#iris as the flash

[vexic929]

Lavender Lightning

Chapter 2

Warnings: self-destructive behavior

Chapter 1: link

"He's the cause of all this!" Barry shouted, angry and in disbelief at what he was hearing. Joe couldn't actually be considering letting Harrison Wells take Iris to S.T.A.R. Labs instead of leaving her with legitimate medical doctors. "If his accelerator hadn't caused that freak storm, Iris wouldn't...Iris would be..." Barry's voice broke, his eyes wet with tears as he collapsed heavily onto one of the uncomfortable maroon chairs in the hospital hall.

"Barry, I know you're upset and believe me, I am too, that man did a lot of harm, but you're looking for someone to blame," Joe said, sitting next to him and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Barry set his jaw and looked away, feeling like he was being scolded. "Of course you don't believe me."

"Barr, listen to me. Wells' machine did not cause that storm. Now, he caused a lot of other problems but he sounds like he has a solution for Iris and I'm gonna hear him out. You can come with me or not, that's up to you. But I'm gonna do what I think is best for Iris." Joe pat Barry's shoulder once before standing and draping his coat over his arm.

"I want what's best for Iris too. I just don't think Dr. Wells is it, Joe. I really don't." Barry said quietly as Joe walked away.

Barry had hardly eaten since Iris had been admitted to the hospital, feeling like all he wanted to do was run a million miles an hour until he burned into nothing or just crawl into bed and sleep until Iris woke up again. He couldn't stomach the thought of losing her, he didn't know what to do without his best friend by his side. Barry let out a heavy sigh and took off his glasses - spares, he hadn't had time to get his old ones fixed or replaced with everything that had happened - before scrubbing his face with his hands as though that could make the mounting anxiety leave.

Barry's stomach growled and as if in cue, a Big Belly Burger bag was in front of his face. He followed the arm holding it up to see Eddie and forced a smile. They hardly knew each other, but still, Eddie had been there consistently from the moment Iris had been hurt. It was nice. He was nice.

"Hey. I thought you guys might be getting hungry. Where's Joe?" Eddie's voice was warm as he took the seat next to Barry.

Barry pressed his lips into a firm line and leaned back, replacing his glasses and accepting the burger and fries from the older man. "Harrison Wells wants to take Iris to S.T.A.R. Labs. Joe's talking to him."

Eddie surveyed him with a raised eyebrow as Barry took a bite of fry. "You sound like you don't like that idea."

Barry huffed out a bitter laugh. "I would've about a month ago. I don't trust him to fix anything after that disaster." He spat with more venom than was probably necessary.

It really wasn't about the accelerator - mistakes were common in science, he knew that, and catastrophic at the best of times even with every variable accounted for - he couldn't blame Dr. Wells for that. He was certain, though, that if it hadn't happened that night, Iris wouldn't have been struck by lightning. Hell, if he hadn't insisted Iris come with him to see it launch, she wouldn't have gotten her bag stolen, he wouldn't have gotten his ass kicked, and she wouldn't have even been in his lab that night.

"Barry?"

Barry blinked, uncertain how long he'd been staring at the burger in his hand for in complete silence. "Sorry. S.TA.R. Labs isn't a hospital, Iris should be here."

Eddie took a fry and chewed it slowly as he contemplated his words. "There are a couple of doctors who have a medical or bio background on S.T.A.R. Labs' staff, at least there were when I checked the records while processing the scene. If they're still employed there, she'll be in good hands," he offered.

Barry hummed noncommittally and set the burger aside, his stomach twisting in more knots the more he thought about it. "I think I'm going to walk around for a while, I've been sitting for too long. Thanks for the food." He tried to force another smile but it felt awkward and he immediately dropped it again and averted his gaze.

"Do you want me to-"

"No." Barry interrupted loudly before lowering his tone, color flooding his cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't mean...I...I'd just rather be alone right now." He said, pushing himself up and walking aimlessly down the hallway in the opposite direction Joe had gone, trying not to look back at Eddie and see how hurt he probably was. He was so kind, he didn't deserve Barry biting his head off every few seconds.

He couldn't seem to do anything but lash out at everyone lately. There was this overwhelming itch at the back of his mind that told him he should be doing something; there had to be something more than just sitting in a hospital waiting for news. Aiming his vitriol at Harrison Wells eased the ache somewhat, but it was still there, still a constant presence that had him feeling more and more on edge, almost like the lightning that had hit Iris was coursing through him, trapped in his skin.

