It was just a normal day for Iris. Well, that's a bit of a stretch. She was in Starling City and the only reason that she was even there was because her dad was becoming increasingly more unbearable about her class choices and what job she should take, so she had decided to take a short trip and visit Starling for the day. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your angle, the unlikely had happened to her.
She was just walking by, with her shopping bags and a big belly burger, when she heard the commotion. Now considering that this was Starling, the sensible thing to do would have been to ignore it and move on. However, the girl's good heart wouldn't allow her so she went out to investigate the noise.
The sight nearly broke her heart. There was a small girl, probably not even 13, being beaten up by men twice her size. It made Iris want to puke but she had to save the girl. Screw her father's orders to stay put in dangerous situations. She wanted to be a cop and she'll prove that she would have been a damn good one.
She took a deep breath and quickly moved over to them and yelled out, "Hey! Get the hell away from her!"
The men quickly turned to her and Iris memorised their features. They were all different sized and colour but they had one thing in common, a tattoo of a snake. She memorised that for later. One man, clearly the leader, broke out of the circle to stand up in front of her.
"Oh yeah. And what are you going to do, Pumpkin? Order us a burger?" he asked sarcastically causing the rest of the goons behind him to laugh. Iris had to lean away slightly from his breath and that's when she noticed the small girl that they were beating up looked at her as if she was insane.
While they were arguing like idiots, Iris reached inside her purse and started feeling around until her hands felt the small bottle and she smirked internally.
"No. This!" was the only warning they all got before their bosses eyes were clouded with tears, courtesy of the pepper spray.
While the big man was flailing around and his goons tried to help him, she ran around them, grabbed the girl - gently remembering her injuries- and took off. She thanked her lucky stars that she regularly attended the gym.
She ran with the girl for what seemed like hours but was probably minutes waiting for the sound of the pissed gang members' men to quieten down to tend to the girl's injuries. She might not be an expert but she knew a thing or two on how to heal bruises. She had experience with how many times she had to patch Barry up after some bully tried to pick on him.
When, finally, she couldn't hear the sound of men screaming profanities after them, she turned to the petite girl and picked her up and placed her on the nearest surface, a garbage can.
She was tiny. If she had to put a vague height she would say at least under 5'0. She also had cropped short hair with a small fringe and a leather jacket. She had beautiful blue eyes that were framed by some eyeliner. Some sensible black shorts for summer and a black shirt with some band name she's never heard of.
"What was that back there?" finally asked the girl, after gawking at her for a full minute and Iris took that chance to look the girl over to look at any serious injuries.
"Me saving your life," Iris replied, relief swelling up in her when she realised the girl had no broken bones by the look of it. Only some cuts that wouldn't scar and some bruises that will heal soon. However, she did have a nasty gash on her leg from what her shorts were showing.
"Yeah but why? These are the Glades! You just put a huge target on your back!" snapped the girl, looking at Iris as if she was from outer space. Iris rolled her eyes at the mention of the Glades. The way these people acted, it was like the Glades was a sewage system and their inhabitants were rats.
"A) It's the right thing to do. B) You're like 10. And C) I don't live in Starling so I don't have to worry about shit darling." Iris replied ruffling through her bags, glad that she had bought some soothing ointment and plasters along with some bandages. The beauty of having the clumsiest best friend ever was that you always came prepared.
"Oi! I'm 13. Get the facts right!" snapped the girl crossing her arms and pouting.
"When you gain a couple of inches, sure. Now stay still so I can bandage your cuts," said Iris, as she ignored the girls pouting in favour of bandaging the girl up.
"You live in a crappy neighbourhood and I'll love to see you grow to be tall." snapped the girl. Defensive is the default it seems. At least she was staying still enough for Iris to help her, even if she did keep squirming.
"No thanks. I already have the disadvantage of being a black person in a society that acts like it's changed but is the farthest thing away from change. And adding to that I'm a woman which just makes it ten times worse." snapped Iris. She was helping this girl and she was going to at least be thanked for her efforts or be allowed to work in silence.
