Thanks a million for the support. The song for this chapter is The Pretty Reckless - Make Me Wanna Die
IRIS' POV:
My stomach growled as i sat on Barry's lap.
He looked at me with a half grin. "Maybe we should get something to eat." He suggested.
I nodded. "Definitely."
I climbed out of his lap only to have my legs go out on me from exertion.
Barry caught me. "Woah, you okay?"
A blush rose to my cheeks. He had done a really great job a few minutes ago, I had to give it to him. "Just a little weak in the knees."
"Oh, I can't imagine why." He grinned as he scooped me up in his arms. We were down in the kitchen in a flash. "Ms. West," He set me down on the kitchen counter. "I do believe that it's time to make our special double chocolate brownies." He got out the ingredients from the fridge.
Happiness tugged at my chest.
"Joe won't mind."
Just like that i remembered the reason i fainted in the first place. My hands gripped the countertop tight. "Bear," My voice came out below a whisper.
He gathered the proper utensils. "Maybe we should take him some. I hate to break it to you, but I don't think he'll be out by Christmas, which is in a few hours."
I repeated his name and it came out breathlessly. Panic filled me.
He mixed the ingredients together. "Do you think he'll want brownies?"
"Barry!"
He stopped and took me in. He was by my side in a second when he realized I wasn't okay. "What? What is it?" He rested his hand on my forearm.
My eyes scanned his face and I didn't know how I was going to tell him. Truth be told, it wasn't the end of the world, but it was still pretty bad.
"What's wrong?" He looked beyond worried.
"It's my dad." One of my hands found his. "He's got a heart condition"
His hand tightened around mine, his head shook. "I don't understand. Why does he have a heart condition?" His eyes glazed over.
"They've got it narrowed down to a few possibilities. They want to keep him for a little while longer for observation."
He shrugged. "But why? He's okay, right? If he's okay then why can't he come home?"
I was trying my hardest not to break down in front of Barry because it was clear that he didn't want to understand what was going on with my dad. Who could blame him? He lost both of his parents, he had separation anxiety. I was truly scared for him if anything ever happened to me or Joe.
My other hand grabbed his, my eyes locked on his. "He's going to be okay." I nodded. "We're going to make him our special brownies and he's going to get better just by seeing how happy we are." My legs wrapped around his waist while I laid forehead on his. "We're going to be okay."
His hands pulled me to him. "I can't lose you both." He tugged on my lips and it wasn't so bad anymore.
"We're going to be okay."
We stayed like that for a few more moments before he sat me down.
"You're not alone in this anymore, Bear."
He stared at me as if he realized something important.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
His forehead creased while his green eyes looked troubled. "Are you doing this because of me? Wanting to be a vigilante, I mean."
With some careful thought I said, "No, not at first. At first, it was for me, for the people that I thought I could save. Then I realized that maybe I was so hellbent on being a vigilante so that I could be closer to you, so you could let me in on what it's like for you."
He sighed, clearly not liking that explanation.
"You don't know what it's like for me, Barry. You keep me at arm's length because you're scared something's going to happen to you or me. You connect with Oliver and Felicity about it, but not me. Why?"
He paced the kitchen for a moment before turning to me again. "Iris, I don't want you in that part of my life. It's dangerous, it's lonely, it's cold. I didn't connect with Oliver and Felicity because I wanted to, I had to. To keep you guys safe. Four months and it was miserable without you, all to keep you out of harm's way. And I get back and you want to be dead center in it." He shook his head, not still not understanding. "How am I supposed to deal with that, Iris? If It were the other way around, how would you feel about me being out there?" His eyes tried to reason with mine. "You're not invincible, Iris."
It dawned on me that I still needed to tell Barry about certain things, namely my new freaky healing abilities and this confusing as hell empathetic thing I had going on. Not to mention, I think I could hear people's thoughts sometimes. I didn't know what was going on with me, but maybe Barry would know what to do. But this news wasn't something I knew how to convey in words to him, so I defaulted to a show and tell moment.
"There's something I need to get off my chest."
I walked the short distance to the knife collection and pulled a butcher knife from the wooden stand. Before it dawned on him what I was about to do, I cut a deep enough line across my forearm, deep enough to draw blood.
"What in the world, Iris?" He grabbed the knife from me and rushed to put my arm under the faucet. "Why would you..." He stared widely at the already closing wound. "What..."
