#like 'in most lightings its near impossible to tell where my iris ends and my pupil begins' dark brown eyes

[layla-carstairs]

cc calling Alastair and Cordelia's eyes black is so :/ to me like idc that they're just a shade darker than the pupil or whatever, their eyes are still brown. you're allowed to call them brown cc, even though that's boring and dull and plain etc. Thomas standing outside in the sun like inches away from Alastair's face should be able to see that his eyes are in fact fucking brown.

[dodo-begone]

Scrambled Eggs

Pairing: yan!Ranboo x reader, Yan!Tommy x reader, Yan! tubbo x reader, Yan!Purpled x reader

Request: I raise you: Hnfnnnnnnnnnn more Yandere minors but this time you're with the eggpire already (not on purpose but you get the idea)

Word count: 3k

Warning: yandere, the egg, obsession, cult (egg), kidnapping, cursing

A/n: this is all platonic. Nothing romantic. also oop this went a lot longer than i thought it would- I got really into it. Also uploaded this and didn't proof read it. I know there's at least one mistake in there- sorry in advance.

Ranboo

When this poor lad finds out you’re currently in the Egg’s clutches, he was shocked. Oh my gosh, didn’t you love him? Did you actually love him? If you really loved him, you wouldn’t have let the Egg gain control of you. That’s how “the power of love” works. Right?

He’ll go to you, begging and doing his absolute best to reason with you. In all honesty, trying to reason with you was as productive as asking Santa Clause for that new ferrari model-

But that didn’t stop him. He was too far to properly think things through. Now why don’t you come home with him? It’s not safe for you. This “Egg” doesn’t actually care for you. He cares for you though- You end up chasing him off, saying that you were happier with the Egg than anytime you were with him. Oh how the Egg has brainwashed you. It’s so bad for you, can’t you see? He’ll go through the cycle of attempting to save you a few times before it becomes too much for him.

Eventually he just goes to Phil, ranting about how you were controlled by the Egg now and he was scared for your safety. Oh god Phil what can he do to save you? Phil please help him, give him some guidance- anything! And after Phil? Well, he’d pray to any deity that’d listen. Only asking them to save you from your current plight. You weren’t safe and he loved you so much, he can’t lose you too.

Phil tires of this cycle very quickly. It’s pathetic how much Ranboo is upset by your situation. But he’s your friend and he cares for you so much; you’re a constant in his life. How can he not love you? So he’ll just give in during one of Ranboo’s pleading stages, saying that he’ll help Ranboo rescue you- which makes Ranboo very pleased. If it was this easy to end this toxic cycle, he would’ve done it ages ago.

They plan your rescue for weeks, almost a few months. Everything had to be absolutely perfect; any flaw that could allow the Egg to repossess you needed to be resolved. As time passed, Ranboo grew more anxious. He kept visiting you during the planning process, just to keep an eye on you. Make sure you were safe.

When the plan was finally put into motion, his anxiety grew more. What if there was something that they miss? Something they didn’t account for? Phil had to remind Ranboo, multiple times, that you needed him. And he was here to save you. Ranboo couldn’t afford the time to hesitate, he had to take action. Plus if something went wrong, they always had Techno to fall back on. This got Ranboo back in the mindset, ready to save you again.

Something that was unavoidable was physical conflict. A fight started between the eggpire and the rescuers. It was rather rough and unfortunate that you got involved. You were fighting against them, rather fiercely as well. Leaving you mostly unharmed was nearly impossible when you were so determined to have their heads. But they managed. And they succeeded; they defeated/subdued the eggpire, you came out with only a few scratches and they got you away from the egg. All in a day’s work.

Once they got you “home” (specifically Phil’s house since it was far from the Egg and provided the most on-site protection), they started the recovery process. They had to restrain you to the bed, tying you up so no harm could come to you or them. Another unfortunate thing, but a necessity.

You were feral, thrashing around and snarling. Demanding that they release you. You had to get back to the Egg, the Egg needed you and you needed it. Though time passes with no change and you eventually tire, finally being subdued from exhaustion. Ranboo volunteers to keep an eye on you once you’re deemed “stable” (as in “not trying to actively leave”).

Phil is Reluctant to leave you in Ranboo’s care, but he was tired. The day had been long and rather draining. But Ranboo seemed so eager to help you, stay with you. So he, although reluctant to do so, leaves you in the care of Ranboo. They agreed to work in shifts before he left.

As he leaves, he gives you two a final look. Ranboo moves his chair closer to you, learning in and starts to talk to you. Honestly, Phil could care less about what conversation you two were having. He was only there to rescue you. There weren’t any ties between you two besides Ranboo, a common connection. All that mattered was you getting cured, out of the Egg’s clutches.

Tommy

This boy? When he’s told the Egg has you in its possession, he vehemently denies it. There’s absolutely no way it could’ve gotten you. I mean do they realize who they’re talking about? They’re talking about you- one of the strongest people on the smp!

Though a small part of him doubts that. Whispers that yes, you’re strong. But not strong enough to protect you from a danger like the Egg.

There’s absolutely no possibility that you were taken by the Egg. I mean come on, as mentioned above, you’re hella strong. You fought in so many wars and never fell for any of Dream’s lies. The last one is mostly why he believes the Egg doesn’t have you. If you can defy Dream’s manipulation, then the Egg should be no different. Right?

And so many people didn’t like him, so this had to be a joke. It was laughable, unbelievable. They thought they could get him so easily? Oh how wrong they were. Here, he can easily prove them wrong. Prove that it’s a prank. Mostly needs to prove it to himself though.

So when he walks around the smp, he keeps an eye out for you. He does it everywhere and eventually wanders to areas less frequented by him. That’s the level of “delusional” he’s at; you’re just hiding somewhere, far from him. This is a mean prank you’re pulling and very effective if the wanted product was a panicked Tommy.

Finally throws in the towel when he can’t find you anywhere after a week. He asked everyone on the smp for your location and got one of two answers; they either haven’t seen you or they saw you in the Badlands, near the Egg’s domain.

Now he wasn’t scared to go into the Badlands to look for you. Oh absolutely not! He was, in fact, absolutely terrified of the Egg. His reasoning for not going there boiled down to “the Egg doesn’t like him and wants him dead” and “there’s no way the egg got them”.

Enough time passes and he finally starts to accept the idea that the Egg may actually have you. When the thought pops up to look for you in the Badlands, he doesn’t question or fight it like before. Now accepting it with open arms, he heads to the Badlands. His worst fear will be laid to rest. You won’t be there.

Oh how wrong he was. When he gets closer to the Egg’s lair, he finally catches sight of you. It’d been weeks since he last saw you, and was ecstatic when he found you. A closer, more in depth look decimated any joy he had.

You were definitely a part of the eggpire with the signature red iris that obscured your natural eye color from the light. And it was also obvious that it was working you to death. Your body looked so much weaker than it ever had, besides grave injuries. Absolutely drained of all, fucking demented, lifeless were just a few things to describe your current state. It was so hard to look at. He knew he had to save you because the Egg was slowly killing you.

He executed the best plan he could conjure up in that little pea-brain of his; he’d “kidnap” you. A very simple plan, in all actuality. When the other eggpire members were away from you, he’d lure you away with just his presence. The Egg absolutely despised him, he was well aware of that. That’s why you were most likely chasing him, but he liked to believe you were coming with him willingly. Breaking from the Egg’s control.

Okay so he hadn’t planned on where he’d take you- BUT he did know you had to be taken far, far away. Far from the smp and especially the Egg. He’ll stop when he believes you’re too far from the Egg’s influence. A place you can finally rest and break free from the Egg. After that? Well it was obvious; he’d do everything in his fucking power to ensure that the Egg could never get ahold of, control or bother you again.

Tying you to the bedpost should be sufficient for now, right? Oh don’t worry about the long chain on it. It’s long enough for you to get into the bathroom and get business done. He’s a really considerate guy, huh? It’s only there to prevent you from running back to the Egg, he swears.

And look! You’re slowly becoming yourself again. It’s happening slowly, but Tommy can see the progress that’s already being made. And that makes him overjoyed.

Tubbo

The news of your disappearance couldn’t have come at a worse time. He had been told about one of the nukes being stolen and then the news that you were kidnapped right under his nose? Absolutely worse. All he felt was absolute rage and despair. First the nuke and now you? How could this get worse!

Finding out how you were taken can, apparently. Jack recounted how he last saw you with Bad. But it wasn’t like “oh they’re just chillin like homies”. No, it was about how Bad was carrying you to… somewhere. It was unclear where they went. Rather unfortunate how Jack had to deliver the news of two horrendous incidents at the same time.

Tubbo wanted to scold Jack for not stopping Bad, but he couldn’t. It wasn’t Jack’s fault. Well it was but wasn’t all at the same time. Telling Jack how he fucked up severely wouldn’t help the situation, and neither would yelling or any other destructive form of anger. Keeping his cool was his best option to solve the current crises.

He gets to work on solving both issues asap. Jack volunteers to find the missing nuke which left Tubbo to find you. Jack taking up the nuke issue was a blessing; he’d rather have Jack find the nuke than risk your safety.

Now since he’s left to look for you, he needs a plan to locate you. His best option? Getting help from the other residents, of course! They were more than happy to assist Tubbo. All of them get told the same story; the recount that Jack told Tubbo of the last appearance you made.

It isn’t long into the search before results were made. Puffy came back with your location. Your situation was less than favorable. Adding you being in the Badlands and so close to where the Egg laid, it was all clear. It appeared that you were under the Egg’s thumb. After all, if a friend calls out to you, a normal person wouldn’t just ignore them. And Puffy said she wasn’t too far away from you when she yelled for you. So something was obviously wrong.

Tubbo decides to give the Badlands a little visit. To give his own input on the situation, if you’d call it that. In all honesty, it was just to see you and see if the tales were true. Sadly, they were.

The next best thing would be to plan an escape for you. So the first attempt is him just trying to get you to leave on your own accord. And that plan was unsuccessful, which was less than surprising. Then he tries to physically drag you back. A hilarious sight, but another plan that was doomed to fail from the beginning. As a last resort, for that visit, he pulls out the puppy dog eyes and alligator tears. You were unfazed by his tactics. There go his immediate plans of freeing you.

Eventually you tire of his behavior and chase him away. You spare him some last words before you part ways though. “I don’t need to leave the Egg. I’m perfectly fine, so just leave me alone”.