The girl bit her lips roughly and was silent for a long time before she finally muttered a bashful "Sorry" under her breath and turned her head around, her cheeks turning into a rose-red colour.
"Nah, it's fine. Just stressed out from my father," said Iris, shooing the girl's apology away, as she rubbed some soothing ointment on her legs, glad for the fact that the girl was wearing shorts for the summer.
"What he do? Ban you from seeing your boyfriend? Or wouldn't let you out in a skirt?" the small girl asked, turning around to look at her. There was a small smirk on her face and some of the blush had left her face, but there was still a light pink in her cheeks. Iris had to resist the urge to coo at her.
"No, but, those options would have been better. He's starting to become too controlling and I can't function in that environment. So I decided to come to Starling to let out some steam." said Iris, smiling at the small girl. She quickly finished bandaging up the nasty gash on her leg and set to work on the girl's waist by rolling it with some bandages. Any other day she would have paid more attention to the wounds but she doubted the girl wanted that in such a public place, with a stranger no less.
"Men are assholes who don't know how to keep their noses out of other people's business. The name's Sin, by the way. I figured since you kinda saved my life and all, I owe you at least my name." said the girl, running her one uninjured hand through her cropped hair.
"Sin?" Iris raised her eyebrow at the name. She's pretty sure it was short for something however she wasn't going to push for it considering the girl's condition.
"Yup! Ain't short for nothing!" exclaimed the girl firmly, almost challenging the older woman to say anything else. It would have sounded more threatening if the girl wasn't practically just a little bit taller than her hips and there wasn't plaster on her nose, making her look adorable.
"Sure, honey. Whatever floats your boat," said Iris, sarcasm making itself obvious.
"Whatever lady! What's your name anyway? It can't be better than mine." said Sin, pouting and looking up at her.
"Iris and you're all done," said Iris, picking the girl up and plopping her feet back on the floor.
"Thanks but next time mind your own business. These are the Glades. Just because you do something nice here doesn't mean it'll be relayed. Look at Merlyn's wife. " The girl was trying so hard to fall back onto her tough girl act but she was nice enough to give her some advice. Iris didn't know whether she wanted to coddle the girl or find the group of assholes and hurt them for hurting the petite ravenette. She settled on neither and fixed the girl with a firm look.
"No way. If someone is getting hurt you help. Especially if they're innocent. And especially if they're a small, innocent, child. I am going to help people with or without your blessing missy." said Iris firmly. She was not going to get into an argument with a teen, however, she will leave a solid argument behind.
"Sorry. Ain't used to the affection. Iris is a pretty name though. See ya lady." mumbled Sin and when she looked like she was gonna dash Iris grabbed her arm. Iris so desperately wanted to take her in but she knew that she couldn't. She'll have to settle on the best next thing.
"Hey. Wait up. Look, I know you aren't going to accept anything else for me and that pains me." Sin looked slightly shocked at the small confession. As if she couldn't imagine anyone caring for her. Iris felt the small flare of anger again "However, I am not gonna let a kid get herself hurt on the streets." Iris continues. She quickly looked through her purse and found some paper and a pen and took them out and quickly scribbled something down. "This is my number. You are to call me whenever you need something, need a place to say or just wanna talk to someone. Clear?" Iris asked as she held out her number to the shocked girl.
She quickly got over her shock, however. "How am I meant to call you, Barbie? I don't exactly have a phone."
Iris just raised an eyebrow at her and rummaged more in her bag and pulled out some cash. "Here. Now you have no excuse," smirked Iris as she handed the money to the girl.
The petite ravenette didn't say anything but finally, she nodded. "Thanks. The world needs more people like you in it, Iris" declared the small girl before running off and waving her hand backwards.
Iris just shook her head. She counted her leftover money and was glad to see that she still had the money for a cab to the train, a train ticket and a cab home.
'What a strange day' thought Iris as she started dialling the number of a cab.
However, that chance meeting was going to change the timeline as we knew it.