Another Barry & Thea Fic! I haven't watched the shows, especially the Arrow in quite a while so I know some stuff I will get wrong from everything that happened but luckily this is fanfiction & I wanted to change a few things as well. Hope you enjoy it. I will try to upload weekly at least 2-3 Chapters. Have no idea how long this will be but we will see. Also, I'm not the biggest Iris fan so I will try to portray her the best I can without much biasness but the keyword is I said "try" haha.
*I Do Not Own These Characters, Shows, or Comics*
Barry & Iris finally arrive home after defeating Eva & ending this whole very strange, odd mirror verse issue they were handling. Also feeling pretty happy knowing they set Eva on a path for good instead of the continuous downward spiral she was on. It was an amazing feeling knowing now that Central city was safe once again & Barry was even more excited to know his wife was now home as well as safe. The loss of Wells seemingly forever dampened his mood as the thought crossed his mind. Barry had a very strange relationship with the face of the man & his various personalities they encounter over the years. So many different types of Wells that work by his side to help him improve & become a better speedster, even a better man Barry thought as he sunk down into the couch.
Barry caught notice of Iris's somewhat unhappy disappointed face & immediately hopped up to see what was troubling her.
"Hey" Barry announced with a concerned but goodhearted tone as he placed his hand on her shoulder in comfort. "What's wrong?"
Iris turned & offered Barry a pretty sad smile & breathe out in almost a soft whisper "Barry we have to talk" motioning for them to sit down on the couch.
Barry did as she wished, somewhat puzzled & scared of the tone of her voice speaking to him. "Okay" Barry says in a very bewildered but worrying tone.
Iris clasps her hands together in a form of a prayer as she closes her eyes & is trying to find the right way to start with her words "Okay so Barry, over the years we have become so much stronger with what we overcame not just as us but as "Team Flash" & we have helped so many others.
Barry gives a slight head nod to show he understood & was following what she was saying. He still was trying to place where this conversation may be headed.
Iris looks at him for a brief second & continues looking him in the eyes but looking away sometimes as she is clearly struggling to form her words. Yet still speaking in a calm but struggling tone.
"When you finally found me in the mirror verse I was so happy inside, My heart found me again." She says softly with a slight smile staring at him
Barry's face hasn't really changed yet as he worries more & more this is not a convo he is going to leave smiling about.
"But the look on your face Barry, I've never seen such a cold-hearted stare in your eyes. Especially directed at me."
Barry's eyes lit up with sorrow & realization "Yes I know Iris & I'm sorry I wasn't in my right-"
"Barry Barry I know. It wasn't your complete coherent mind I understand that. But when I was looking into them, I felt like how I always seem to feel a lot with this hero stuff. Somehow you always saving the city & the world, being the flash, being that amazing hero I know you are. That this city knows you are. The feeling I get at some point sooner or later is this inner pain non-stop. Somehow I always feel like I end up hurt in some way Barry" She says as tears are now leaving her eyes as she looks away to stare at her feet for a moment to try to regain some strength to continue.
Barry wants to speak but he is speechless at the moment as tears are starting to outline his eyes. "Iris I..." Barry clears his throat to speak but is cut off.
"No Barry please let me finish" Iris says as she lifts her head up to speak. "I always think about before I even knew you were the Flash, how you always lied to me about what you were doing or going. Slowly becoming distant from me. How Eddie died, watching you die trying to get your speed back, Savitar, you leaving for the speed force, you coming back not as you, just everything from all of that as a collective painful slap to the heart from what you endure. From what I endure. It's Hard Barry, so hard. Watching that look on your face & you stopping me from staying for Singh & Kamilla"... Iris looks away once more to regain her composure to finish what she has to say & to try & keep the ever falling tears at bay. "All your decisions you ever made no matter what were to save people, to save as many as you could. That's why I always told myself & accepted the fact that you're a hero who is always going to choose to do what's best for everybody. I could accept anything as long as I knew no matter what, your heart would always do what's right. Yet for the first time...You didn't care about the people involved. You didn't care about who got hurt, you didn't care about me Barry." Iris starts crying once more as saying those words hurt her more than she already knew they would.
Barry hasn't been able to even spill a word at hearing all this. He doesn't know whether to feel hurt or sad. To feel like he has been selfish or to feel like he hasn't been noticing her feelings as much as he should have. Now as his throat is slowly closing & his tears no longer staying in his eyes. Barry tries to extend a hand to touch hers on her lap but she stands not allowing him to touch her & she walks a few inches from the couch to pace in front of him slowly. Wipes away more of her tears as Barry looks on with tear-filled eyes & a pleading look for Iris not to take this convo any further but he knew she wasn't done.