That really made him upset, but he wasn’t going to give up on you just like that. No, you were his best friend. Best friends don’t give up on each other so easily. They stick with each other and get the other out of a nasty situation. And this was one nasty situation you got pulled into.

When he gets back, he relays all of the discoveries to the others. It was undeniable, unanimous; you had to be rescued. As they all talked it over, a smile grew on Tubbo’s face. Tubbo’s change in mood was dismissed easily; he was just excited to get his friend back. They weren’t half wrong with that.

Tubbo was more happy that it’d be easier to contain you. He could easily get you where he wanted you and keep you there under the pretense of “keeping you there for your safety”. And all he’d have to do is volunteer to care for you…

Purpled

Surprisingly, he meets you through the Egg. Well, properly meet you. Originally, he joined for the money. Some of the eggpire members were rather wealthy and paid handsomely for his services.

So to elaborate on how he “knew” you. He first found you when you first appeared on the smp. Being toured around by Dream. So logically he goes up to greet the new member. You want to make good impressions on people as soon as you can.

You two only exchange names before Dream starts to shoo Purpled off. Dream gives the excuse that you were his friend. Not Purpled’s. His. He didn’t know you well and this was his server, so he’d obviously give the best tour of it. Plus you two were also catching up on things you two had done.

Dream’s behavior peeved you. He was being rather rude to this stranger and rather irresponsible. If he was trying to seem good, he was doing a poor job of conveying that.

You argued with Dream to allow this other person to come along with y’all. The argument doesn’t last long before Dream finally shoots it down and pulls you away for the rest of the tour.

Purpled was awed, felt so loved. You argued back at Dream of all people, and just for him. To defend him and let you come along with him. God you must be an angel in disguise, a true treasure. People as gracious as you are hard to come by nowadays.

After that, he does his best to become your friend. He does all the research on you that he can and watches your behaviors. Noting what you like and what you do throughout the day. Just the normal stuff, ya’know.

Without you knowing it, you had become such a precious thing to him. You’d become his best friend. Yes you two didn’t talk often at all, but you two were still friends. After all, he knew everything about you. Your favorite color, your favorite place to hang out, which genre of books you like, what muffin you get at Niki’s bakery, how you like your tea and coffee. Just the normal stuff a best friend would need to know.

Also collected things of yours. Things you came in contact with. If you left them, that meant you didn’t want them. And if you didn’t want them anymore, then they were free for the taking. This was all obvious stuff.

Another surprising thing; he became too busy with the egg to even notice your disappearance. With how much he was around you, he would’ve noticed you go missing within seconds. Yet he wasn’t around to keep you safe, now was he? No he wasn’t. He was away collecting some of the dumbest things for the egg.

He was rather annoyed when he was told of the soon-to-be new member of the eggpire. Great, another egg freak he’d have to deal with. Right now, he could really use a pick-me-up. Visiting you wouldn’t hurt- apparently it can because he was almost immediately put to work after being told the news.

After prepping for the initiation process, he was more than peeved. It’d been weeks since he last saw you. It was some of the worst weeks of his life. All he needed right now was you- oh boy.

Well he wishes were granted because there you were, being inducted into the egg cult. Man he should’ve been a bit more careful on what he wished for, but whatever. You were here now. Once it’s all over, he goes to properly greet you as an eggpire member and tours you around. So since you like the egg and he likes the egg, you wanna keep talking?

Will do everything in his power to keep you under the Egg’s control. If anybody comes in hopes of rescuing you, they’d have to deal with Purpled first. They’d usually never get past him, defeated by his hand and sent away.

It was in “your” best interest to stay with the egg. Really it was his, but you believed it too.

Those egg-cult freaks kept preaching about how the Egg would give people anything they asked or craved. Now that you were here, Purpled supposed it was true. After all, you were what he wanted after all. He is best friend by his side forever. What else could he ask for?

[westallenfun]

Home for Christmas - 2/3

WestAllen secret santa gift

From: @backtothestart02

For: @cheryls-blossomed

Merry Christmas, Mailina! I did my best to write up a short multi rom-com au for you. I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful holiday!!

Chapter 2 -

As the hours ticked by, the snow slowed to a stop until, when they reached Central City, and pulled up to a familiar house, not a single flake could be seen falling from the sky. In its place was a crisper, icier night sky, though it was only just around dinner time. The whipping wind had become a gentle breeze, but it was still cold nonetheless.

“What are you going to do if they don’t let you in?”

Barry frowned. He hadn’t considered that.

“You said you haven’t seen them for fifteen years, right?” Walt sought to clarify.

“Yeah…” Barry trailed off. “They’ll let me in though.” He turned to face his driver. “We’ve been in contact since I left.”

“With Iris?” Walt asked, somewhat surprised.

“Uh, no…with her dad.”

“I see.”

“He owns the house though, and Iris might not even still live here, so…”

“Well, I’ll wait for you just in case. I can always drive you to a local motel and pay for a one-night stay.”

Barry’s eyes widened.

“You don’t have to do that, Walt. You’ve done so much already. That’s…that’s too much.”

“A thank you would be nice.”

His jaw dropped.

“Go on now. You might not even need it. Let’s see if the man will let you in.”

Barry’s lips twitched.

“Right. Okay.” He opened the door and stepped out into the cold night. He missed the warmth of the car already. He turned around to say something, but Walt cut off whatever attempt he might have made.

“Go,” he said, and Barry nodded and closed the car door behind him.

Six inches of wet, heavy snow had fallen in Central City. The front walkway was clear of it though, so Barry presumed Joe had shoveled it. Salt had been sprinkled on the pavement too, so there was no fear of slipping and falling.

Taking a deep breath, Barry made his way up to the porch and knocked three times on the door, shaking a little in the cold and starting to lose his nerve.

He was just about to turn around and take Walt’s offer when the door opened.

There, in the flesh, was Joe West. He wasn’t as tall as he remembered, which made sense since he’d been 10 the last time he’d seen him. In fact, he was either just as tall as he was or an inch or so shorter. It was strange being at eye-level with the man, but the sight of him warmed him all the same.

“Hello,” Joe West said, his brows furrowing in confusion, and that was when Barry remembered. Over all those years, they’d never exchanged pictures. “Can I help you?” he asked.

Barry shook himself out of his memories.

“It’s Barry, Joe,” he said, a crooked smile adorning his features. “Barry Allen.”

Joe’s eyes widened, and the confusion in his eyes disappeared. He appeared to find Barry familiar all of a sudden – whether it was the way he stood or his eyes or how he talked, Barry didn’t know, he was just glad.

“Barry!” He clapped his back and urged him inside. “Come in, come in. Wow, what a surprise. And look at you, so tall!”

Barry chuckled a little nervously, then turned to look outside before the door closed, to say goodbye and thank you to Walt. But the car was gone, and his opportunity with it. Still, he hoped Walt knew how truly grateful he was, and hoped that perhaps one day he would meet him again.

“We’re just about to have dinner,” Joe said, pulling Barry back into the living room of the West house.

He blinked as he watched Joe set another plate, presumably for him.

“We?” Barry asked, unzipping his coat, then tossing and missing the coat stand near the door.

“Iris is upstairs,” Joe said, practically giddy.

Barry’s breath caught in his throat.

Iris was upstairs. She was just one floor away from him. Just up the steps and down the hall, and there she’d be. He felt faint just thinking of how he would cope with the sight of her. She must be stunning, more beautiful than anything he could imagine. Her voice would be like silk, her eyes deep enough to drown in, and those perfect lips would be impossible not to stare at, especially if they were painted with a gloss or lipstick of any kind. Maybe more so if they weren’t.

“Barry?”

“Huh?” His head snapped up, his eyes entirely focused on Joe’s.

Joe chuckled.

“Why don’t you go say hi? I’m sure she’s missed you.”

Barry’s hand wrapped around the back of his head, as he sheepishly said, “She probably doesn’t even remember me.”

“Don’t be silly,” Joe said. “You were her childhood best friend. You knew each other since you were five. You were inseparable.” He pursed his lips. “I’m sure if you just tell her your name…”

“Actually,” Barry said, “There’s something I wanted to talk about with you first, Joe.”

“What is it?” He frowned.

“I kind of…don’t have any place to stay while I’m here, and I don’t have money either. Is there any way I could-”

“Stay here?”

Barry looked at him hopefully.

“Of course. Wally is away at school and won’t be here till the Christmas party in five days. Iris just signed a lease for an apartment here in town, so she won’t be using her room either. You’d be better off sleeping in her room for when Wally comes home, but I suppose up until then you can use either.”

Barry smiled tremulously.

“Thanks, Joe.”

“In exchange though, I do want to know how you got here and why you’re penniless.” He paused for a moment, then leaned in. “Is everything okay with-”

“My relatives?”

Joe waited.

“Everything’s fine. I haven’t lived with them since before college. I just…have had a few things happen today that have prevented me from looking like I’ve got it all together.”

“Such as?” Joe pressed.

“My car was totaled, and my landlord kicked me out. Not before taking double my rent though.”

Joe’s eyes widened.

“Why’d he kick you out?”

“Well…there was sort of an…explosion.”

“A what?”

“I’m a forensic scientist!” Barry burst. “I couldn’t do all my testing at work, so I moved some of the chemicals into my spare bedroom, and-”

“Lord save us,” Joe muttered, closing his eyes and pressing his fingers to his forehead. Barry stopped talking. “Just…go say hi to Iris. We’ll talk more about this later.”

“Okay,” Barry said, accepting.

“I’m going to go finish dinner. When you’ve finished your reunion, come on down, the both of you.”

“Right.”

Barry turned then, kicked off his shoes on top of his jacket, and braced himself for the inevitable.

After 15 years, he was going to reunite with Iris West.

…

Barry’s damp socks stained the wood stairs as he took them two at a time. The stairs creaked as he put his weight on them, and it gave him pause, made him suck in a breath and cringe. How was he ever going to surprise Iris if he made such a racket going to the room she was in?

The hallway was worse. He’d forgotten the squeaky spots – the ones he’d avoided during sleepovers and his time staying at the house before he left. Still, Iris didn’t pop out of any of the rooms when the squeaks were made, and for that he was relieved.

He peeked into the first room on his left – Wally’s room, and found it empty. He dismissed Joe’s room entirely, because why would Iris be there? The bathroom door was wide open, and the interior appeared to be empty, so he didn’t attempt that either.

