Title: From the Ashes
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with the CW show The Flash.
Summary: A season 6 possibility?
Author's note: I've watched the entire series on Netflix, and got inspired by the season 5 finale. This one takes off from the Barry/Iris scenes at Star Labs.
Nora's video message echoed long after the feed ended. Barry and Iris stood there in each other's arms comfort found in being near one another. Barry stared over Iris' head at his daughter's frozen face looking out at him and cursed himself for the time he wasted being angry with her. He should've stayed with her in the future, they should've worked out what Thwane's plan was sooner.
"The new timeline is setting in," Thwane's last words before he disappeared planted themselves in Barry's mind. Soon he'd be the only one to remember he'd met his adult daughter, they'd ever chased after Cicada's dagger, or the power it held. He drew back from Iris, and tipped her face up to his own placing a soft kiss her lips.
"She's gone."
"I know. A lot of parents go through life wondering if they're doing the right thing by their children, and at least we know we have." Barry said.
"True," Iris raised a sleeve and rubbed at her eyes. "We should rejoin the others, and pack up her stuff." A last kiss for bravery, and they left the time chamber.
Barry settled a protective hand to her back as they re-entered the operations' area. Iris moved to the communications station eyes immediately picking up on the brown leather-bound book. Her hands moved across the cover a loving gesture as she gathered it to her chest.
"I'm really sorry about what happened," Ralph greeted Barry as he stood watching Iris.
"Thanks Ralph. I'm going to take Iris home. We're going to take a few days to process this. I'm not… into the whole hero thing right now." Iris was putting on a brave front for the team she led, but she'd break down when they were home together.
"I understand. We all do." Ralph patted Barry on the back, and moved on. Cisco, and Caitlin joined Iris at her station as Barry joined his wife.
"Ready to go?" Barry asked. He put an arm over her shoulders.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Take all the time you need," Caitlin spoke for her and Cisco. They'd already asked Joe to track Wally down and ask him to come home. Barry hugged his friends. "We'll see you soon," he said. Iris slipped the book in her bag and slung it over her shoulder. He took her hand and they left.
The drive home was a chance for small talk. "Captain Singh is going to be the new police chief."
"That's what he wanted to see the three of you about?" Iris was curious after Barry left with her father, and step mom.
"Yes. He made Joe the new Captain. And then turned to me and said "If things get hairy, you can always count on the Flash right Barry?" Barry did his impression of Singh drawing a chuckle from Iris.
"You didn't lie did you?"
"I thought about it. And then I thought it might help having a police chief on side with our operations. I was a little surprised that he'd figured it out. But as he says 'He is a detective.' And I trust him with the secret."
They pulled into their spot in the garage, and Barry sat there a few moments before cutting the engine. Reality used the silence to resume its position. "We don't have to go in yet,"
She reached over the console between them, and grasped his hand squeezed. "Yeah we do,"
Her uncertainty grew as the elevator zoomed towards their floor. They stepped off into the hallway. "Are you sure?" Barry asked. He took her hand and saw her chest rise in a deep breath.
"Yeah," Iris felt the tears prickle behind her eyes as Barry unlocked the door. They entered their loft and stood frozen as they looked around. One blanket hung off the back of the sofa, pillows scattered on the floor. Iris crossed the room, and picked up one pillow, sniffing it. She lifted her face, tears starting again. "She's really gone."
Barry flicked the lights on and they saw dirty dishes in the sink, and a phone its message light blinking on it laid beside. He brought it to life and noticed the goofy photo of the three of them in hideous Christmas sweaters. He showed it to Iris, the image pausing the tears.
Barry began washing dishes left in the sink for his hand to have something to do. "I couldn't see past my own rage, and it cost us time with her. I shouldn't have left her alone in the future. We could've worked through it." It would be an addition to Barry's growing list of regrets.
Barry's reaction to Nora's actions caught the entire team off-guard. He was always the type of guy to stop, remove himself from the cause of his anger so he could figure out the solution to the problem. He was gone, and back before any of them realized it. Iris tore her gaze from the phone to watch her husband a few moments. "I blame you for this,"
The statement hung in the air between them. Barry placed his hands on either side of the sink as if to absorb a physical slap. He knew the accusation of blame was coming, and also that she needed to say it in order to get past it. He needed to embrace his anger to be the Arrow, and survive. He didn't realize it hadn't left him until he was standing next to Iris in Star Labs after returning Nora to the future.
His hands returned to their work, rinsing each plate, and placing them in the countertop rubber dish dryer. "You're not going to say anything?" Iris wanted to fight. Barry placed the final bowl inside it, and dried his hands. He wouldn't give it to her.
"I deserved that," Barry's voice was quiet, and brittle. It was Iris' turn to look surprised. He joined her sitting in the plush leather chair opposite her.
"I watched her sleep sometimes. The lines melted away from her face, and I could see what she was like as a little girl before me…" Iris was still ashamed of the mother she'd become. Denying someone a part of themselves. "Do you remember our first date?"
"How could I forget? We tried so hard to be a normal couple." Barry remembered the awkward silences when neither could think of anything to talk about. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Take two on the first date was better," she said.
Barry whisked her away to the gazebo by the water. He remembered how she felt beside him as he ran, felt her smile against his chest. They both realized they had to accept they were Team Flash, and his speed was as much a part of him as Iris' relentlessness in pursuing a story was of her. "You have good reasons for what you'll do Iris,"
"Do I?" She'd asked herself the same thing countless times.
He knelt in front of her placing his hands in her lap. His wedding band caught the moonlight through the window behind her. "The losses count up. My parents, your mother, Caitlin's father. Cisco's powers. They motivate us to try and protect what we hold close. There's nothing wrong with that."
Iris felt her fingers bury themselves in his hair as she thought of her time with Barry's powers. She looked into her husband's world-weary eyes. "That freedom though… the feeling of the wind in your hair. The high after saving lives. How could I deprive my daughter of that?"
Barry reached up and stroked her face. "Whatever you do, it will be for the best. If you decide to bind her powers I understand, and support you," They stood, and he kissed her. She leaned into his chest, her head settling in as if she belonged there.
They made their way to the bedroom, and undressed for bed, as they had the night before. Iris was the first to speak after they laid down.
"Bar?" She asked. He rolled over to face her.
"She's gone," Iris repeated. This time the tears didn't stop. He kissed her, putting his pain and sadness into it. His kisses followed the trail left by her tears.
She took hold of his CCPD T-shirt, and he caught it before she started exploring further. "Are you sure?" he asked.
She smiled at his thoughtfulness. "Yes. I need to be close to you tonight. I think you need the same thing." Barry took off his own shirt and began pulling the hem of hers. They took their time, hands exploring each other as if for the first time.
"Are you sure?" He asked a final time. Iris nodded, and he rose up over her thrusting inside. When they finished he lay on his side, arms around her waist holding her close. He felt her breathing change as she slept, and felt peaceful.
Well… my first story for the Flash category. Reviews are welcome.