I waited for him to get what this now meant, that I was like him.
Instead of the excitement I expected, there was even more worry wafting off of him. Maybe even panic.
I visibly sagged. There was no pleasing him. Well, a few minutes ago I could sing a different tune.
"There's got to be a way to reverse it." He insisted, he flashed upstairs and was standing in his clothes. He handed me mine.
I grabbed them from him. "I can heal myself and you want to get rid of that ability?" I slid on my pants.
"You're not supposed to have this life, Iris. You're supposed to be normal." He turned from me while I changed as if the magical act we did upstairs didn't happen.
My hands fumbled with my bra. "Well, what if I don't want to be normal, huh? What if I want to be extraordinary? What if I want to make a difference?"
He stiffened, his head turned to the side. "I don't want you to be extraordinary, I want you to be alive."
That stung as much as it tugged at my heart.
"This isn't the 1800's, Barry. I don't have to blindly follow your orders." I stepped into my boots. "I have a say in my life, I can do whatever I want, whether you agree with it or not."
He turned around to look me in the eyes and I wished he hadn't because there was very vibrant disappointment in his. "I'm not trying to control you, Iris. I want you to be whoever you want to be, I want you to be happy. Hell, you could be a stripper and I'd be relieved." His eyes pleaded with mine. "Anything but this."
I groaned. "How about we agree to disagree for now?" My eyes scanned his body, focusing on his groin filling out his jeans. My teeth bit into my bottom lip as I involuntarily squeezed my thighs together.
Just like that, the devilish smirk of his was back. He flashed us against the front door. My mouth caught his while I wrapped my legs around his waist. Before I could even grind against him he was inside of me and I remembered what Heaven was like.
"This doesn't mean I'm backing down."
His lips trailed down my neck, his teeth grazing my skin.
"Jesus, Barry." I moaned, my eyes rolled back. "Just so we're clear," I panted. "You can't just use sex as a tool of persuasion with me."
He grunted. "Iris, shut up and let me make love to you."
Anger spiked in me. My hand grabbed the nape of his neck and pulled his head away from my neck. "Who do you think you're talking to?"
His brow lifted as he smirked. "What are you going to do about it?"
I tried to push us off the door to get the upper hand, but he held us in place as his cockiness grew. My legs tightened around his waist as I tied my arms around his neck. I moved my hips up and down on him as I watched his composure crumble. Now it was my mouth that was on his jaw, sucking and nibbling at the sensitive skin.
"I shouldn't have underestimated you." He chuckled.
To prove his point, I tugged on his ear lobe. "You really shouldn't have." I whispered into his ear. The toe curling groan he made was worth it.
He pushed me back into the door, he set the pace, which he turned up to holy fuck. He laid his forehead against mine as we both knew what was around the corner. "I'm never going to love anyone how I love you, Iris. No one."
That pushed me over the edge. I held onto him for dear life, needing to be closer to him. The entire course of our friendship flashed through my mind and I never thought we'd be in this position years ago. I was completely glad that we had ended up here so far. Obviously, there were more steps to take, but those would come later.
He stiffened. "You're everything to me."
I nodded in agreement, my mouth urgently captured his as he started moving again. My eyes widened as a thought slapped me in the face. I pushed him back, falling to the floor.
He helped me up. "What's wrong?"
How could we screw up so badly? We were beyond idiots. Like really? We needed to be awarded for this level of stupidity.
My hand slapped his shoulder. "We didn't use protection!"
He stilled and his eyes widened. His eye twitched.
"Oh my God," I pulled up my pants. "Barry, you're little swimmers are like the fucking speed of light. I'm going to be pregnant by tonight and probably giving birth tomorrow!" I freaked out.
He was planted on the floor.
My hand went to my stomach. "I think I'm going to be sick."
He held a hand up in warning. "Don't you dare say it's morning sickness."
"It's not even morning you idiot."
His eyes met mine. "Don't go getting all hormonal on me now. This is your fault." He rose to his feet. "You tempted me with your vagina."
I exhaled in disbelief. "Don't even."
He held blame in his eyes. "Your curves and soft skin left me powerless. This is your fault. I wanted to wait, but you all but raped me."
A tiny fraction of anger left me as I tried not to laugh at that statement. "I raped you? Really, Barry?"