But from the room to the immediate right, Barry heard some mumbling and moving of things followed by the most beautiful laughter he’d ever heard in his life, and he knew he’d hit the jackpot.

He knocked lightly on the door before opening it and was enraptured by what he saw.

Iris was stunning, just as he’d imagined she would be. She was petite, hardly having grown to more than five feet. The height difference between them almost made a possessive growl escape his lips. He wanted to protect her like she had him. He wanted to hold her and love her and kiss her, and-

He shook his head, wondering how something as simple as her height had such an effect on him.

Maybe it was because it wasn’t just her height. It was her silky shoulder-length raven hair and the curves of her hips. It was the maroon sweater that sparkled in the light of the room, hugging her curves – and the jeans too that accentuated every inch of her lower half. She had fuzzy slippers on, which he found adorable. It made him imagine the two of them snuggling on the couch, her legs draped over his lap, and his fingers in her hair, and-

“I’ll be right there, Dad!” she called, and the sound of her voice while melodic and angelic, also brought him back to the present.

“It’s…not your dad.”

Iris dropped the book she was holding and froze. Slowly she turned around, as if prepared that he was a burglar of some sort.

“Who are you?” she asked, a threat in her eyes, and something inside of him broke.

Sure, he looked much different than he had at 10, but some part of him had hoped she would see past the height and the lanky figure and see her best friend.

“It’s me, Iris. It’s Barry.”

It looked like she still didn’t believe him a little, but he could see her working it out, looking into his eyes to see the truth of what he was saying. Finally, she caved, almost a whisper passing through her lips.

“Barry?”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she raced to him. She jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist, burying her face into his neck. The force of the impact sent him backpedaling into the hall and up against the wall where they came to a stop.

He chuckled and played with the ends of her hair, satisfying part of what he wanted to do, until she pulled back and lowered herself onto the floor.

“S-sorry.” She laughed nervously. “I just can’t believe it’s you. I never thought… Oh, God, you must hate me. Fifteen years it’s been, and I stopped writing when I was 13!”

He shook his head, eager to soothe her.

“It’s okay. Your dad picked up where you left off. We’ve stayed in touch over the years.”

She rolled her eyes. “Hardly the same thing.” She licked her lips, then met his searing gaze. “Are you staying for dinner?”

He grinned. “I’m staying for the week!”

Her jaw dropped. “Seriously?”

“Uh-huh. Your dad said I could stay in your room, since I’ve got nowhere else to go.” Her lips parted, and he started to worry. “I mean, as long as that’s okay with you.”

“What? Yeah, of course. I just hope you fit on my bed.”

He winced. He hadn’t thought of that.

“Right.”

“You’re so tall!” She laughed, and he blushed.

“I did have a growth spurt in high school,” he muttered.

“I’ll say. I used to be taller than you.”

“You grew too.”

“That’s putting it nicely. I’m a munchkin, and you can’t tell me different.”

He chuckled. “Munchkins are cute though,” he said without thinking, and that caught Iris off guard.

“Yes, well, should we go down for dinner? My dad said it would be done soon, and I’m sure he sent you up here to bring me downstairs.”

“And to say hi,” he added. “He said you’d missed me.”

“Oh, I did. I did miss you.” She smiled. “Even though I didn’t write.”

“Iris, forget about it. You’re here now, and I’m here all week. We’ll catch up. It’ll be like I never left.”

“I’d like that,” she said, then looped her arm through his. They made their way down the hall and down the stairs, where their looped arms dropped for hand-holding, completely stealing Barry’s breath.

When they reached the first floor, Iris dropped his hand, and Barry’s racing heart slowed to normal.

“There you two are,” Joe said. Looking between them, he smiled. “I see you’ve been re-introduced.”

Iris rolled her eyes and moved past Barry to help bring in food from the kitchen. Joe’s eyes stayed on Barry whose eyes stayed on Iris and reluctantly moved to the table when she disappeared from sight.

Barry felt Joe’s eyes on him and knew exactly what he was thinking. He’d probably confront him about it too after Iris had gone home.

This man, no longer a boy, had come home for one reason, and it wasn’t just nostalgia.

He was going to win his daughter’s heart.

Barry glanced up at Joe before sitting down and saw satisfaction in his eyes and a pleasant smile.

Did he approve? Did he even know?

“Dinner time!” Iris announced after bringing out the last of the dishes.

The two men focused back on her, but for entirely different reasons.

[thespiritofthoughts1234]

The warriors

              Hi, my name is Isabela! I live in a small town called Ocna’s Village in Romania. Actually, I was born in Italy, but I’ve moved to Romania without knowing why, ok when I moved, I was a baby so is pretty logic to not know lots of things on that young age…Eh, doesn’t matter, cause now I don’t wanna tell you my story, but I really want to discuss about Dimension F35A.

                F35A is a place where everything that appears to be unrealistic, impossible or even dumb on this planet it can happen there. Now you might ask yourselves: “How can a little girl know so much about an interdimensional world”, well I know because I WAS THERE. You know, a very long time ago it was known about a rock that once rubbed by someone, it could create a portal between dimensions. That rock was called then a “curly rock”, a natural object that can be modeled in any other form, in today’s world it can be recognized in bracelet form and you can purchase it at an affordable price… (I swear I don’t make advertisement) …not true, actually you get it from birth (not literally anyone can say that).

               This dimension was perfect for my imagination, but it comes out that…I couldn’t get there till I turned 7…okay, technically, even at that age I still could NOT go in that universe, so I took my mom’s bracelet -I know that I’m not a good role-model, but I was DESPERATE, I asked her each year on my birthday (to be more convincing), and guess what she told me…I’ll make a scheme to show you my agony: -3years=No.

                  -4years=No!

                  -5years=NO!

                  -6years=NOO!

                  -7years=NOOO!

                So, it turns out that I’ve woken up for 8 years (1 year was under warranty) at 6 am because I had a “noghtmare” (eh, eh, get it…anyway, I wanted to make a pun but I noticed that no one laughed…L-LET’S KEEP GOING).

                  Ok, so when I first got in, I saw… a party with ponies and rainbows, that is what you were thinking...well, YOU’RE WRONG, it was just an unending war with random characters, it means that Batman could fight Bambi or something like that. Anyway! I looked around, everything was a chaos, but I’ve noticed something weird, I realized that everyone in there was fighting for a purpose or covering themselves or conquering new territories, so I made up a purpose too…the most important one. The thing that actually matters is that someone must clean this mess, a person that must be good, brave, and WORTHY FOR SUPREME LOYALTY, a creature that will stop this disaster.

And that’s why I’m…going to find it, what did you think that I am the person, no, not even a word, I won’t get into those knuckleheads, they freak me out.

                So, I transformed myself into a mouse and tried to reach the closest spot to hide (a rock…t-there will be many rocks in this story). And exactly when I thought that I’m safe, a giant robot crushed me (obviously I didn’t die because after you are crushed, sliced, shot, burnt, etc. you get back to your home dimension). But a second before game over I saw an iconic red color being, with deep black eyes that penetrate souls, three fox tails, two fox ears and one fox nose, who wore a leaf that covered all of its body, and who appeared to be a little bit confused by the chaos behind him, but in the end, he still crossed the road, very chill, to resolve his problems. I scanned it to have it like “skin” in the future (Minecraft users in the public, or Standoff or PUBG, whatever) but what future, because that stupid stack of iron CRUSHED ME:

                  --Hmm, what if I turn in that thing? I did it. Ew, this leaf doesn’t work on me… therefore, I changed. I was wearing a blue vest, white shirt, black jeans and brown boots…BOOM, it’s betTEEEER! I was screaming because a giant iron sole was going to crush me again (I would give a reply but I don’t have one…OH, WAIT, it looks like we can’t STEP inside without being CRUSHED by hospitality, HA HA, I’m a horrible pun maker…BACK TO THE STORY). However, I’m talking about one second before the impact, I ran but not like a penguin, I ran like FLASH:

                    --WHAT THE…WOW, I am running with the speed of light (clearing throat), doesn’t matter, now let’s find that person…I will look over mountains and valleys, lakes and oceans, and I will be recognized like “The random girl who brought the hero of this world” … after I will visit this place with the super-speed thing. Now I think I went through 3 kingdoms -I despite no one saw me- And then I arrived on a land with a dense fog, without…(cough)…clEAn AiR:

                    --NO…I need…(COUGH)…to continue mY qUeSt-not too far away from me stand a humanoid silhouette…at least that’s what I thought…however, I started to scream, powerless: PLEASE…(COUGH)…YOU, THE STRANGER IN THE HORIZON …I’M VERY YOUNG…EVEN IF I APPEAR TO BE IN MIDDLE AGE FROM THE DISTANCE AND UNCLEAN AIR! I fainted waking up in a cave:

                  --(Clearing throat again)…Uh, where am I? I said after being a little dizzy.

                   Suddenly a sound came out of nowhere, like a growl:

                  --W-what? Who’s there? I asked scared. An animal came out of shadow, actually it was the same animal that I saw a few moments ago: You again! What do you want for appearing in those mysterious ways? the animal growled harder showing its big fangs: Uuuh, what BIG fangs you got there, buddy, ha, ha! Wait do I have fangs too?! What’s your name? No, no, no, how do your friends call you? I have many questions about…you…I was slowly going back, because the animal was slowly coming to me. Unfortunately, I reached the end of the cave: Understand that I mean no harm, although we are in the same species, no…I scanned you, didn’t I…I scanned you…and I transformed into you, I hope you don’t want to…EAT ME?! I said with a worried expression.

                    After the last phrase the humano-animal -partial human, partial animal- for a second it stopped, and then it came rapid, got its huge bloody red color claws out -literally anything is red on you? – Well in that moment I nodded and I said:

                      --N-nice…c-claws. Did you do your manicure?... the best pun that I could tell to a creature with an unpredictable behavior, oh and more than that,

before I didn’t know if she/he was furious or happy, because I was seeing just his/her dark eyes -even the gender is unknown-, and after that innocent joke its eyes changed a lot, they were yellow with a keen red iris. “OH MY GOD I’M SO DEAD!” I said to myself…BUT yes, of course, I can’t die in this dimension, yeah thank you for reminding me, I don’t need to worry…just if I bump into a particularly type of being…a being that can destroy anyone and anything…

                          Is known about an ancient legend that reveals some sort of creatures, warriors, who disintegrate everything that stays in their way, although it doesn’t exist in their dimension, it’s speculated that those legendary creatures are the most dangerous beings in the multiverse…who told me? ... Mama told me!... Ok I don’t know how those legends look, but I hope that the respective humano-animal wasn’t a part of those fighters -WAIT A SECOND I HAVEN’T NAMED THE GUY YET, hmmm…let’s see…Neferis…no, to Grecian…Falohe, no, to Hawaiian, hmmm…Do…Ba…Aaaa I know, Zentofea, why this name? I DON’T KNOW!

