"My name is Riley Allen and I'm the fastest woman alive. When I was a child, I saw my mother killed by something impossible. My father went to prison for her murder. Surprisingly enough being transgender wasn't the most surprising thing about me, an accident made me the impossible. To the outside world, I'm just an ordinary forensic scientist, but secretly I use my speed to fight crime and find others like me, and one day I'll find who killed my mother and get justice for my father. I am The Flash."
Snow settled on the streets of Central City, Christmas was a night's sleep away. Shoppers and the like we're bustling and rushing as they tried to snatch up last minute gifts for those they loved. One of the customers today was unlike any others, she was the fresh faced scarlet speedster of Central City; dubbed the flash after dressing like the mysterious speedster that once visited National City. The time was racing as the clocks approached midnight, stores left and right were closing down and Riley was still without the one item she desired. The irony of being super sonic and late wasn't lost on her at all this particular night. Hope was almost lost until she happened upon a still lit store, inside were displays of fine jewelry and trinkets that were usually far beyond her price range. However the speedster had been saving every penny to ensure she did some spectacular come tomorrow morning. In like a bullet she flew, skidding to a stop as approached the counter. Every display case was checked in high speed, rapidly searching for that particular thing for that particular person. The confused clerk watched the hero move frantically, clearing their throat loudly more than a few times so they could offer some assistance. "Miss Flash? Flash girl?" The clerk was unsure of what to call out, obviously new to the idea of the red racer.
Riley smirked at the names, dismissing each before leaning on the counter. "Just Flash is fine."
"If you're looking for something specific i can just pull up our inventory right here." It was clear both the customers and the shop keeps were a bit dischielved by the high speed antics.
Embarrassed, her face as red as her suit she apologized, giving the cashier the item description as clearly as she could but to her dismay, the very last locket she desired was already in the hands of another. Her heart instantly sank into the pit of her stomach, her hopes dashed in a matter of minutes. The thought of pleading with the woman who had the locket crossed her mind but she couldn't stand the thought of ruining the holiday for another.
A million thoughts raced through her mind as she made her way toward the exit but before she could even process one all the hairs on her neck began to stand, a sudden burst of cold air crept along her back in what felt like slow motion. Reacting without hesitation the speedster evaded, dodging a lengthy beam of ice from the gun of Mr. Freeze himself. The shoppers scrambled as the towering man in his mechanical suit disembarked from the floor above. Voice filtered by the suit, a chilling threat was made upon all before him. "Soon your loved ones will feel the very same pain I do on this most sacred of nights. Once they've burned from your loss they'll be left with a cold heart, the likes of mine."
Flash prepared herself, giving this assailant a chance to back down before engaging. "I don't know who you are or what you want but-"
A frozen blast of ice shards nearly impaled the hero, forcing her to duck. "Perhaps it is the ridiculous mask you wear but I've made my desires clear; I want you dead, I want all of you dead!"
So be it then. A spark could be seen in her eyes as time slowed, a rupture of kinetic energy radiated off her figure as an aura of electricity traced her every step. Even in her quickened state the ice hurling toward her was incredibly quick, forcing her to calculate every step took upon approach. Ice! A fatal misstep ruined the assault, foot sliding across a wayward remnant of a shot since fired. Riley spun out, crashing into Mr. Freeze with a stupendous amount of force. Fortunately the speed force protected her in that precise moment or else she would be still reeling from impact. Same couldn't be said for the suit of the tortured genius, his suit misshapen from the super sonic blunt impact. Fearing the worst the subzero man took hold of a hostage, turning her captive before the Flash had a chance to intervene.
"A fast one are we? We'll have to see just how quick you are tonight, Red Streak! How will this death suit you, I wonder.." without any further hesitation the trigger was pulled. An ice beam was released toward the now cowering woman. At the very same moment electricity struck every light panel, instantly bursting upon contact. The very floor tiles lifted, elevated by the massive waves of energy being generated with each step. It was unsure whether or not it was due to the stakes at hand, the locket that reminded Riley of the pain of losing someone or the simply the desire to prove herself but something awoken in the young hero; an immeasurable with unlimited potential. Before anyone had known it, the freeze gun was forcefully redirected away, crudely breaking the arm of its owner in the process.
