Spoilers for S2.23. Written for the spoiler picture of Barry and Iris, sitting on the front porch of the West home, kissing.
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Barry knew she was there, just inside the door, watching him. He also knew she'd stand there until he invited her into his private moment.
His head turned a few degrees as he looked at the empty space beside him. "Hey."
The door opened before the sound of the word faded.
"Hey." Taking her welcome for granted now, Iris sat down and angled her body toward him. Although he didn't look at her, he could feel her eyes on his profile, studying him. Her concern washed over him with the warmth of a touch. "Barry . . . I know what you're thinking."
"Do you know how many kids grow up without a father?" He didn't expect an answer, and didn't wait for one before he finally turned to face her. "I was lucky enough to have two and now . . ."
"Zoom." The word sounded like a curse.
"Jay." Barry corrected her in the same tone. "He hid behind the name of a monster but that's over. He's Jay Garrick – and he's just a man." He shrugged and when he smiled, it was devoid of humor. "He's a man, like I am, and you know what? He was right. We are just alike."
Iris immediately protested. "That's not true - -"
Barry shook his head, silencing her. "It is, but that's okay because it means I can beat him. All he has is hate and I have . . ."
When he paused, Iris simply waited, her attention wholly focused on him. A shaft of late-afternoon sun found sparks of auburn in her hair, setting them ablaze and surrounding her with light. A memory flashed by – the look on her face the night before when they'd so easily talked of a future together. Just now, with her eyes faintly swollen and her nose pink from the tears that still clung to her lashes, that chance at happiness seemed one more thing Jay was trying to steal from him.
The thought strengthened Barry's resolve. His chest rose as he breathed deep.
"I'm not going to let him take anything else from us, Iris," he vowed. "Nothing."
When her gaze dropped to his lips, he leaned in as if she'd whispered his name. Responding to the same siren's call of destiny, Iris met him halfway.
The spark wasn't visible this time, not as it had been when the touch of their hands had inadvertently revealed the truth of his identity, but they felt it just the same. It turned a kiss into a promise, and a promise into the first step on the road fate had waiting for them all along. As his lips brushed hers, the universe sighed and shifted . . . and smiled.
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It occurred to me after I wrote this that Barry should have said Hunter Zolomon, since that's really who Zoom is. But I think of him as Jay and judging by Barry's begging at the end of 2.22, he thinks of him as Jay, too, so . . .
Thanks for reading!