                      Back to the story: That Zentofea -Oh gosh, I love this name- came closer to me being just as predictable as unpredictable like before, but the Zeantofea…Zen-a-to-fe-a?... seeming to be more furious. I said quickly:

                      --WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME! the Zento- Agh- that humano-animal, appeared to attack me, …but no, he/she? Destroyed the boulder behind me to make clear way to the outside world…really nice gesture from a   wild animal…By the way, after that giant stone, there was a pasture full of cold crystal flowers - why didn’t they named them ice flowers-: WOW, I hope you wanted to do this for the first time, because you might just miss and… Ya’ know…

                       At first, the animal had a disapproving look, and then it smiled and leaved:                    

                       --Ok…anyway…I’M GOOD! Now I seriously need to find that person, the battlefield is getting dirty, and I don’t want to clean the mess…I made a few turns in the pasture…aaand then I got lost…Um…I think I should go in that way…or that way…or…that…way…uuuh, …HEEEELP! After the previous phrase a humano-animal came out of the forest near the pasture: DUDE, if I owe you, every time you appear, I’ll buy you a yacht. Then the animal came closer, showing itself not being a Zentofea, but a humano-animal with a body of a wolf, a more evolved wolf, with human head and some different sized crystals placed uniform on the fluffy chest -I should wear glasses.

                       It came and smelled me:

                       --Uuuh, are you some sort of dog? it has stopped from smelling for a second and showed his sharp fangs… sharper than Zentoffe-a’s ones -I’m still thinking how to pronounce it correctly-…anyway…of course I got scared: UUUH, GOOD BOY, GOOD BOY, SIT! He growled: WHAT, DID I OFFENDED YOU IN SOME WAY?!SAY! LOOK I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE, BUT TO KNOW THAT TODAY IS MY FIRST DAY IN HERE, AND ALL THE ANIMALS ALREADY HATE ME!

                        --Get out of our territory, Zentofea!

                       --Ooooh, so it’s pronounced Zentofe-e-a, ok I noted AND HEY, HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT NAME, and did you say “OUR territory”!? after that phrase, a bunch of more humano-animals came out of the forest. Ya’ know, don’t ya’ think you have to many friends? They were slowly approaching me, I know, you think that I could’ve escaped, but the answer is NO, I couldn’t escape because I was surrounded, and I also know I could have jumped, but those animals seemed to have springs instead of legs, really now, I think they evolved from kangaroos…Siberian kangaroos. Many of those animals had an white with a little of black fur, WE C-CONTINUE: So I was there surrounded by those oversized human-headed dumb dogs, I was helpless, TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII- increase the suspense-IIIIIIIIIIIILLL … nothing happened, I’m kidding, I figure it out that:” BUT WAIT I HAVE SECRET WEAPONS TOO!”. I tried to annoy myself to get my claws out, first time it didn’t work, and then I thought about the most annoying thing for me, not even this worked because I love all the things unless the things that I hate, so I went to Karate, Judo, and putting my fingers in other one’s eyes:

                       --OUCH, WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!

                        --That’s how I know!

                        Even with my MASTER moves, I still couldn’t stop those hundreds of humano-wolves - hmm, surprising- until one bit my tail. In that moment I was angry- I took out the sharp fangs, yellow eyes with small pupil and iris, big claws, now I don’t boast myself, but I took down at least 20 wolves, ok I boast myself a little bit. Doesn’t matter because everything happened in my MIND, after that guy who I put my fingers in his eyes, another one threw a stump in my head.

                         I woke up tied up of a plank, carried by 4 human-wolves -I’ll name them later- to the chief of the tribe. They put me in a cage, still tied, with fire under the cage, very chill. The chief said:

                         --Oh, divine spirit of the frozen forest we give you this offering in exchange of a great dinner.

                         --An offering for a great dinner? Do you know that you can hunt? I mean you’re half wolves after all!

                         --GASP, who would’ve done such a shameful deed!? They looked offended.            

                        --Says the guy who is making an offering to a horse!

                         --It’s a majestic wolf!

                         --Riiight, you really aren’t good at sculpture!

                         --Oh, yes, we are, everyone is criticizing us, and why aren’t you worried, you’ll be burnt, are you a player?

                         --OF COURSE, I AM -a brilliant idea just crossed my mind- n-not…of course I am NOT a player, because I’m a destroyer undercover!

                         A sound of surprise came from tribe:

                          --Wait a second why did you smell like a Zentofea?

                          --Well, it’s a special thing that none of you heard about, it’s called perfume!

                          --Oh!

                          --A-and if you don’t untie me, I’ll destroy you ALL!

                          --But if you’re a destroyer and you can destroy us, why didn’t you destroy the rope and the cage already?

                          --Uh- OH, yeah…uh, thanks…I forgot I can… DO… that -I was pretending to concentrate to destroy the cage, but as an amazing coincidence, a thing came out of nowhere and cut the iron box and saved me…still tied up…but free…i-in a way. Uuuuh, yeah, I telepathically sent a message to a recruit to save me, good job soldier! I caressed his head, good part he was fluffy, bad part he pulled out a laser gun from his pocket and pointed it to my forehead, he had 2 guns, the other one was pointed at the public -how dangerous can be a creature with 3 feet high:

                           --Run! Said The Short One, that’s how I call him, with a deep voice.

                           --I would’ve run already, if I haven’t my legs TIED UP!

                           --A Zentofea has stronger muscle power in lower limbs!

                           --…Yes…

                           --…That means that you can rip the string that ties your legs!

                           --Ooooh! I ripped the strings and I ran… after a few seconds I stopped and I returned to The Short One.

                           --WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING, I TOLD YOU TO RUN!

                           --I won’t let you down!

                           --I’ve been here more than you so I learned a lot in my time!

                           --Ok, I trust you on this, but can I do somethin’?

                            --Yes, try to survive!

                            --…I hope I can do that!

                            Well, it appears that The Short One had a plan to escape from that situation, I don’t know how, but The Short One shot with the laser gun in a cold crystal (ice), bounced off another two cold crystals (two pieces of ice), and then to the base of a tree, that rip causing a chain reaction, putting down tree by tree, the last tree falling in front of the angry crowd:

                           --WOOOOW!

                           --COME ON, I CREATED A DIVERSION!

                           --But, wait, how did you know that tree was going to fall in front of them? I have said while I was running with The Short One.

                           --D-do you really want to know?

                           --Uh, yes?

                           --Really, no one has asked me about this for a decade!

                           --Uh, about what?

                           --Science stuff…oh my God…I’m…so…excited…(clears throat) ok I’ll tell you…GASP, first time I calculated the area between the laser gun and the target, and then I’ve calculated the variables- he continued talking until I realized that we both have stop from running.

                           --Uh, dude ya know…an entire squad of human-wolves with six packs is like…following us!

                           --…And then I measured…

                           --…Uh, maaan?

                           --…But the distance was equal with…

                           --I beg you to stop!

                           --…So, I created a way to…

                           --Sigh, who am I kidding? I took him by the arm and jumped in a tree.

                           --…Although if I would’ve taken the theory…

                           --CAN YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT…please? I put my hand to his mouth and I pointed to the tribe that passed us.

                             --Oh, yeah, I-I’m sorry!

                             --Look, man, I understand your excitement, I think you’re a little lonely here by your independent character, but can ya wait until we get rid of this dorks?        

                             --Yeah, I know, and by the way I’m a girl!

                             --You are a girl, but how do you have such a deep voice? SHE took her mask off!

                             --It’s a changing voice device, dear!  

                             --Oh. My. Goodness. YOU ARE SO CUTE! I think she was the cutest specie of humano-animal that I’ve ever met in my life. I hugged her… SHE WAS FLUFFY!

                             --Look, that’s why I’m always wearing a mask…ok, this and other 3 reasons!

                             --Daaww, why, like someone would really attack you?

                             --Yes, many would attack me, players, qualified and unqualified hunters, maybe…MY OWN ENEMIES!?

                             --Aaww, but wait, you have enemies?

                             --Yes!

                             --Why?

                             --Because of my high intelligence!

                             --Really, well, that means that you have common enemies with many of your species.

                             --Meh, not really, I’m a very rare case, usually creatures in my species are…

                             --Let me guess, dumb, goofy, jerks, but with no reason?  

                             --I wanted to say idiots, but your description is much more extensive.

                             --I know how it feels, I mean a lot of people from my species are like that!

                             --Zentofea?

                             --No, humans…but I have one question, how does everybody know about this name? I named that creature!

                             --Uh, no, it has been named like that since forever!    

                             --How?...

                             --Look, stop asking useless questions and care about your purpose!

                             --My purpose…OH YEAH, MY PURPOSE, I FORGOT ABOUT IT!

                             --How can you forget your own objective?

                             --My PURPOSE…is that an ocean? I’d said while I was exiting the forest.

                             --Yes, the terrestrial space from this planet is predominant in isles and archipelagos!

                             --DAMN IT, how am I going to cross the ocean now?

                             --But why do you want to cross it? Do you need to cover a territory?

                             --No…

                             --Do you want to conquer a territory?

                             --…No…

                             --Then why do you want to cross the ocean?

                             --I want to change the world!

                             --Wait, you want to change the world…alone?

                             --Nope, that’s why I’m looking for a person to help me!

                             --Wow, really…wow, you’re the first person who said that! Hey, HEY, what are you doing? I took off my boots, I rolled up my jeans and I tried to run above the water, for 3 seconds I really have run above the water, and then I began to sink. I swam back to the beach.

                              --So, do you wanna tell me…where…the heck…were you thinking?

                              --I thought that I could run on water.

                              --Kiddo, if in your dimension exists some force who keep things together, however are you calling…

                              --Gravity…

                              --I knew about that name, I’m a genius, I just wanted to clarify that you know what I’m talking about…What I wanted to say, is that, the respective force exists in this universe too, but it acts with a different attraction.