Iris takes a deep breath as she closes her eyes to continue. " You didn't care about anybody, you just cared about defeating Eva no matter who got hurt. I know it wasn't your complete right mind but Barry it was you. Some part of you inside & I don't think it was deep inside. I think it's a little part of yourself that is more a part of you than you realize or anyone. Iris's voice cracks up but she still goes on knowing she won't be able to if she even thinks about stopping. "I always knew it was a part of you but it's what made you who you are, the man I fell in love with. But I always thought or lied to myself saying it would always come second to your drive to save people but watching it made all that pain, all of it, everything. It made everything I ever felt that we been through that hurt us, hurt me. It made It all bottle up & explode at me at once. Because I could handle it all, as long as I knew your purpose was always for the people. Now I know" Iris pauses officially crying once more & speaking through tears now with a choking up voice. "Barry you called me your lightning rod"
"& You are" Barry exclaims hoping to form any words together but knowing there truly is nothing he can say or probably even do to change what is happening right now.
"Iris please" Barry breathes out as he stands to be in front of her.
"Look Barry" Iris breathes out in an exhausted tone. "Because if I'm your lighting rod... Well, I think this rod has run out of lighting. I just think I need some space from the superhero world right now okay? She says somewhat wryly with a tone of compassion but Barry Could since what she was really saying yet he asked in any way.
"Iris...So wh-what are you saying? Barry clears his throat & chokes out, already knowing the fearful answer as tears are on the way out of his eyes.
"Barry it means I need space from everything"
Barry shakes his head knowing what she meant but yet still asks, still hoping it wasn't what he knew it was. Space from "Team Flash" or you want me to take a break or..or um" Barry says stumbling over his words trying to say anything to hopefully catch her ears. But he is cut off by a sudden yell from Iris as he is fumbling over his thoughts.
"Barry I need space from you!" Iris roared
Barry Couldn't believe what was happening right now. But he could see that look in her eyes, she meant every word of what she was saying & those words were eating him alive inside. Now Barry just stuck looking at her face in deep, depressing thought
Is she ending our marriage? Does she just want to leave everybody for a while for a break? Oh my god, what is going on?!
Barry didn't know what to do or what to say, but he knew he definitely needed to get out of there right now. So Barry tries to say a goodbye but his mouth moves with no words coming out & he walks towards the door with one final look back & leaves. Not knowing where to go but just to get some air. To do what he does best...Run, just run until his head was clear even a little.
But to no surprise... Barry's head wasn't any better after hours of seemingly non-stop running. If anything he was full of more questions & more pain than anything. Barry looks down at his feet making sure he hasn't ran his shoes off but takes notice of his ring.
"It can't be over...can it?" Barry thinks to himself wiping away a tear forming out of his eye.
It was becoming daytime & he knew he had to go home eventually to face whatever is ahead in his crumbling relationship.
But could he? How could he go face to face with that again? He loves Iris & wants her forever but Barry knows he is not strong enough to endure everything she said already. It hurt Barry, it hurt deeply knowing the one person he always felt he could count on for everything didn't believe in him anymore. In who he was anymore.
*Sigh* I can't just let this go without a fight Barry began thinking to himself once more. Barry knows it may be impossible to have her not leave but hey, "I am the impossible right? So why not" Barry thinks as he zips off home.
Barry at first knocks on the door until realizing "Wait I live here" yet for some reason home didn't feel like home anymore when he arrived at the door. He slowly uses his key & opens it scanning the loft for his wife. Which Barry then realizes the apartment looks somewhat like a wreck. Almost like they were robbed. Barry starts running around in a frantic panic for Iris but sees she's not there.
Barry Immediately starts bumbling his phone to call Joe when he sees something on the kitchen table. A confused worried look that seems forever on his face becomes a shattered one as he realizes it's Iris's house keys, a note, & her wedding ring.
A lump forms in his throat as he wipes down his face in a stressed-out sadness type of rub. He slowly picks up the note & reads.
Barry, I know you are hurting right now, and trust me, I want you to know that everything that happened last night hurt me deeply as well to say. I love you so much Barry I really do. But I need time to just find myself once more & actually find out who that is. I know using a stupid note is a really bad way to do this but I know I wouldn't be strong enough to keep to what I'm doing if I saw your face again. Please, Barry... Please don't chase after me or try to come to find me. This is something I need & have to do, I know you easily could find me but I know this is and probably is wrong for me to ask. But do it for me. I think this time separate will not only be good for me but for you as well. Love you always & forever, Iris.
Barry could feel his knees weakening and had to take a seat before he collapse. He read the letter over repeatedly in a trance almost in grief & shock. he finally manage to take his eyes off the letter and started spinning the ring around in his hands. The ring that once belonged to his beloved, the ring that said Iris was what he always dreamed of her being. His wife.
He just sat in silence for hours maybe. In that same spot, wondering where does he go from here. If he can even go on from here? He stands & looks out the window eyes red & tears still on the edges. He stands while watching his city that he has saved from destruction so many times. Stands & wonders, was Oliver right all along? Do guys like them truly never get the girl, That happy ending?