He didn't realize he'd left the hospital until the frozen night air hit his lungs and made him cough, his chest aching. He didn't have an inhaler on him, he should get inside. But what was the point of that? He couldn't help Iris regardless. Whether he had an asthma attack or not wouldn't make a difference, all it would do was solidify how fucking useless he felt. At this point, the only person who could make this all better was lying in a hospital bed comatose. There was nothing he could do to change that.

He sank heavily onto a bench beside the hospital, gripping his chest and trying to stall a panic attack before it could take hold. Iris had flatlined three more times today, once just before Dr. Wells had arrived to make his proposal, and Barry couldn't help but wonder every time if he would have to say goodbye. How many more times could they stabilize her? He felt like he was drowning, his lungs filled with solid ice.

Warm hands gripped his shoulders and gently guided him up and back inside.

"What the hell are you doing, Barr?" Joe demanded, fishing a spare inhaler out of his coat pocket and pushing it into Barry's hands before removing said coat and draping it around Barry's shoulders. "You're not helping Iris by freezing to death out here."

Barry took a couple of grateful puffs of medication from the inhaler before trying to speak. "Didn't know- it was- so c-cold-" he managed.

"Bet you know now." Joe commented dryly but not unkindly. "Come on."

Barry allowed Joe to usher him through the hall and into the elevator up to Iris's floor.

"We're getting her things, they're moving her to S.T.A.R. Labs." Joe informed him as they walked.

Barry's pace faltered and he nearly tripped on air. "I thought we were going to talk about it."

"We did. You made your opinion clear. I made mine. The doctors have cleared her to be moved and are willing to trust Dr. Wells with this and so am I. Unless you have a better argument, this isn't open for discussion anymore," Joe said firmly.

Frustration and anger flooded his system and he bit the inside of his cheek hard to keep from saying anything he'd regret. He'd never forgive himself if he destroyed his relationship with Joe, especially not if Iris…

Barry sighed tiredly, the anger draining out of his system as quickly as it came. "Fine."

Joe tugged him into a hug and kissed the top of his head, crushing Barry's glasses into the side of his face. "It'll be okay, Barr. We'll be okay...whatever happens." He promised and Barry felt his grip on him tighten for a split second before he let go.

[bitchyblkqueer]

begging dc to bring back the letters column (from the flash 1959 issue 168)

[toytle]

happy birthday barry, hope this one doesn’t give you war flashbacks 🎉

redraw + remix of Flash: Rebirth vol. 4

[ID in alt text + below cut]

Fanart comic of Barry Allen’s birthday, page 1: Barry is rigid in shock as Iris pushes him towards his surprise birthday party. Along the side are panels of each guest wishing him a happy birthday as bloodied flashbacks play behind them of the moments when Eobard Thawne had murdered them.

Page 2: Panel 1 is a close up shot of Barry with a horrified expression, beset by a red background reminiscent of the bloodied flashbacks. He manages to get out the words: “Thanks… everybody….” Panel 2 is Barry walking away from the guests, touching his face in distress. He says, “Sorry. I’m really glad to see everyone… I just… Just gimme a minute….” One of the guests behind him suggests, “Maybe he’s a little shellshocked?” The red background continues to swarm him. Panel 3 is a closeup of Barry’s face as an off-screen voice says, “Hey, buddy….” His fingers slowly slide off his face as he looks up in its direction.

Page 3: Panel 1 reveals Hal Jordan holding a box and wearing a smile. He says, “Looks like I’m right on time.” The red swarm surrounding Barry doesn’t seem to touch Hal. Panel 2 is Hal handing Barry the box, which contains a model plane, as he says, “Happy birthday, Barry.” Barry takes it in his hands with a worn but blank expression. Panel 3 is much the same with Barry unmoving as he’s processing the exchange. Panel 4 is Barry suddenly giving Hal a fond, sarcastic smile as he says, “Great gift, Hal. I especially liked it when I gave it to you for your birthday two years ago.” The red swarm gradually dissipates from each panel, clearing up entirely in the last one.