                              --Aha, so what other idea do you have?

                              --Hmmm, first, you still didn’t answer the previous question!

                              --Well, I think the person might be after the ocean!

                            --Do you think that this motivation is certain, I mean isn’t assuming an attempt to know something that can be inexistent, do you really think, in this life anything can have a scope, don’t you think that life is an illusion meant to prepare us of everything what can be beyond the bars of reality?

                              I remained without words:

                              --I made this up 10 seconds ago, what’s so hard to understand?

                              --No, no…I-I understood!

                              --Then why are you doing this!

                              --Um, I don’t know…I think I just needed an adventure!

                              --Then why did you choose to change this world?

                              --I don’t kn-…YOU KNOW WHAT, leave me alone with those weird questions, you’ll provoke me an existential crisis!

                              --Ok!

                              --I just wanted to know How. Can. I. Cross. THE DAMN OCEAN?  

                              --Stay chill kid, I’ve got this! She took out a thing from her pocket and she blew in it, then a 45 feet animal came out of water and it wasn’t a blue whale. A little help from a seahorse!

                               --You can’t put the words “seahorse” and “little” referring to that thing!

                               --Oh, yes, I can. Player, say hi to Rudolf!

                               --RUDOLF? WHAT ARE YOU…SANTA…THE BARBARIAN!?

                               --Not really. Rudolf, say hello to the player! He said hello…i-in his language.

                               --Yep, I’m clearly going to make a raAAF- the monster picked me and sank into the water!

                               --Bye, bye, bon voyage through the ocean!

                               The monster took me to a temple under the water. In temple:

                                --COUGH…when I said to cross the ocean I DIDN’T MEAN UNDER WATER! All the torches in the room blew up.

                                --Greetings, my dear child! Said an old lady when she appeared from nowhere in front of my face.

                                --HOLY SHAMALAMA…sigh…ma’am I think you have the wrong person!

                                --No, no, that’s how I tell to the visitors!

                                --Ooo, so, you have tourists…riiight!

                                --No, every new player comes to me for the closet! She showed me like a Chinese closet -I made a redundancy, everything is made in China.

                                 --Closet, do you have problems with the furniture?

                                 --No, they get in it!

                                 --So…you kidnap kids... I’m calling the police!

                                 --No, you didn’t understand, it will be worth, plus is no police station in the middle of the ocean!

                                 --You’re the creepiest person I’ve ever met in my life!

                                 --Many people say that! Now, come on, it doesn’t bite!

                                 --At least I got rid of a fear! I got in the closet, immediately after I got in, I remained unconscious and I woke up in another world.

                                 I’ve heard a girly voice:

                                 --WARM WELCOME TO THE DIMENSION OF THOUGHTS! Said a grey colored skin girl with black clothes and amber colored eyes. And I’m the Spirit of Thoughts!

                                 --AAAAA!

                                 --Hmm, I thought that a Zentofea wouldn’t fear of literally everyone who says hello!

                                 --How did you know about that…AND MORE IMPORTANT, HOW DOES EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THAT NAME!?

                                 --Well, first, I know what every player thinks, and second, I know about that name because I put it!

                                 --But ho-

                                 --How do I know that? Well, the answer is in the name, MY NAME, DUH!

                                 --And how did I-

                                 --And how did you name it? Ho ho, well, that’s simple kid, it’s because all of those subliminal messages that I left around the place!

                                 --If-

                                 --If I control the thoughts, why didn’t I end the war, yet? …It’s because that war shouldn’t end, it’ll declare the true leader of this world, like you said it must be a good, brave, and worthy person to clean this mess.

                                --An-

                                --And that means-

                                --Oh, will you please let me talk?

                                --Ok, go ahead!

                                --…And that means I’ll have to fight to make a little difference?

                                --Kid, I think that you will change the whole world, trust me, I don’t say this to any other player…but you have to fight for that, although it’s like the real life!

                                --Yeah…it is!

                                --…So, are you ready for your first match?

                                --Y-yes…yes, I do! Let the game begins.

[toloveawarlord]

Ch. 5

Pairing: Iris x Edgar

A/N: This was supposed to come out in December but I failed miserably. Iris is one of my favorites to write. She was my first Ikerev OC and I cannot believe it took me so long to update this XD Enjoy some Iris and Edgar!

Time passed quickly. Sweltering heat cooling off into chilly temperatures. Leaves turning from lush green to brilliant shades of red and orange. As the season changed, the animosity towards me began to fade away. I was just another soldier.

Training became second nature, but I consistently found myself growing bored with it. Unlike the others under the Jack of hearts command, I had a higher goal than simply being in the army, and that was to take my rightful place as the ten of Hearts, regardless of their rules on women.

Until then, the only place I could truly relax was my quarters. Even here in the barracks bathroom, taking a bath brought stress to me. The doors don’t lock. The men crass enough to walk in on each other and laugh. When the hour grew late and Sean stood guard outside, I had to rush to stay unnoticed by the other soldiers.

It had been some time since I’d actually soaked in a bath. Perhaps once I had my quarters in the main building...

Swiping my hand across the mirror to catch a glimpse of my reflection, one of the only times I got to see my real face without magic, I gave a long sigh. What I wouldn’t give for better soap and some moisturizer. “It’ll be worth it.”

“What will be worth it?”

Through the mirror, I could clearly see those jade green eyes gleaming with exhilaration at the discovery he’d made. Blaming Sean would be ridiculous. He couldn’t turn away the third highest ranking officer. It wouldn’t have ended well for him. “Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?”

“Consider this a surprise inspection,” Edgar replied, gaze falling down to my body clad only in a towel. His lips tugged up into an amused smirk. “This is quite the curious situation, isn’t it?”

No more a secret that I’m a woman, not man. Without the crystals to hide my feminine features or the wrapping around my torso, that much was clear. “What are you even doing in here?” Something had brought him here, and it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I’d soon be thrown out or arrested. Impersonating a soldier would yield a harsh punishment.

Edgar leaned back against the wall, humming softly to himself. “It’s my duty to inquire about strange occurrences and you, dear Iris, have been a strange occurrence since the moment you arrived. Am I correct to assume you’re Iris Adley, Ian’s sister?” The question rhetorical. He’d likely done research on my family.

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to. Your games don’t amuse me, Edgar,” I replied with a frown. What’s he waiting for? He could drag me to Lancelot’s office and turn me in. He could arrest me himself, lock me in the dungeon. So why is he just standing there?

Silence lingered between us, waiting for the other to make the first move. Drops from my wet hair fell down onto my bare skin, rolling down between the swell of my chest and disappearing beneath the towel. The steam from the hot bath beginning to settle in his brown locks as well.

Edgar lifted his hand to brush it back, leaving it messier than usual. “This is quite the predicament. Allow me a chat over tea in my chambers.” An invitation posed as a command, as my superior officer. His gaze pierced into me, like he could read my hesitation. “I promise to be nice.”

That is not my main problem, but he knew that. He’s messing with me. I narrowed my eyes. It would be a pain to resist and have him use force that would result in a fight and ultimately end up with me arrested for either murder or my original crime of impersonating my brother. That doesn’t mean I want to. “I don’t know if you have a nice bone in your body, Edgar.”

“Ah, you wound me, Iris. I’m not going to spill your secret,” he replied, flashing a charming smile. One that said, not yet, at least. Of what use it would be to him...

Darkness fell over us, signaling lights out as the crystals in their fixtures went out. The small window fixed up high in the bathroom left a strip of moonlight illuminating the Jack of Hearts with an otherworldly glow. Perhaps he was a demon after all, I had yet to determine that. “I don’t have much of a choice, as you’re blackmailing me.”

Edgar chuckled, jade eyes glinting in the light. “Blackmail? I have no need to blackmail you. You see, I admire your resolve. You may have failed in the eyes of all the other officers in your fight with my dear protege, but I was undoubtedly impressed. Why would I have taken you on in my unit if I hadn’t found you most intriguing?”

Looking back now, it must be even more admirable that I made a draw of the spar with Zero. “You were ridiculously bored and wanted a new puzzle to solve.” Rumors of him circulated through the barracks often, especially through his unit. Highly respected for his skills but known to be eccentric and unusual.

“I haven’t solved you yet, have I?” Edgar tilted his head, sliding his tongue over his lips in anticipation of unlocking more secrets from me. He had been incredibly bored until this.

I slid my pants on under the towel, letting them hang loosely around my hips. “Maybe you never will.” The shirt stuck to my skin as I slipped my arms in and began to button the first few. Once decently covered, the towel pulled away and crumpled on the floor. The last few buttons easily done.

“I do so enjoy a challenge.”

Throwing an irritated glare at him, I swiped my earrings and wrap from the counter. The halls were empty, all in their rooms like good little soldiers. Sean had even disappeared, dismissed by Edgar. Should anyone else see us, it would be over.

Our steps silent, moving nearly in sync down the carpeted hallway of the main building. Passing the ten of hearts personal chambers, empty of its rightful occupant, I took a quiet breath. If he didn’t tell my secret, then it’s still in the cards for me.

The door closed with a resounding thud, followed by the click of the heavy lock turning. None could disturb without prior warning. Edgar motioned to the sitting area, moving to the cabinet to retrieve a tea set. With the use of magic crystals, heating the water an easy task. “Pumpkin tea is very popular in Central Quarter right now. I’m delighted to have someone to share it with.”

I sat in the chair to keep the distance between us. No matter where he chose to sit, it would be a good length away. “What is it that you want from me?” His motive unclear, and I would get a real answer out of him before I left.

“You excel at every turn. Tactical, strategy, swordplay, hand to hand. More so than any I’ve had the pleasure of training. It’s almost as if you don’t even need me.” Edgar elegantly poured the steaming tea into a delicate cup, not a single drop spilling, as if showing off his own skills.

“That’s not true. I haven’t beaten you in a sword fight yet,” I answered with a shrug. His skill shined through with how he wielded a sword. Since watching him, I’d adjusted how I held my sword, finding the perfect balance to have as graceful and clean a swing as him.

Edgar sat on the couch nearest me, holding his teacup up but never taking a sip from it. “I’ll wager you’d put up a better fight as Iris rather than Ian. You hold back. At first, I imagined it was due to fear of failing, but the more I watched you, the more purposeful I found your movements. Precision to keep from winning against your opponent.” 