His eyes rolled. "Maybe, I over exaggerated. But the point still remains that I probably impregnated you and Joe's definitely going to notice a little mulatto baby on your hip. That's going to give him a heart attack. Our love child is going to kill him." He paced.
My head pounded. "That's not an option."
I could literally see the sweat fall off of him.
I grabbed his shoulders. "Listen to me," I shook him. "Pull yourself together. We give the baby up for adoption and move to Canada."
He shook his head. "I'm not giving my baby up for adoption." He sighed. "Fine. I'll take the baby and we'll live in Mexico until she's eighteen. Joe'll probably be senile by then, right?"
I nodded. "I'm on board with that plan."
My phone rung.
We screamed in terror, our eyes locked.
"Answer it."
My head shook. "What if it's my dad? He can probably feel the cosmic change and he's calling to yell at me."
He grabbed the phone from bag near the sofa, then answered it. "Hey, Caitlin. It's not a good time right-" He stopped talking, a stern look in his eyes. "Okay, don't panic. I'm on my way." He hung up.
My worry peaked. "What happened with Caitlin?"
"Ronnie was in an accident I think. She said something about a gun and some guys trying to take him. They're car hit the side of the building. I have to go." He squeezed my shoulder. "Stay here." He reached for the door.
I stood in his way. "Are you kidding? I'm not staying here. She's one of my best friends. So is Ronnie."
"Iris, I don't have time to argue about this. You're probably not pregnant, but what if you are? What if something happens and you get hurt?"
Not wavering, I stood my ground. "You saw what I can do. I'm coming with you. Now let's go before something even worse happens." I opened the door then grabbed onto his shoulder.
He picked me up and everything was moving super fast.
It took him no time to get to Caitlin's apartment building. The black SUV Barry had to be talking about was several feet from her building. Honestly, it as a little banged up but the car wasn't totaled. Caitlin was moving towards the car. What was she doing? If whoever was in there had an actual gun she ran the risk of getting shot.
Barry set me down on the sidewalk. "Be careful." He ran to the car and dropped Caitlin off beside me before going back.
Caitlin gasped as she saw me, tears in her eyes. "Ronnie's in there."
I hugged her to me. "Barry's going to help him." That's what he did.
"Please, don't let them hurt him." She begged.
My hand rubbed her back. "I won't. Ronnie's going to be okay. I promise."
She nodded. "I called Cisco, he's close. Linda was on her way over to my apartment. They can't get caught in the middle of this." Worry laced her voice.
A gunshot startled us. We stilled for a moment then turned to the car. Ronnie was out of the car, but now seemed to be fighting off the one of his kidnappers who held a gun. Barry was going at it with some chick, but he couldn't catch her. My eyes narrowed as I recognized the hair.
"Peek-a-boo."
"Huh?" Caitlin muttered.
"That's the bitch that stabbed me." I pushed forward, but Caitlin pulled me back.
Worry in her eyes. "Please, let Barry handle it this time."
Two more guys got out of the car and they were headed for Ronnie. He had the gun holder on the ground, but he was about to get jumped.
"I have to help." I gave her a parting glance. "I'll be back." I ran forward.
"Iris!" Caitlin pleaded.
A burly guy saw me coming and tried to slap me out of the way, but I ducked. I punched him in the throat. While he grabbed at his neck, gasping for air, I threw the gun that was tucked into his jeans as far as I could. His big hand slapped me across my face. I tasted blood in my mouth as my temper flared. They weren't taking Ronnie and they were going to get the drop of me. Adrenaline filled me.
My hands drove into his stomach with powerful punches. My foot swiped his from under him, he fell to the ground with a groan. I sensed someone behind me and let my leg roundhouse kick the scrawny son of a bitch. My eyes went to Ronnie, he was still fighting the first guy. I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him back. He pushed me back and punched my in the gut. My eyes narrowed. I swung my fist out and hit him in the face. I grabbed his shoulders and drove my knee into his stomach, then pushed him to the ground.
Ronnie had gone after the burly guy I dropped and in the process the third guy had drawn a gun on him. I hurriedly pushed him out of the way.
BARRY'S POV:
"Iris!" I yelled.
She looked back at me.
The guy a few feet from her kicked back the gun and a blast went off. The exit wound was on her forehead.
"Let's go!" One of the guys yelled.
