A/N: This is my new story, When Worlds Collide, a Flash and Avengers crossover. Before I continue, I would like to address something. My The Flash: Across The Multiverse story was deleted because I couldn't continue with it. Sorry. I know some of you were looking forward to it.
Another thing I need to address is this. I'm sure you're all familiar with the kind of stories where Barry leaves the Arrowverse after The Flash 3x07 and goes to the MCU. We've all heard that 'second origin story' a million times. Well, in this story, I'm skipping that part. This story takes place in February 2016 in the MCU, a few months before Captain America: Civil War. In this story, Barry has already been in the MCU for two years since February 2014. He left after the events of The Flash 3x07. I will explain when he gets back to the Arrowverse.
With all that in mind, let's get going! Also, the MCU is Earth-199999 in this story. Another thing, italics is narration by Barry.
Earth-199999
New York City
Night
A man was walking through a large crowd of people, he had dark-colored clothes and a black hood on, covering his face. He made his way through the crowd as it rained heavily. The man had a black, dark backpack hanging from his shoulders. He slowly kept walking, his thin, long, black, silky hair could be seen if one stood close enough to him.
Another night, here on this…other earth.
The man continued walking as he reached a parking lot, he stopped by a Ducati motorcycle. He took off his head, revealing his face as for a fraction of a moment, the man's thin, long, black, and silky hair could be seen. Barry Allen put on his helmet as he slid down the visor. He climbed onto the motorcycle seat, setting his bike and his helmet.
In the past, I would've just run. Super speed comes in handy. But no, not this time, I need time to think, time to remember.
Barry drove his motorcycle through the city, driving past Times Square and heading towards the edge of the city.
There was a time where I had a team, where I had friends, people I could rely on. People who could and would help me. Now, it's just me. Me and my only mission.
Barry's motorcycle sped through the streets as he descended into downtown New York.
Two years of restless nights on this earth. Two years of fighting, two years away from Earth 1, away from everything. All the things that happened, all the things that changed…because of me.
Two years of traveling across this entire earth, training with assassins and mercenaries, fighting, training to fight.
Barry drove his motorcycle into an abandoned building, it wasn't just any building, it was his base of operations. He drove through the secret entrance as the doors closed behind him. Barry slowed the motorcycle down as it rolled towards the main area of the building. He grabbed the sides of his helmet as he pulled it off, revealing his face. Barry placed the helmet on the motorcycle as he parked it. He got off the motorcycle seat as he made his way over to a table where multiple computers, laptops, monitors, and keyboards were.
Barry pulled off his backpack, placing it on the table. He leaned against the edges of the table, gripping them tightly. He looked up at the computers, two strands of his long, black, silky hair partially blocking his view. Back on Earth 1, Barry had maintained his hair, keeping it as the same short, straight, brown hair. Now, it has gotten thin, long, black and silky.
All these nights, fighting criminals and any other evil. They think I'm hiding, hiding in the shadows.
Barry unzipped his backpack as he pulled out the helmet-like cowl of his suit. It was made of red metal on the top, sides, and back. A gray visor in the front that would cover half his face, leaving his mouth and chin exposed.
But I am the shadows.
Elsewhere
A man got off a train as the doors of it closed behind him. It was night and it was pouring with rain, the man didn't have an umbrella and as a result, his hair and clothes were soaked within seconds. The man walked across the station. Unknown to him, there was a group of people slowly following him and not just any group of people, a group of Inhumans. Several of them. One with super strength, a telepath, one with energetic powers, and several of the other Inhumans with several different powers. Each Inhuman having their own power. The Inhumans followed the man, who suddenly stopped in his tracks, sensing something behind him. He turned and saw all the Inhumans standing behind him. Sensing the hostility and danger, the man took off, running as fast as he could in a panic. The group of Inhumans ran after him, chasing the man. The man reached another area as he was trapped. Many of the Inhumans grabbed the man, who was screaming for help.
"Help!" the man cried desperately. "Help! Somebody help me! He-"
The man was cut off as one of the Inhumans swung his fist at the man's jaw, knocking him down. The Inhumans picked up the man, restraining him as three of the Inhumans stood in front of the man. Many of the Inhumans were laughing when suddenly, a loud bang was heard, echoing through the area. The Inhumans stopped their laughter as for a moment, the only sound that could be heard was the rain splattering on the ground. Then, footsteps could be heard. The Inhumans threw the man aside as he fell on the ground.
"What the hell is that?" one of the Inhumans whispered.
"No idea." another Inhuman whispered.
Then, through the dark shadow of the alley, a man stepped forward as he continued walking through. The Flash walked closer and closer, his dark red, metal suit drenched in the rain. His suit was dark red metal with golden boots, lines of gold on the suit, and a lightning bolt emblem on his chest. His cowl was a metal-made, helmet material. Red metal on the back, sides, and top, a gray visor covering the top half of his face. A few of the Inhumans chuckled at him as one of them stepped forward.