He’d been watching me that closely?

“Ian has never been good at swordplay. He sucks at literally everything, even the poetry he desperately tried to win that idiot girl’s heart with.” If he’d had even an ounce of skill, I could have already worked my way up to being at least half as good as I am. The sweet steam of the tea wafted up from the cup. “Sean knew my brother well enough to tell a difference, so I had to be extra careful. Apparently, not careful enough.” A frustrating thought. My brows pulled together in anger.

Edgar took a long sip of the tea, happily satisfied with sweetness. “You’ve got the entire army fooled. I’ve even heard Jonah speaking a little praise of how well you adjusted and your skill.”

I studied his features, not a hint of his true intentions showing. That rumor stood true. None could fool the Jack of Hearts but gleaning his real self a near impossible feat. “If you aren’t going to expose me, then what is it that you want? People don’t keep secrets without a reason.”

“It’s simple. I want to see how long you can keep up this charade and what will happen once you’re found out. I can make predictions, but nothing will be as satisfying as observing it unfold.” No lies were laced in those words. Edgar found this a game, one that he could cure his own boredom.

The teacup hit the saucer with a loud clink. I stood from the chair, brushing my damp hair back. “It’s late. Unless you have any more questions, I’m returning to the barracks.” Not waiting for a response, I crossed the room to the door. Casting a glance over my shoulder, I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t trust you.”

Edgar laughed, rising gracefully from his seat. Pulling the key from his pocket, he unlocked the door for me to leave. “One last thing, you’ll be starting as my apprentice effective immediately. Outside of unit training, you’ll spend all your time at my side.” He was enjoying this a little too much, knowing that I couldn’t say no.

“Better watch out, or I’ll end up punching you one day.” The perks of being an apprentice were incredibly clear. It would jump start my knowledge on how the inner workings of the Chosen Thirteen operated. It seemed as though he was helping me. For what it gained him, I couldn’t puzzle out yet.

“I’d love for you to try, Iris.”

With the door opened, I slipped out into the hallway after checking for any guards. Returning to the barracks uncaught would prove easy. Even as I walked away, his gaze never left me. Sleep would be near impossible. The thoughts swirling around in my head.

What could Edgar Bright really gain from having me as his apprentice? Was it a spur of the moment decision to keep me close? Being that close to him would put me under the scrutiny of King Lancelot and Queen Jonah. If either discovered my secret, it would be game over. That was not an option. Whatever game Edgar desired to play; I would be the victor.

[icarus-imagines]

Lance McClain X Reader

Hello! Can I have an Lance (From Voltron) X Reader please?

I am terribly sorry if this is sad and evokes some dark themes. If anybody wishes for a happy ending just send in a request for a Part 2 and I will be sure to give the Readers something happier and much fluffier. A bittersweet ending I will thoroughly enjoy writing.

I was more than merely influenced for writing such a depressing story due to listening to Sam Smith on repeat. Beautiful and lovely, but quite sad. It was a result I felt happy with though and hope everybody enjoys it.

-Mod Icarus ଘ(੭ºัᴗºั)━☆ﾟ

Word Count: 2,413

Category: Voltron

~Blue Boy~

Something was wrong.

As of current you were, in most people's words, safe. Located in a secure position away from the middle of the battle commencing it may be by pure luck nobody had yet to spot you. Not too far away though you could hear the loud battle cries of both your treasured teammates and the relentless Galra.

Body leaning against a cement wall your hand clutched your shoulder that was covered with armor similar to what the traditional paladins of the lions wore. Once a shiny and gleaming (F/c) suit, it was now morphed into something dirty and marred. Clinks and dents were spotted here and there. A bit of blood was on the leg, half of it dry and crusted, but the most sickening thing about that fact was that the blood was not yours.

Trained by the Altean palace princess Allura ruled over you were able to grow stronger in a shorter amount of time than expected. You never thought you would have been able to become a professional with wielding a sword. But here you were a few or so months later a (F/c) sword tightly held in your grasp as you took down foreign aliens.

Rising a sluggish hand to your shoulder you grabbed it tightly with a shaky inhale. It ached with every sharp movement you made and for a second you wondered if it had become dislocated in the heat of war. You pleaded desperately for it not to be true. A dislocated shoulder during something like this would be horribly bad luck. Hopefully, everything would end so you could recover back in the safe confines of the palace.

Sidestepping it took only a few seconds to become one with the battle. Seemingly dragging on you felt as if you were going to cry. Your shoulder was sending hot white flashed to appear across your vision when you swung at just the right yet wrong angle. Even so, you pushed onwards, determined to get this over with and finally be worry-free again.

Just when everything looked as if it was beginning to dissipate a pang of hurt sliced through your heart. But the thing about it was that you were alone, without an opposing battle partner. Everything was perfectly fine from what you could tell.

Allura and Coran were faring well.

Shiro and Keith were finishing off the last few remaining stragglers who dared fight more.

Hunk and Pidge were tending to the wounded of this alien planet's natives.

And last but not least Lance was-

Lance.

Where was Lance!?

Fear almost made bile rise from the depths of your stomach to sting in the deep backside of your throat, but you swallowed it up quickly. Adrenaline was immediately born with your deep thoughts. Sneaking their way into your bloodstream your legs caught up with your much more frightened mind. Moving of their own accord you dragged forward with no true destination. All you knew is you had to find Lance no matter what. Even if he was safe. Laughing at his own jokes while flirting with some beautiful alien species from this planet you could not warrant the chance of him being lost.

What if he was captured. Kidnapped and taken away from you? Was it possible he was slain? Struck down by an enemies sharp weapon?

No.

Lance was stronger than that.

He was much stronger than he ever gave credit for. The wielder of a paladin bayard belonging to the blue lion that transformed into an energy assault rifle, you were sure he could hold his own in a fight. You had witnessed it many times before so why out of all those times would he suddenly be taken down? Every scenario that filtered through your mind could not create one where Lance had been taken down. It just seemed too bizarre. Too impossible.

Yes, he had been tossed around his fair share of times but so had everybody else. Near death experiences were an end result everybody knew was more than possible, yet you did not think this way. Your background was unique, just like theirs. Death could be an option but the hardships in your lied denied you to ever think of such a thing.

Death is not an option.

Lance is not dead.

With those thoughts on your mind, you frantically ran to every place you last saw lance. Through the dense alien jungles, you carried on with quick footsteps. Once you had even tripped, yet even when your knee had been hit wrong and sent a shocked pain to the area you stood up with only a muffled groan from the inside of your mouth. The pain you were experiencing would have to wait to be felt. For all, you felt right now was fear, anticipation, and a tug of fright.

It was not until you came upon a body leaning against a tree did tears begin to fill the top brim of your waterline in your eye.

Lance.

He is alive.

"Lance, you goofball," you managed to huff out when you lowered yourself down onto your knees, ignoring the dull pain, to get closer to him. "Where have you been? I have been so worried. I..."

(E/c) eyes scanned his body, breath becoming rigid and anxious in barely a few seconds. His once slick blue paladin armor was splattered with blood. From where you view him it looked as if he was in the red lion's paladin armor instead of the blue lions.

His head was hanging too low for comfort, ends of his hair drenched in blood, a crimson human fluid. It was also dripping from his nose and mouth, curving over his slim lips and chin. More camouflaged over his black covered hands. It was hard to tell what you were truly looking at. With so much blood you couldn't tell if it was coming from his own body or if it was just a tough opponent who had not stopped until they bled out when fighting.

Your voice was shaky as a hand slipped up to cup his cheek, raising his head to look at you, the helmet already taken off and left on the grassy floor of the forest. The pain in your shoulder was persistent but your worry was far greater than any of it. Unfortunately, his eyelids were closed you came to discover when you had risen him up. Head heavy in the palm of your hand you realized you are holding the world in your hand

He is your whole world.

"Lance, please... please tell me this is not your blood. This can't possibly be yours, can it?" You asked fruitlessly. The head in your hands gave no sign of any movement to any of your talking. "Lance..."

After a few more calls of his name and small shakes on his shoulder, Lance finally cracked open his eyes like there were hundred-pound weights dragging them down. Still heavily placed in your hands he blinked open his eyes. Black eyelashes fluttered open slowly, the iris inside blown but progressively shrinking from the radiating suns strong light.

"Y/n..." His voice makes your heart quiver in its bony cage of ribs. It sounds so broken and hoarse It must be hard for him to speak but he tries to do so anyway. "Glad...I am glad...to see you..."

You shush him softly as more blood dribbles out of his mouth from his actions. "Don't speak, you need to conserve your energy."

Your voice may be soft and ever so gentle, but inside an earthquake is splitting open. In the earth of it, all your fears and worries are conjoining and rising out. Questions such as 'How could I let this happen?' and 'It's my fault.'

Taking off your helmet carefully, both your hands begin to move to the back of his head, fingers curling into the locks of short, dark brown hair you adored so much. You lean close, so close that when you hug him you swear you can hear everything around you. His head rests in your chest, nestled there like a safe haven. You can hear his soft, almost labored breathing as he tries to fill his lungs the best he can. Taking in as much oxygen before he dispels it in a shaky exhale of breath. His skin is hot, beating hotly with a pulse that misses a few counts here and there.

He smells of blood, The sickly metallic flavor of it clings to your taste buds even when your mouth is clamped shut. Wetness springs from your tear ducts and rolls down your cheeks as the thoughts inside your head overflow.

He shouldn't smell of blood. He shouldn't be bleeding out. He shouldn't be fighting for every breath he takes. He shouldn't be fighting the need to succumb to death's embrace.

Heshouldn'tHeshouldn'tHeshouldn'tHeshouldn'tHe'shouldn'tHeshou-

"Thank you...for...for staying here with me," he manages to mumble out, his breath warm against the open skin of your neck. "To think....I...I never got to tell you..."

You separate from him, his head still in your hands as it leans back a bit so he can look up at you with no trouble or moving on his part.

"Tell me?" You ask confused, a tear dripping down your cheek. "Tell me what?"

His smile targets towards you feel like sunshine on your (S/c) flesh. A bright shining aura of radiating heat. But his expression is overall a vision of pure solemn. Dark blue eyes, like the deep oceans of Earth, spring up like a sparkling geyser with water. Tears of his own fall down his face in perfect lines. He looked beautiful right there. Crying. It may have been thought of as a cruel thought, but he was an angel. An angel was crying in front of you. Emotions bubbling up and exploding like water erosion shapeshifting the Earth's soil to create something new and more extraordinary than before.

