Boxin' Girls

Disclaimer: Born from a post by RayWritesThings on Tumblr in relation to Iris West and Laurel Lance and the friendship we'll never get to see between them. He'll also be doing a version of this too so be on the look out! Though I think that'll be over on AO3!

Summary: A new friendship is born between two girls thanks to the world of Boxing.

For Iris West, Boxing had been part of her life for as long as she could remember. Even helping her dad to teach the Sport to Barry when he was having bully issues so he could try and defend himself when it was needed. Of course her father, the loving over protective ass he could be, refused to allow her to enter into any Boxing competitions much to her annoyance. As he was too worried she would get badly hurt despite her insistence on it not happening thanks to the skill and speed she had. But he wouldn't hear of it and pretty much forcing her to rely on a punching bag for several years until she turned 18. And started competing on the sly without his ever knowing about it. His un-wanted over protectiveness would strike again when she told him she wanted to join the Police Force but convinced her not to do it as it just wasn't safe. Making her resent him quite a bit over that incident as twice now he had denied her something she wanted. And it just wasn't fair in her eyes! Making the hidden Boxing she was doing to feel even more like a rebellious act on her part as she also began to study Journalism thanks to Barry's suggesting it. Joe wouldn't even know about what Iris was doing until sometime after she turned 20.

He had ended up finding out thanks to one of his co-workers at the Precinct talking about the big upcoming Amateur Boxing match. And when Joe saw the promotional image with Iris on it, he pretty much flipped the Hell out and confronted her about it as soon as he was able too. "The Hell do you think you're doing!?" Yelled the man once he got her alone.

His yelling frightening her some and causing her to take a few steps back. "What, what do you mean?"

"What do you mean what do I mean!? I'm talking about the boxing!"

"Oh."

Crap!

"Yeah, 'oh'! You better have one Hell of an explanation for me young lady." Joe told her sternly.

Something that honestly pissed Iris off! "Other then the fact I really love Boxing? And that I'm good at it to the point I'm in now?"

"And just how long has this been going on?"

"Since I was 18. And I intentionally never told you because I knew this is how you would react!"

Joe looked taken aback at that. But it didn't last long as he grew angry with his daughter. "And for good reason! Boxing is dangerous damnit!" Ranted the man and causing Iris to shake her head at him.

Seriously disliking how he was acting at that moment too. As it reminded her all too much of how he had reacted to her wanting to join the Force. "Oh God, dad! I can get hurt, yes, but its not dangerous!"

"Either way, you're gonna pull out of that match today. You understand me? No more of this anymore."

Iris looked at him like he was crazy for telling her to do that. As no way in Hell was she going to! "In case you forgot? I am 20 years old now, dad. Its MY choice, MY RIGHT to do this and I refuse to give into what you want this time for a third time! And just so I know you don't try and prevent me from doing this, I'm gonna have a word with a few people."

"You do this and you're grounded."

"Good thing I'm in College and living in a dorm room then. Cause like I said before, I refuse to back down from something I want to do just because YOU can't handle it." And with that, she stormed off.

Completely ignoring her father's calls for her to come back as they weren't finished talking.

For Dinah Laurel Lance, knowing how to fight had pretty much been something she had known how to do since she could walk. As her father, Quentin Larry Lance had wanted her to be able to protect herself in case something happened. Even doing the same with Sara as well to a certain extent. Boxing however hadn't really been something she had much interest in until a few months after Ollie and Sara had died on the Queen's Gambit. And had later found herself in the Wildcat Gym ran by one Ted Grant in need of a release to vent her frustrations against the world. Ted had been initially reluctant at first but she managed to win him over in the end. He'd even be what got her into Boxing to begin with and doing matches here and there as well. Eventually gaining the title of 'Ring's Justice' thanks to the fact she had helped a few of those who trained at the Wildcat Gym on several occasions. Her mom had no opinion on it thanks to the fact she had hauled ass for elsewhere and never bothered to call. Her dad was either burying himself in work or Alcohol to even really comment on it as well.