"Who the hell are you?" the Inhuman demanded.
The Inhuman charged his fists with energy as he threw a punch at the speedster. The Flash caught the punch with one arm, locking it before breaking it with a crack. The Inhuman let out a short cry as The Flash repeatedly speed-punched him in the ribs and face, the ribs breaking with each punch. Flash punched the Inhuman to the ground as he kneeled above him, throwing two last punches that were lined with orange lightning.
"I'm The Flash." Flash whispered before looking up at the rest of the Inhumans.
Some of the Inhumans were visibly terrified, among them being the telepath. Few of the Inhumans fled, running away. Flash let them, his deal was with the Inhumans that stayed. Several Inhumans circled around the speedster. Then, in a flash of orange lightning, Flash circled around the entire area, knocking every single Inhuman unconscious. The Inhumans were easily finished. Flash stood over the unconscious bodies, glaring at the Inhumans when he saw one of them getting up, it was the first Inhuman he had fought. The one whose arm and ribs were broken. The Inhuman rose to his feet, his fists glowing with energy one more time as he let out a roar before charging at The Flash. He swung his fist as Flash leaned his body back, dodging the hit. With his left hand, he grabbed the Inhuman's throat, gripping it tightly. The Inhuman choked and began suffocating. Flash continued choking with the Inhuman as he forced him onto his knees, pushing his upper body down to the ground. Flash gritted his teeth with rage as he raised his right fist in the air before throwing it down, knocking the Inhuman unconscious.
Flash let out a breath when suddenly, a blast of energy struck fifteen feet away from him. He turned around to see another Inhuman, one with energy blasting abilities.
"Hey psycho!" the Inhuman yelled. "You think you can take us!"
The Inhuman sent a blast of energy at The Flash, who was slightly affected by the hit. His armor protected him. Flash sped over to the Inhuman, grabbing him by the throat as he shoved him to the wall. Flash then sent waves of lightning and electricity into the Inhuman, electrocuting him with his raw power. Flash dropped the Inhuman, who fell to the ground purely unconscious.
"Please," Flash heard a voice as he looked over to see an innocent civilian on the ground. "Please don't hurt me."
Flash remained silent as he tilted his head, looking up to the sky. He raced out of the area with super speed, orange lightning trailing him.
Earlier
Elsewhere
A woman was in her home, watching the news on her TV. She was eating some pasta as she sat on her couch. The woman was secretly a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, working for Phil Coulson. However, she couldn't afford for anyone besides her family to know her secret. It was unsafe for any S.H.I.E.L.D. agent's true identity to be known to the outside world. Not even S.H.I.E.L.D. had revealed itself despite being built back. The woman finished her pasta as she got up from her couch and walked over to the sink. She placed her plate inside and began to wash it.
Unbeknownst to the woman, a certain figure of a man was standing behind her. He walked closer and closer towards her. Closer, and closer. Even closer. Until, the woman could hear the deep and hoarse breathing of the man behind her. The woman's hands began trembling with fear, her breathing and heartbeat accelerating. She was not alone in her home as she thought. In mere seconds, the entire house echoed with her screams before they were silenced, indicating her death. The entire house flashed with lightning as the mysterious figure disappeared, leaving the woman's dead body covered in her blood.
Avengers Tower
Now
Vision, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and Clint Barton were standing on the helipad rooftop of Avengers Tower. They were all dressed in their suits, waiting for a certain visitor.
"Think he'll show?" Tony asked.
"He always does," Steve noted.
"How come he already hasn't?" Clint asked.
"Hopefully," Steve began. "Because he's busy."
"Busy enough." a voice echoed.
The four of them turned around instantly as they saw a certain speedster behind them. They each lowered their weapons and eased themselves.
"Are you ever not gonna do that?" Tony asked.
"Two years and you're still scaring the living hell out of us," Clint said, addressing their obvious past with the scarlet speedster.
"There are some Inhumans I've locked up in that basement of yours," Flash said. "Send them to S.H.I.E.L.D., they'll want 'em."
"Right," Clint said slowly as Flash furrowed his eyebrows under his visor.
"What is it?" Flash asked.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. needs your help," Steve explained, handing Flash a picture.
The picture showed a woman's dead body in a home as Steve began speaking. "A few hours ago, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent was murdered in her home. S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to investigate but they've got no clue. This agent was a critical and top member of S.H.I.E.L.D. and they have no clue what exactly happened to her."
"Plus," Tony added. "Seeing as you're the genius with the detective skills and all that, they want your help. So, what do ya say, Sherlock?"
"I'll look into it," Flash assured, handing the picture back to Steve. "Where're Coulson and Daisy?"
"On the scene," Steve replied.
"Tell 'em not to do anything until I get there," Flash said as he turned around and began walking away.
The Scarlet Speedster sped out in a flash of orange lightning, leaving the tower instantly.