"I love you."

His hand comes up to let his tanned fingertips touch your cheekbone. With a slow thumb, he brushes away a stray tear in his way. His movements up to now have all been slow. A sluggish style similar to that of an Earth animal called a sloth. But suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, they are sharp.

Surging forward faster than you are able to react to he closes the gap between your faces. Warm lips meet yours in a feverish sense of hurry and apparent urgency. It is delectably warm, that flesh against your own in a waltzing dance. If his lips were food you were sure he would be something akin to blueberries.

His other unoccupied arm wraps around your body to grasp tightly at a shoulder. It stays there secure and unyielding in its position. You feel safe. Safer than you have ever been in your entire life. You want to stay here. Stay this way forever, even if it may seem like an impossible thing.

This blue boy was full of love and affection beyond measure underneath the surface.

In a slow-motion like state of deliriousness, Lance parts away from you far too soon for your liking. Before you can protest he look up at you and for a second he smiles. Lips quivering in the effort to rise in the process before his eyes closed shut and lock away his oceanic orbs of crystal light. Heartbreaking into a million pieces you only stay stock still as his weight leans forward and slumps against your chest.

The arm that had once held you safe in this warm engulfing hug let's go without notice. It slumps down, laying perfectly still with its palm up in the green grasses of the jungle floor. You can hear your heart pounding just like the slam that seemed to come when the arm had fallen. Blood is pulsing in your ears, a headache forming quickly from the noise. The bang and ricochet in your skull, all your bones simultaneously panging with hurt from the foreign impacts.

His body is still. So strangely still like a statue against your own that you almost forget to breathe, to function correctly. He is heavy, heavier than anybody had ever been when leaning leisurely against you. It is like the body, in its one way, is telling you of its burden. That life has left the inside of the body it once filled.

This is death.

"Lance, come on your heavy," you laugh bitterly, the sound rough on your tongue when you try to deny the fact he may actually not be with you anymore. "Lance, if you are sleeping you have to...You have to wake up."

Your hands take hold of him so he can lean into them as you move away to peer at his face. He looks to be in a deep peaceful but you know better.

"Lance...please! You can't leave me! Not right when I know how you feel! Not when I-" Your sobs elevate as you spring forward to nuzzle into his neck in an effort to keep him here with you. His once warm skin is quickly growing a deadly cold, but you care not to think of it at the moment.

"Not when I feel the same way..."

The blue boy with oceans for eyes and seas for blood in his veins is gone.

The blue boy with his flirtation and jokester ways is gone.

The blue boy who you had discovered shared your feelings is gone.

"I love you, Lance. I love you so much. So much Lance. I love you so much."

I love you...my blue boy...

[pinkletterday]

WiP Week Day 4

Fandom: The Flash

Pairings: Jay Garrick/ Tina McGee, Jay Garrick & Barry Allen, past Jay Garrick/ Joan Williams, past Jay Garrick/ Earth-3 Nora Thompson, background Barry Allen/Iris West

Rating: All Audiences

Summary: Jay is having an existential crisis of his own at Barry and Iris's wedding when he meets a familiar face.

A/N: an Outtake from The Westallen Wedding Album that I didn't know what to do with.

The Road Not Travelled

Jay is nursing his drink by the water fountain looking out at the waves. He is not, whatever Joan might have said of his demeanor, brooding. He was...contemplating. Rationally. Specifically, the thought of leaving early.

“Pardon me. You are...Henry Allen?” A familiar woman interrupts Jay’s...contemplation. She has a business-like white bob and an air of stylish elegance. He had noticed her at the ceremony, wondering whether she would recognize him.

“Jay Garrick, actually,” he replies, “A...relation.”

“From Earth 2?” she queries.

“Earth 3,” he corrects. “So you know as well.”

“About parallel worlds? I’m sure everyone here knows, considering recent events,” she snorts, waving her hand. “I’m sorry. I had a very brief acquaintance with Barry’s father before he was...before he passed, and seeing your face was somewhat disconcerting.”

Ah. “I’m sorry if I startled you. I confess, I didn’t quite think this through when Cindy asked me to come with her here.” Maybe he shouldn’t be lecturing Barry on the subject.

“Must be a speedster trait,” says Tina, but she is smiling. “I’m Dr. Tina McGee. Nice to meet you.”

Doctor Tina McGee? Interesting. “Nice to meet you too, Doctor.”

“Is your son his doppelganger then?” asks Tina, after an awkward silence.

“No,” he says trying to hide a note of regret. “No, Barry doesn’t exist on my earth. My wife wasn’t Nora Allen and we were childless.”

“Ah,” says Tina awkwardly. “That’s...strange isn’t it? How many paths we leave untraversed?”

“Yes,” Jay briefly returns to brooding over his glass. “I sometimes think that we were never meant to be able to see them.”

Tina’s face turns even more curious and Jay groans internally, knowing how that sounded.

“My wife, Joan. She couldn’t have children,” he says quietly. “I loved her more than I wanted kids. We grieved and moved on. Then she passed and...I met Barry.”

He doesn’t know why he’s spilling his guts to a woman he just met. Tina always did have a way with her though. It was one of the things that had made the one on his earth stand out.

“I’m sorry,” says Tina sympathetically.

“I don’t regret my decision,” says Jay firmly. On that point at least he was certain. “The years I had with her - I wouldn’t trade them with anyone for the world. I was content. But you don’t really expect to meet the child who might have been yours, you know, even in the kind of impossible world we live in.”

“I...might understand, actually,” Tina says with a touch of sadness. “I’ve had a similar experience. Although I didn’t have to travel to another earth for it.”

Jay tilts his head questioningly at her. Tina looks wry. “The road not travelled Mr. Garrick. As you say, it can be a mixed blessing.”

Jay huffs a laugh.

“May I ask why you and your doppelganger have different names?’ she continues, her fascination clearly struggling with her British-bred sense of propriety.

“Well, as I understand it, the short version is that we were both conceived out of wedlock and then our fathers went to war. His came back. Mine didn’t,” Jay shrugs. His father issues are long dealt with. “So I got her choice of first names and her surname and Henry got his father’s. And yet we both ended up in our versions of Central City. I even met Nora Thompson once.”

“Really?” Tina asks with open interest.

“Yes. She was teaching school in the Honduras. I was there on a mission for my government,”

“You...work for the government?”

“I’m a scientist by profession. My wife and I both are. But there was a lab experiment, an explosion and I woke up as the Flash, much as Barry did. I joined my own team of superheroes, again like Barry. We are supposed to be a neutral party in world affairs, but. Well, it’s complicated.”

“It always is with the military,” snorts Tina, dismissively. “Which is why I personally don’t let them near my work, money be damned.”

“I didn’t really have a choice at the time,” says Jay a little defensively. “As it happened, there was an unexpected coup and we had to abort. Our team decided to evacuate the civillians instead. Nora wouldn’t leave until we had secured as many of the villagers as we could.”

“She sounds very brave.” says Tina, impressed.

“Yes, she was a helluva woman.,” Jay remembers still the heavy fall of auburn hair, the scent of lilac and wide green eyes, exactly like another pair he now knows. He also remembers the two of them backpedalling from an unexpected, unwelcome yet mutual attraction. “Barry looks a lot more like her than me, actually. It was a high tension, close quarters situation and she was a very beautiful woman but I was already with Joan and I would never do that to her. Joan Williams was the love of my life and always will be.” He says it with conviction. The way Barry had looked at Iris when they exchanged vows - he had looked at Joan that way every day of her life.

It had made his chest ache, both in missing her and something that felt uncomfortably close to love for his doppelganger’s son.

“Is Nora still alive on your earth?” asks Tina, almost as though she was afraid of the answer.

Jay hesitates. “I don’t know,” he exhales finally. “I thought of looking her up after finding out about Barry but...I don’t really want to. If that makes sense?”

“It more than makes sense,” assures Tina. “What happened to your doppelganger on this earth was quite traumatic - being framed for her murder, having his child taken away and locked up for years, then to be freed and reunited for less than a year before being murdered.”

“It’s not that though,” says Jay, looking away. “Fate played Henry a terrible hand, much worse than mine. I’ll own that. But my life has had its share of tragedy. Loss is practically guaranteed in the life of a superhero. And I don’t really have much left to lose anymore. It’s simply...I don’t want to look at her and maybe think of what might have been. I owe my wife more than that.”

Jay thinks of his conflicting feelings for Barry Allen. A speedster like him, born into a life he might have led, although not his son any more than he was Barry’s father. And yet, there is this inexplicable draw toward the young man, as though Henry Allen’s love for his child still echoed within the souls of his counterparts across universes. It feels like a pride and a yearning he could not explain nor quantify, and it disturbs him.

“There is no shame in being fond of Barry,” says Tina as though reading his thoughts. “Even without being related, he is a very endearing young man.” Then, wryly, “Even after he blackmails you into surrendering your prized prototype for a police sting and then loses it.”

Jay mulls this over for a minute. “You know,” he says in amusement, “I wish I could say I was surprised.” He remembers the force of nature that was Nora Thompson. She had shot him in the foot when he had tried to stop her going into a guerrilla camp after her kids.

He suspected later that she may also have done it on general principle.

“Mmm. Well I got it back in the end. And I owe him my life now,” Tina shrugs. “I’ve decided to let it go. But he can be rather single-minded in the pursuit of loftier goals, which is sometimes to his detriment.”

Jay tamps down his instinctive urge to defend Barry. It’s absurd. He knows the kid has a problem with tunnel vision, he has pulled him out of enough holes by now to have seen it first hand. “I may know where he might have got that from,” he says instead, and he does. Nora wasn’t the only one who could get a little...fixated. Hence his poor foot. Joan hadn’t been overly thrilled about that trait of his either, although age had eventually brought with it good sense.

For the most part.

Tina tilts her head, appraisingly. “And how do you know my doppelganger?”

Jay looked up in surprise. “How do you know I know your doppelganger?”

“Because you’ve been speaking to a person who should have been a total stranger as though she were someone very familiar to you?” Tina smiles. "Admit it. You know me well. Or at least my twin in your world.”

“I do,” Jay blushes and ducks his head. “Do you really want to know?”

“Well now I can’t not know can I?” Tina laughs, sitting down on the edge of the fountain.