Page 4: Simplified doodles of Hal and Barry stand in the large, empty space of the page. Hal has one hand in his pocket and the other gesturing in explanation. His expression is embarrassed but good-humored as he says, “Really? You sure? Uh… Haven’t been home in a long time, so….” Barry responds, “Too long… I’m just happy to see you, buddy.” He holds the gift close to himself with an innocent, close-eyed smile. An arrow points to him, reading: Literally snapped out of it to be a little shit. /end ID

[cametotheshowinsd]

I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on;

[thebartallenblog]

Spoilers from Jay Garrick: The Flash

They took time all together for a new photo 🥹.

[comics-centalx]

This is the best family in Dc 💯

[msanonships]

Iris West-Allen + character tropes

[casstars]

(cw: flashing, eyestrain & noose imagery)

Ain't that against the law?

(lyrics are from Maggot by Dazey and the Scouts)

[whumpypepsigal]

Whumptober 2023 | No. 26

Working To Exhaustion

The Flash s04e15: “I've been at this for a while.”

@whumptober @whumptober-archive

[soranatus]

The Flashes on Jay Garrick: The Flash (2023) connected variant covers #5 & #6 by Francis Manapul

[melonlthawne]

Grandma Iris and her grandbabies. After babysitting them all for an afternoon Iris probably needs a vodka and acetaminophen

[vexic929]

Lavender Lightning

Chapter 1

Warnings: none

Chapter 2: link

"I'm sorry you didn't get to stick around for your particle accelerator thingy. Man, he really got you good, didn't he?" Iris commented sympathetically, gently removing Barry's broken glasses and applying an ice pack to the rapidly-forming bruise on his cheekbone.

Barry winced and muttered a thanks, looking something like a kicked puppy. Iris couldn't blame him; his sad, nerdy little dream had been completely ruined by the thief who'd grabbed her laptop. If she'd just held it a little more securely or, better yet, not brought the clunky thing at all and just brought a pen and notebook like her professor kept trying to drill into the class's heads, Barry wouldn't have chased after him and gotten the shit kicked out of him. It was really only luck that Detective Pretty Boy had been there to stop the thief from hurting Barry too badly and making off with Iris's bag and dissertation along with it.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you to the hospital?" Iris checked, her brow creasing in worry.

Barry shook his head. "I'm fine, really. I think my ego and glasses took most of the damage." He joked halfheartedly.

Iris smiled softly and squeezed his arm. "Well, if you change your mind-"

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Linda Park's urgent voice from the small TV set in Barry's lab. "-they are now saying to evacuate the facility immediately-"

The TV cut out. At the same time, a deafening explosion lit up the sky alongside the lightning from a brewing storm, S.T.A.R. Labs a fiery orange landmark on the horizon just across the city. Iris rushed to close the skylight, grabbing the heavy chain with both hands as Barry powered down all his tech, anticipating a power surge.

The next moments happened in what felt like slow motion to Barry, time slowing to a crawl, each second feeling like an eternity. A bolt of lightning rocketed down from above them, striking the chain with a sound like a gunshot. Iris's whole body lit up, bathed in an ethereal luminescence like an angel for a few seconds before she was violently thrown backward, colliding with a shelf of fragile test tubes and beakers, glass and wood splintering beneath her as she fell, unmoving, to the floor.

"Iris!" Barry scrambled forward and reached for her but stopped just short of physically connecting with her, a small current of electricity crackling between them and making him recoil as he was shocked. "Oh god, Iris..." He fumbled frantically for his cell phone to call for emergency services, panic seizing in his chest every moment he didn't see her breathe, every moment he couldn't check her pulse. This couldn't be happening.

In the ensuing chaos, Barry found himself experiencing things as though he was an outsider, witnessing rather than enduring - a blur of flashing lights, urgent voices, and sterile hospital corridors that he couldn't keep track of and seemed to stretch into infinity. Barry couldn't have told you when the paramedics arrived nor when he and Joe had made their way to the hospital.

All he knew was that every time Iris flatlined on the table, he felt like his heart stopped, too.

[bobbinalong]

the park-west family ⚡

[ftl-faster-than-life]

I think what people fail to realize about Iris West and Barry Allen is that their dynamic is 'woman who loves horror and is fascinated by brutal murder' x 'guy who can infodump about blood splatters for half an hour with zero prep'

Like guys she asked him out at a crime scene she's a freak like that.

[detectiveforfree]

meeting auntie iris' boyfriend

[givemewallywestorgivemedeath]

Guys, Gals and Nonbinary Pals, this is a Dad™

Presenting Barry 'I am Wally's Dad™' Allen