Elsewhere in New York City
Phil Coulson was walking down the halls of the house where a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent had been murdered, as he walked, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in the halls made room for him to walk. Or rather, for the Scarlet Speedster trailing behind him. The S.H.I.E.L.D agents stared at The Flash as he passed through. Coulson and the speedster reached the entrance to the living room, where the dead body of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent was. Coulson walked through as Flash followed when suddenly, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Davis stood in front of him.
"Whoa there, buddy," Davis said. "What do you think you're doing here?"
"Davis," Coulson said. "Let him through."
Davis nodded his head as he stood aside, letting the scarlet speedster walk through the entrance. Flash entered the living room where he saw the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent's dead body sprawled on the ground. Around the living room, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents May, Mack, Bobbi, Hunter, Daisy, Simmons, and Fitz all stared at The Flash.
"I'm sorry," Hunter said. "What is he doing here?"
Out of the entire group, Coulson and Daisy were the only ones who had known The Flash as well and as long as the Avengers did. The others only knew him from the newspapers and the way an ordinary person would.
"I asked him to come," Coulson said.
"To do what," Mack scoffed. "Beat the crap out of everyone in this room."
"You all wanna try and figure out what happened here?" Flash dared. "Cause last I checked none of you have any experience with anything like this,"
"And you do?" May asked. "How?"
"That's none of your concern," Flash said, tilting his head to the dead body of the woman. "What do you know?"
Simmons cleared her throat. "Nothing. We've scanned the entire area, no traces of any Inhuman strands or DNA of any kind. The killer was careful, didn't leave anything behind, nothing that can be traced back to him or her."
"She was struck in the chest," Flash noted. "Stabbed with a knife."
"We found the murder weapon," Simmons said, holding up a plastic bag with a blood-stained knife.
Flash tapped the side of his visor as it began scanning the entire room with x-rays and other softwares. Through the visor, Flash saw multiple orange spots across the entire room. He immediately deduced what it was.
"One thing I don't get is this," Mack said. "This woman was one of the most skilled and trained S.H.I.E.L.D agents ever. She could take an entire group of mercenaries with her bare hands. Now some nut-job shows up and takes her out with a knife."
"Maybe the killer was in combat," Fitz said. "Maybe Hydra. Could've been Ward."
"This isn't like Ward," Coulson said, nodding his head.
"Because it wasn't," Flash said.
"What do you mean?" Daisy asked.
"The killer wasn't an Inhuman," Simmons said. "There's no way they had powers."
"They didn't have to be," Flash said.
The speedster looked down at the floor, noticing a small footprint covered with blood on the floor. The footprint was extremely small, small enough to be that of a child. Daisy noticed Flash staring at the footprint as she spoke.
"Yeah, uh," Daisy began as Flash glanced over to her. "Her son found her. 11-year-old kid."
"What?" Flash asked, thinking he had misheard her.
"The kid, he's eleven years old."
Flash looked back to the dead body of the woman. A woman, a mother, stabbed in her chest, an eleven year old boy finding her dead body. This couldn't have been a coincidence. It had to have been planned.
"I'll let you know if I find anything," Flash said as he walked forward.
Flash stopped in his tracks when he heard a voice echo through the room. "Mom."
He turned around and saw a young, eleven-year-old child kneeling over the woman's body.
"Mom." the boy called, tears streaming down his eyes.
Flash stared at the boy in stillness. For a moment, in the fraction of a second, Flash could see a mirror image of himself inside the boy. He could see himself in the child. A young boy losing his entire world, having no one and nothing to look to, feeling alone in a cold and dark world that consumed him. One of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents pulled the boy by his arms, pulling him away from the mother.
"Hey," the agent said. "C'mon, kid. You don't need to see this."
Flash instantly sped out of the house, leaving it instantly. However, no amount of speed or power could help him unsee what he had just seen.
Elsewhere
Flash was in his base, standing behind the table as he pulled off his cowl, revealing his face. Barry set his cowl down on the table as he activated the computers, laptops, and monitors.
"Gideon," Barry called out.
"Yes, Barry Allen," the A.I. replied.
"Analyze the dark matter and Speed Force traces from the area," Barry said. "The killer who did this was another speedster and I need to know who."
A/N: I'll end that chapter right there. I hope this is a good introduction. I'm really just jumping to Barry already being in the MCU. Also, I mentioned how Barry's hair is black and silky. Yeah, he has the hairstyle from 2024 Barry in The Flash 3x19 in this story. For now, he's gonna have that emo, dark look.
I know Barry is clearly a lot darker and grittier in this story. I'm just gonna write it off as him being angry from everything that's happened since Flashpoint. I've always liked the idea of a darker and grittier Barry Allen.
As for our speedster, you can take a crack at who it is, but I won't say anything until I reach the chapter where I reveal who the speedster is.
Hope you enjoyed this first chapter, let me know if you want me to continue. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. If you like this story so far, favorite it and follow to stay updated!