My heart stopped in my chest as I watched her collapse to the ground. "No!" I ran to her, I scooped her up in my arms, shaking her. "Iris, come on." I begged. "Look at me." This wasn't happening. "No!" I held her face in my hands. "Come on" I cried, tears clouded my vision. "Look at me."
Tires skidded in the background.
Caitlin cried. "No!"
"Iris!" I shook her, determined to have her look at me. Blood oozed from her wound and slid down her face. My chin trembled.
"Barry," Cisco kneeled on the ground before us, a look of distraught on his face. "She's gone."
Her empty eyes staring at nothing. I shook my head. "No, she can't be."
"Stop!" Caitlin screamed and the entire SUV was covered in ice, she pushed Ronnie back as she neared the car.
"Cait, what are you doing?" He demanded.
With a strength I didn't think she had she yanked the car door open and let blasts of ice out of her hand.
"Cait!" Ronnie ran after her.
The guys left remaining hopped out of the car and ran for their lives.
She whirled on Ronnie, not able to control this power. But the ice didn't freeze him. Instead, he aimed fire at her. I stared at them in shock. They were like me. My friends were like me.
"This isn't the way," He told her.
I held Iris close to me, the only thing I could do was hold her as my body shook uncontrollably.
"They killed my best friend!" Caitlin aimed at the running cowards, freezing them mid-run. They screamed in pain before they were cut off by the ice.
We had drawn some civilians and they were running from the mess before us, but she aimed at them, most definitely killing the unlucky few that were closest.
Ronnie scooped her up and pulled her away, flames and ice swirling around them. She kicked and screamed and cried. "They killed her," She sobbed uncontrollably.
"I know." He uttered. "Trust me, I know."
Linda arrived on the scene, she looked at the mess before us. Her hand went to her mouth in horror. "What happened?" She swayed to the side.
Cisco caught her in his arms, his face contorted in pain.
Linda met my eyes as she fell to her knees, she scrambled to me. "Barry,"
I shook my head, my chin wouldn't stop trembling.
"What happened?" She cried.
Cisco hugged her to him and she lost it.
Sirens rang in the background.
Soon enough the police arrived. All I could do was hold her. I heard the voices around me, but I couldn't comprehend them. Not until Eddie stood before me, a look of shock on his face.
"Sir, we need to take the body." The coroner asked, a few police with him.
I stared a few feet ahead. "You can't."
"Those are Joe's kids." Eddie told them.
The look of guilt washed over them.
"We'll give you a minute, son." An officer said.
I nodded mechanically.
When I thought the worst was over, Felicity and Oliver arrived.
"Oh my God, Iris!" Felicity ran towards us in her heels. "No, no, no. Oliver, do something!" She demanded.
He looked at me with shocked eyes. I shook my head. It was too late.
"Oliver!" Felicity looked back at him like he could fix everything.
"I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do." He told her.
My lips went to Iris' cheek, already starting to lose it's warmth. My hand closed her eyes. I couldn't look at them anymore, all dead and empty.
"But..." Felicity started to lose her composure. "There has to be something we can do."
Oliver dragged her up and hugged her as she lost it.
The police were going to take Iris away from me. I'd never be able to hold her like this again. I'd never be able to argue with her, hear her laugh, kiss her. She was dead, our future together was dead, our maybe love child was dead, and there was nothing I could do about it, even with these powers. How was I supposed to go on without her? She was the love of my life. My friend, my family. When Joe finds out it'll push him over the edge with his heart condition and I knew that I would be all alone again. No family. I couldn't go on like that.
Why didn't she just listen to me for once? She risked her life for her friends, protected them with her own. A sliver of pride filled me at the thought of her nobility, her strength. The true nature of her character showed in her last moments, fighting for her friends. Still, it shouldn't have ever happened.
An idea popped into my head as I pieced the parts together. Theoretically, if I ran fast enough I could possibly run back into time. It was a long shot, a stupid idea that probably wouldn't work, but I had to do something. I picked up the body and before I knew what I was doing I started to run. And I didn't stop.
A/N: Before you all go Jackie Chan on my ass, I promise you this is not the last chapter. You can PM me if you have any questions or leave a comment. Letting out your anger is accepted, but please remember to not be rude with your comments. There's no worse feeling than spending time writing something then having people carelessly shit on your story because they didn't like what happened. If you don't like where this is going, I encourage you to stop reading. Do keep in mind, I'm long from finished with this fic.