*4 Months Later*
"Would you like a large cup of fries or a small cup of fries with that ma'am?" Asked the man behind the counter
"Hmm seeing as I barely ate anything at all today, I'll take the large cup" She replied with a small warming smile
"Coming right up" As the man handed her order, he couldn't help but blush at the sight of her presence but also feel like he has seen her before. "Uhhh wait are you from around here? You seem familiar but I doubt a face like that would go unnoticed by me for too long if you did sooo...?"
She looked up realizing this man was trying to flirt with her & she gave him a small smile while she put her purse away. "I've just moved here actually but you probably have seen me on TV before" She says turning to leave.
"Wait wait, what do you mean by TV?" He asks interestedly
"Well, I hear it's this box that has a screen in it & people watch it" She says sarcastically with good nature. "Wait what? No no wait no I meant" As he laughs out & clears his throat with a smile. "Like why would you be on TV? You a model or something?"
"Not a model but I was Chief of Staff for the mayor of Star City a few years ago & having the last name Queen while being the sister of Oliver Queen does tend to have the bright lights follow, unfortunately"
"Oh my god, your Thea Queen? Wow, I wouldn't expect you to be uh well here you know? Especially at a Big Belly Burger."
"Oh, so the rich girl can't like normal things huh?"
"Oh no no no I-"
"Calm down I'm only messing with you" Thea says while allowing the smile to return to her face. "Welp seeya around" Thea turns to leave while enjoying her favorite thing about Big Belly burger, her beloved fries. She doesn't quite understand but she can't get enough of them, never has. Can't get these in Nanda Parbat.
As she giggles away at the thought, Thea spots a somewhat strange odd-looking man walking into the place. She decides to think nothing of it even though her old vigilante nerves are aching bad at the sight of the man. She slowly starts thinking of her new home here.
Thea moved to Central City to officially get a new start on everything in her life. She feels like she has tried a few times before & has never been able to feel completely like she has accomplished her goal. Sooner or later it seemed like her life was in upheaval was again. She was hoping that Central City would finally shed light on what exactly she was looking for. She arrived a few days ago, a week ago maybe & she is not sure what to think yet but it's nicer than what usually went on in Star City so far. Crimes weren't as brutal or expected, no corrupt areas, even the people seem to have a more happy vibe to them & she could help but be excited about it. The Flash really has been keeping these streets clean she thinks to herself. She would have continued on but she was interrupted
"Okay nobody move!" That same man bellowed as he holds the nice gentleman she was just speaking to at gunpoint. Thea sighs to herself thinking "I shouldn't have mentioned crimes"
She slowly approach & called out for the gunman's attention. "Hey, how about you just drop the gun & don't do anything you're going to regret later, okay?" She spoke firm but calm. Slowly holding her hands up in surrender.
"How about you hand over that purse before I get a little trigger happy. That pretty little face isn't going help you here sweetie"
"Okay the gun threat I'm okay with but the 'sweetie' now that just really reallyy ruined my mood" Thea retorts as she immediately kicks the gun out of his hand & dodges to the left to avoid the punch & kicks him in the side of the knee cap using his momentum to slam his head into the counter.
Everybody in Big Belly burger applauds in amazement and gratitude.
Thea gives a small wry smile but is wishing she didn't make a scene or draw attention to herself like that but she'd be damned before she stands by to let someone get hurt. Especially with something simple as a gunpoint showdown.
"WOW your amazing, no wonder why you were the Chief of Justice" the man says with a look of fondness in his eyes.
"Yeah well trust me aliens are worse" Thea retorts to the confusion of the nice worker there. "Just kind of surprised I'd beat The Flash to that one, I know it wasn't too big of a deal but still."
"The Flash? He hasn't been seen in the last 4 months maybe 5 now I think."
"Wait what really?" That was odd "What the fuck?" She muttered, Thea knows she doesn't or hasn't kept up with Central City too much before arriving but this was honestly strange news to her ears. She now realize her plan to see Star Labs is definitely getting moved up on the to-do list. Thea doesn't know many of them well but she hopes Barry is alright. She has lost enough people in her life to appreciate the few ones you have even if you barely speak every day or at all.
He was a hero though & she out of all people knows where that life leads usually. She wasn't going to think of the worst but It's sadly a possibility ever passing second in the line of work they do.
"Well this time I think I will be leaving, thank you" Thea says while walking away at a quick pace clearly in deep thought taking the fries that were once in her bag before having to take that moron down.
"Wait! You forgot the rest of your meal!
Thea heard but didn't turn around or respond as she was distracted by a 'The Flash Missing For Four Months Now. Where is the Scarlet Speedster Gone?' newspaper headline article. She was definitely now on her way to Star Labs to catch up & ask what's going on. Tossing the rest of the fries in the trash & hopping on her bike & just like that.
She was off toward her destination.
Nice Start? What do you guys think!? Thank you for any reviews if anyone leaves any.