"The name is the Flash, fastest woman alive not red streak!" an exhale escaped her lips as she unleashed a barrage of hundreds of hits into the chest of the assailant, rendering his suit busted and useless. "If you have trouble remembering it, just think how quick you got beat, in a flash."
The Flash basked in approval of the citizens, prompting securing the rogue before fielding the onslaught of gratitude the crowd offered. Despite all this, Riley was left without the locket or time to secure another. She solemnly accepted this was apart of being a hero however, certain sacrifices had to be made. The woman she rescued approached her, graciously shaking her hand before slipping something into it. To her surprise it was the piece of jewelry she had desired, the speedster only now realized the hostage was the customer who had what she came for. The gratitude displayed warmed her heart, she couldn't help but to hug the woman before thanking her.
"If it wasn't for you, Flash, I wouldn't have a neck to wear it. This is a small token, a small piece of what I can give back to you for being here tonight. It will look beautiful on you."
I didn't have the time to explain to this elderly woman that I was hella gay so I just said thanks.. and I meant it. "Thank you, truly. I mean it."
After a long night of pinning for this piece she had to take a moment to admire its beauty; the delicate inner workings of the mechanism and it's subtle articulate details. It was no wonder that, Adela, the woman she currently had feelings for, wished to own it. All parts of Riley were hoping a grand gesture like this might turn their friendship into something, or at least start the discussion the speedster had been longing for. All the while she processed these thoughts, the defeated Mr. Freeze was being loaded into a secure van for his immediate transfer back to Blackgate. Something stirred within her, forcing her to make the brash decision to stop the guards, even if just for a second. "Wait.. Stop. I need a second with him, exactly one hundred and twenty of them." The guards looked to one another, puzzled, had it not been the Flash asking they might've denied the request but that wasn't the case today. Nervously, Riley sat across from the villain, awkwardly swinging her legs about as she broke the ice.
"I wanted to apologize.. not for kicking your ass, I'll always do that but.. for what you've lost. I've felt that same pain, I still feel it, even today. You're alone…. aren't you?" Whatever response that was being waited on didn't come, a head hung in defeat was his only response. "We are alike in that one way, we've both suffered that terrible pain-that pain that just sits in your stomach and makes you sick. Every thought about them is tainted by the images of you losing them and it makes even fondly looking back a painful exp-" Flash caught herself, nearly slipping into tears as she fixated on her mother's brutal passing. "It must hurt to be alone on Christmas.. but this year, you weren't." The timepiece Flash carried was in full view of Victor. Midnight, it was Christmas morning. The red racer disappeared rather that, leaving Fries with a look of bewilderment on his face as the blur faded into the night.
Christmas day, everything had been leading to this moment and the anticipation was sending waves of vibrations along every inch of skin. It took everything just to walk up the steps to Adela's door, every possible fear she had was a possibility in this one moment. You're the fastest woman alive, you can do this. Don't be a pussy! With a deep exhale her feet carried her to the door. Palms sweaty with anxiety she attempted to knock. Just as her hand grazed the mahogany piece before her she caught a glimpse of Adela inside and in her lap lied another woman; clearly one someone she was fond of. Instantly a tear began to roll down her cheek, her heart crushed. The happiness she felt for Adela being content was drowned by her own sorrows; Riley dropped the package, disappearing into an alleyway where could safely vent her emotions. Vibration after vibration was in her pocket, texts from Adela wondering if that was her at the door and if she meant to leave the gift. She didn't want to sort it out however, the speedster just wanted space, time to process everything but that's when a loud scream fell upon her ears. The ground shook thereafter. Metahuman. That's when it hit her: Riley Allen wasn't someone who was always needed, wanted even, but everyone, the city, needed the Flash, always.