But she was thankful for the fact she had Joanna, Tommy, and Thea in her life still even as she grew to have a pretty close bond with Ted. It had been kinda hard for Laurel where Thea was concerned due to Ollie, but she gradually got past that and refused to let the girl spiral any more then what she already had. Eventually, her dad actually ended up finally taking notice of what she was doing and even try and convince her to stop but she refused to do so. And ending up being one of those rare occasions when he let it drop after that. Though Laurel figured it had to do with the fact he was too busy burying himself in work and Alcohol to deal with his grief. As otherwise, he would have been more on her about the whole thing. Sparking quite a few fights in the process too more then likely. Laurel would end up with one of the biggest matches of her young career during a tournament against a girl from Central City named Iris West during the second year Ollie was thought to be dead. And though she had ended up losing the match to Iris, Laurel had certainly put up one Hell of a fight! Earning herself of not only the respect of the fans in the crowd, but Iris' too.

Prompting a surprise visit by Iris in the girls locker room after their match. "Hey!" Greeted the girl in good spirits.

Making for Laurel to look up at her with a smile. Not even bothered too much by the fact she'd lost to her. "Hey back!"

"I hafta say, you put up one Hell of a fight."

"Thank you. Guess even with all the training I do, I still have a lot of pent up anger in me."

Iris nodded at that as she could relate a little, what with her dad and all. "Yeah, I uhh, I could feel it. Still kinda do." Chuckled the girl and getting one from the Brunette as well.

"Sorry about that."

"Don't even worry about it girl. I'm glad I got to meet you in the ring."

Hearing that made Laurel quite happy. "Well, I can definitely say the same about you now! I'm Laurel."

"I'm Iris." Came the reply and even stuck her hand out but was surprised to get a hug instead.

"Good to properly meet you." Laurel told her happily.

"You too! My dad might not think so if he even watched."

"Not a fan of you Boxing?"

"Nope. Even tried to force me to stop but I put my foot down."

Seeing that that was a bit of a sensitive topic, Laurel decided to change the subject. "So, are you doing anything after this?"

Realizing what the girl had done and even feeling thankful for it, Iris quickly responded. "Not really but probably head back to Central. You?"

"Just go home and ice up probably. But I can always do that later because right now I want to get to know my new friend."

"Take me to the nearest Big Belly Burger and I'll be your BFF."

"Deal!"

Laughter erupted between the two after that and a solid friendship was born between the two following their second meeting that didn't involve punching. Joe hadn't exactly been warm to Laurel at first but eventually got past it, though he still had his issues with Iris Boxing but kept quiet on it as he knew she would refuse to hear about it. Not to mention likely give him a bruise or two for trying to interfere! And wherever Iris went, Barry soon followed and ended up being friends with Laurel and her friends as well. Of course it didn't take any of them very long to realize the guy's in love with Iris and even tried to get him to tell her but never would due to a few fears he had. Tommy would get himself and Barry in trouble at one point as well after a wild night out that saw poor Barry getting drunker then ever and streaking through the neighborhood. Something Joe had found to be hilarious as Hell as he always thought his son needed a good bit of loosening up. Of course this would also get him in some hot water with the girls as neither were too happy with Tommy and Barry's drunken antics! And when Oliver returned from the dead after 5 years?

Iris would do what Laurel had been hesitant to do and knock him on his ass much to his stunned surprise and the amusement of several who'd seen it! The whole thing would even get talked about in the Media for weeks much to Oliver's embarrassment. "Think about that the next time you wanna cheat on a girl. Especially if its with her sister."

And with that, Iris turned around with a flip of her hair and walked off while deciding that he was no longer on her list of three. Laurel later would hug the heck out of her and buy her a week's worth of Ice Cream for punching him! And would always smirk for a little bit anytime she ended up being around Oliver as well much to his dislike!

Author's Notes: Gonna leave it there but I can always do a follow up if there's any interest or I get more inspiration for it.