Savitar made me realize we're not meant for one another in this timeline. It made me realize I want my own future and the ability to choose what I want for myself in it, not something that's already happened and been tragically wiped out because of one man. You've always been a brother to me, Bear, and its time I remembered that and that you yourself accepted it."
"I-Iris, this is just the fear talking!" Barry told her, finding it hard to accept any of what she said.
Nor wanting to accept any of it as they are meant for one another and once this situation with Savitar was dealt with, she'd realize that and they would be incredibly happy together. "Maybe." Acknowledged Iris.
"Maybe it is, and maybe I'm even being selfish because of that fear. But this is how I feel, Barry. And I'm certain it's how I'll still feel after Savitar's been taken care of. But I won't be around for when that happens as I'm leaving Central City. I'm deciding and taking control of my future."
With that, Iris walked away from Barry, refusing to look back at him and the heartbroken look on his face. A few tears starting to come down her own face for hurting him but as she had told him, she was ultimately deciding for herself and that's what the important thing was. Not knowing that this would cause Barry to have even more resentment and hatred towards Eobard Thawne for ruining his life even more.
Author's Notes: And that's that.