Summary: Iris is a superhero now. Asking out her crush should be a lot easier than this.
To be fair, though, Caitlin's stuck in the exact same predicament.
Notes: Sequel to "Flame and Frost"
Spark
Iris sighed and gave Linda a mournful look. "Why is this so hard?"
"Because you keep psyching yourself out before you even see her face," Linda replied firmly. "It was funny at first, Iris, but it's starting to get sad."
"I'm reminding you of this the next time Wally visits me at work and you lose focus on everything around you," Iris retorted primly. "Last time you nearly knocked the printer off its stand."
"That... that is different."
"Oh?"
"Shut up." Linda pouted and drank her margarita.
"He likes you too," Iris offered with a gentle smile.
Linda blushed and smiled softly in response, ducking her head. "Anyway, Caitlin seems really awesome. And sweet. I know you're nervous after your last relationship didn't work out, but Caitlin's definitely into you. Trust me. And I bet your dad will adore her too. He'll try not to since he's still hung up on you and Barry one day making his incestuous foster father dreams come true," Linda smirked as Iris choked on air for that one, "but Caitlin's got those doe eyes of her that I'm pretty sure could be lethal under the right circumstances. Joe West won't stand a chance."
And, well, Linda wasn't exactly wrong to bring up Joe West. The real source of Iris' anxiety. She'd thought she moved past this when she fully accepted herself as a meta, embraced her powers, and came to Caitlin's - to Frost's - rescue as the new vigilante known as Flame. But some habits died hard.
Her last attempt at a relationship had been with Eddie Thawne. But Iris had let her father's disapproval put an end to what she had with Eddie. Something she regretted still, for all that she'd largely moved on. Iris didn't want to let that happen again. But Joe did seem to think Iris and Barry were destined for each other, something neither Barry nor Iris were pleased about. Barry'd grown out of his teenaged crush on Iris during their undergrad years; Joe had never grown out of hoping one day the two of them would profess they were madly in love with each other.
Caitlin, though... Iris had already proven she thought Caitlin worth fighting for, in the literal sense. She just needed to rally her courage and show that Caitlin was worth fighting for on the dating front too.
Also, Iris had to hope Caitlin would feel the same about her. Certainly Caitlin seemed to enjoy Iris' company. But... that was no guarantee.
"Tomorrow," Iris said, clinking her margarita against Linda's. "I'm asking her out tomorrow. And I won't let anything become an excuse not to."
"You go girl," Linda declared and then giggled. "Also, you make a really strong 'rita."
"Grandma Esther's recipe. Her eggnog recipe is even stronger."
Linda grinned. "I've never met her, but I love your grandma Esther."
"You wouldn't be the first beautiful woman to declare her love for my grandma," Iris replied with a sage nod and then gave a little giggle of her own. Relaxing as she finished the last of her glass, Iris decided that girl's night with Linda had been a very, very good idea indeed.
Cisco nudged Caitlin. Caitlin elbowed him back.
"Tell her," Cisco hissed.
"Shush, she'll hear you," Caitlin hissed back.
"Teeeellll her..."
"Tell me what?" Iris asked.
Cisco had been sitting in a chair, feet propped up on the desk as he leaned back far more than was advisable. It should have been hilarious when his panic over Iris being closer than expect sent him pinwheeling backwards to the floor. But Caitlin was a little busy panicking herself.
"I, uh, that, um..." Caitlin blushed and stumbled over her words, flailing for something, anything to say to make things less awkward. "They're selling Flame and Frost themed stuff at this coffee shop. Near me. Passed by on the way here and, uh, saw advertising."
Iris' eyebrows went up in amusement. She clearly did not believe that's what they'd been discussing. "You alright down there Cisco?" she asked, nudging him lightly in the shoulder with her foot.
"Yeah. I live down here now." Cisco paused a beat. "Ow."
Snorting softly, and adorably, in amusement, Iris turned back to Caitlin, blushing a little herself. "Well, sounds like we need to go check out this coffee shop's goods. Make sure they're not giving our alter egos a reputation for bad coffee or something."
"Yeah, o-okay?" Caitlin was off her own chair like a shot. "Now? Or, uh, were you thinking later?"
"Now's good. I could use a caffeine boost."
"Me too," Caitlin squeaked, glancing down at Cisco who shot her a thumbs up before, carefully, rolling off his chair. He was now face down on the ground.
"This is fine," Cisco muttered. "You two go without me. I'll just... recalibrate something or try working on my powers again. Creating vibrational blasts is gonna happen eventually. I've seen it, just gotta do it."
"Need a hand up before we go?" Iris offered.
"I was thinking of napping," Cisco insisted.
"On the concrete?"
"We need some area rugs for this place. Really make it homey." Cisco sighed and, carefully, stood back up. Then he grabbed his chair, righted it, and sat down very delicately, like he was afraid it'd topple over again.
Area rugs didn't make for quick bugging out of their secret warehouse lair. But then neither did Cisco's complex computer setup. So maybe they should get a few rugs. Especially if Cisco wanted to keep risking concussions. Though at least he lucked out this time.
"We'll get on that. Later," Caitlin promised. She grinned at Iris. "Coffee?"
"Coffee," Iris agreed with a bright grin.
The coffee shop has Flame and Frost cookies, sugar cookies with red and blue icing as well as sprinkles in the shape of little flames and snowflakes. They've also got a new espresso drink that comes in Flame (hot) and Frost (iced) variation, so Caitlin and Iris settle at a table with their opposite element affiliated drinks and a little plate of cookies to split between them.
Iris wants to be brave. And she's going to be. "Caitlin, I really like you. Um... as in, I'd like to date you. If you're interested?"
Caitlin's eyes light up. "Yes. Yes, I'm interested. Um..." she scooted around the table, a bit comically what with how her chair squeaked. "May I kiss you?"
With a grin, Iris leaned in to meet Caitlin's mouth with her own. They both tasted of sugar cookies and coffee and they giggle a little when the kiss ends.
"That was nice," Caitlin murmured, a bit dazed and very pleased.
"It was, wasn't it." Iris kissed the corner of Caitlin's mouth too. "Let me take you on a date tonight?"
"I'd like that a lot. Also more kissing." Caitlin grinned as Iris laughed and nodded.
"Definitely more kissing."