“All right,” Jay grins. “Your counterpart moved next door to me in Larkspur, she was the prettiest girl in my high school and my first love.”

Tina throws her head back and laughs heartily “Oh my God,” she gasps. “What an American cliche!”

“You know what wasn’t an American cliche?” Jay chuckles, seating himself beside her.

“Do tell.”

“She realized she was a lesbian, dumped me and ran off to Europe to be with an exotic dancer. Last I heard, she and her wife had three children.”

Tina almost hoots in delight. Jay feels warm and pleased listening to her. He had forgotten how wonderfully frank and unselfconscious Tina’s laugh had been.

“Were you crushed?” she chortles, wiping her eyes.

“Absolutely. Moped for a year. But then I met Joan and forgave her. But I never forgot. Antonia McGee is not the kind of woman one forgets.” Jay feels young and light again as he looks at her and Tina grins back and raises her glass. “What about you?”

Tina takes a swig of her drink. “Me?” she says, thoughtfully. “Nothing so...eventful, I’m sad to say. I’m not a lesbian, but I like to think of myself as more equal opportunity. I married science, and it has been a difficult, demanding but very exciting spouse. Like you, I never regretted it. Although,” she levels a glance at him that is distinctly challenging (which Jay recollects is Tina’s way of flirting, because the woman had never understood coquetry), “having young friends like the West-Allens reminds me that there can be much more to life, and of the potentiality the future yet holds.”

“I can drink to that,” agrees Jay, clinking his glass with hers. Suddenly, he feels completely at ease as he and Tina smile at each other.

Maybe he wouldn’t try to escape early after all.

End.

[godofavengers]

Arrowverse series rewrite

Pilot, part 1: Just a little history

pairings: none currently

word count: 1,271 (sorry its short the rest will be a lot longer)

A/N: Ok so basically this is gonna be the very beginning of my series rewrite of the arrowverse. In the future, it is gonna go a little into legends but that’s ways away yet. this first part is not really the pilot episode of the flash. It’s gonna begin in the flash and there will be some crossovers/written episodes of arrow. it more sets the tone for my character Callie Hall she is a little based on me but more of a badass lol. I hope you enjoy and I can't wait to post more parts of this story in the future.

Do you believe in the impossible? Do you believe that people can run as fast as light, combine from two people into one person, or shoot fire from their bare hands? How about a person creating a storm with their body, maybe even something as little as a criminal stealing a freeze ray or cold gun? I do, and I have the story to prove it. So sit back, relax and find out my story.

October 7, 2014

“Barry, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime soon?” I said into the phone.

“Callie, I would love to,” He replied, “I’m sorry I’ve been held up at work, Singh has been making me do more and more work. I think he’s started to hate me more.”

I laughed. “I don’t think he hates you. Maybe he just has a hard spot for people who are always late for work.” I joked, almost mockingly, which resulted in me getting a sarcastically amused laugh from Barry.

“So, anyway, back to what you were saying about hanging out. This Tuesday around seven they’re turning on the particle accelerator and I was wondering if you would like to accompany Iris and me?”

I quietly sighed in annoyance so he wouldn’t hear, before muttering “Yeah sure, I’d love to.” If it came down spending an evening with Barry and Iris or being by myself, I would choose to go with them. Plus, I really wanted to see Barry. It’s not that I hate Iris, she’s actually one of my best friends, I just hate the fact that all he ever seems to do is constantly drool over her like she’s the last piece of cake at his third birthday party. Which makes it hard for me to hang out with the both of them together.  

“Great! Can’t wait to see you Tuesday!”

“Yeah, see you then,” I responded before hanging up.

I sighed to myself, both annoyed and happy at the same time, which is a strange combination. I then realized it was probably time for me to head out (it was 2:00 in the afternoon and I was at a bar I frequented quite often (Saints and Sinners)). Don't tell Barry that I'm not the ‘stand-up gal’ he remembers from when we lived near each other.

I packed my bag, paid for my food (and many, many drinks) and, as I walked out, I saw a guy who frequents here quite often. I think his name is Leonard Snot or something, but I hope that’s not his name because, if it was, he probably got bullied a lot as a kid.

I hoped on my bike, yes, that’s correct, a motorcycle (I know I’m a rebel, don’t tell Barry.) and rode back to my very small apartment. When I arrived I got my mail and grabbed myself a coke from the fridge. I was looking through my mail and saw a letter from the local film editing agency. It was my dream to become a film editor (it’s what I majored in college), but I wasn’t doing a good job finding a job, especially since it’s been almost 6 years since college, and I’m currently working at a Big Belly Burger in town. Nobody even knows because I tell them that I work for a big corporation. What, you’ve never lied to keep your sanity? All my friends are rich business people or super smart scientists, why would they want to be friends with a poor loser-kid like me? I opened the letter and saw that it was a reply from the application I sent in about three months ago. It read:     

Dear Miss Hall,

We are pleased to inform you that we received your application and we would like you to come in for an interview Tuesday around six. We are extremely sorry that you had to wait so long for this reply.

                                                                                                       Sincerely, Bill Harvelle

I about jumped for joy as I read the letter, this was the most exciting thing that has happened to me since I found out Supernatural was being renewed for a tenth season. I grabbed my cell from my pocket and called Iris. “Hey, what’s up?” She asked in a very perky tone.

“I just got a letter from a film agency and they want me to come in on Tuesday for an interview. I just had to tell someone, I’m, like, freaking out!”

“Omg, that’s awesome!” She laughed. “I haven’t heard you this excited since, well, forever.”

I smiled into the phone before noticing that I had received a text. “Hey, I’ll call you back. Oh, wait. Actually, I’ll see you tomorrow. I have to go, I just got a text.”

“Okay,” she chirped. “Does that mean you’re going with Barry and me then?”

“Yeah, he invited me.”

“Okay, we’ll see you then,” she replied before hanging up.

I looked at the text on my phone, it from a number I didn’t recognize, but I knew exactly who it was, which made me hesitant to answer it. Callie, I know you probably don’t wanna talk to me, but by any chance in hell will you meet me at Jitters in 15 minutes?

Obviously not, Sam. I don’t care if you’re in jail or not, but don’t ever come near me or text me again. I filed the restraining order for a reason. I hesitantly replied before adding the new number to the list numbers he tried to contact me on.

1.5 years ago:

I was 28 and sitting alone in Saints and Sinners, enjoying my beer and scrolling through Tumblr, when a guy (Sam Burrows) sat across from me. He was obviously one of those ‘up-to-no-good’ guys that dads tell their kids to stay 50 feet away from at all times. However, I didn't have a dad, so maybe I just didn't know any better. Either way, we started talking and really hit it off, so we decided to go home together and, well you know, have sex.

It was supposed to be a one night stand, but then, the next morning he made me breakfast, which was strange, but romantic, so we started dating. It went great for about the first month until he started being a dick. It eventually got to the point where I broke it off, but he wasn't having it and we got into an argument which ended with him getting a broken arm. I mean, sorry don't slap a girl who knows the Green Arrow (a story for another time, let's just say we're related).

Later that night he showed up and tried to apologize, but I was done and said no. Little did I know, he had drugged my drink in his anger. I woke up the next morning half naked, beaten and bruised in an alley just outside of town, before passing out again and waking up in the hospital, needing 56 stitches, and having to deal with a concussion. Apparently, I had been raped- shocker!

I went home a couple days later and met an officer who had lived down the street from me: Joe West. He helped me find Sam and put him in prison for 2 years. After that, I met his adopted son, Barry, and he and I actually became pretty close friends.

[likeaspeedingarrow]

Best Friends? Or is there more to it.

Soulmate (n): A person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.

 Day 3 of Olivarry week 2017: Soulmate AU. I think this is the most I’ve ever written at once...

Summary: Barry Allen has been searching for his Soulmate his entire life. His soul mark does nothing but confuse him, but is it a sign of things to come?Oliver Queen's soul mark showed up late and he began to think he didn't have a soulmate. Now he doesn't deserve one. What happens when he meets his soulmate?

Inspiration was taken from this post.

Enjoy!  You can also read it over on AO3

“Some people don’t believe in the existence of Soulmates!” Barry bit out in frustration as he looked on his computer. “How can they not?”

“Barry.” Iris’ voice broke him out of his frustrated haze. She was currently studying to be a Journalist and had somehow managed to take over more space than necessary in his very important crime lab.

Barry turned to his sister, “Yes? What can I do for you Miss West?”

Iris rolled her eyes fondly at her brother’s typical antics. “Maybe these people just don’t like being… constricted.” Iris looked at the piles of paper she had scattered around his lab in frustration as she looked for something unidentified. “I mean,” She paused as she ducked under a desk, only to sigh when what she was looking for wasn’t there. “ Most of the people you’ve found that don’t believe in them seem like the frat boy type. A super hot billionaire playboy for instance.” Iris let out a little cheer as she finally found what she was looking for.

Barry turned towards her new position, pondering her thought. There was a time in his life where Barry had really hoped Iris was his Soulmate but sadly for him his mark hadn’t matched hers. Soulmate marks came in pairs, one on each soulmate and were meant to represent their unity. They were also supposedly meant to help soulmates find each other but this didn’t work when everyone covered them. “Don’t they realise a soulmate can be platonic?” He questioned.

Iris laughed lightly beside him, “You really do get worked up about this don’t you?”

“My soulmate is out there and suffering Iris, I can feel it.” Very few pairs of soulmates could actually feel what their other half was going through and Barry wasn’t sure that he and his soulmate were one of those but he wasn’t going to admit that now lest he ruins his claim.

“Can...” Barry heard Iris take a deep breath. “Can I see your mark?”

Barry paused for a moment, asking to see someone’s soulmate mark was a very intimate question. Eventually, he shrugged, not seeing a problem with it as he and Iris had lived together most of their lives, so he pulled his shirt over his head and turned so that his back was facing Iris. He felt Iris brush her thumb over his mark- an arrow crossed by a lightning bolt. It hadn’t made sense to either of them, but Barry supposed that was the point. Only you and your soulmate would understand.

“So where’s your next stop?”

Barry looked at her knowing that she knew the whole reason for his travels. Most others assumed that he was searching for the impossible but that was only a small part of it. Barry had yet to meet his soulmate. “Starling City. I have a really good feeling about this one.

Iris smiled, “Just be careful, okay?”

 The first thing about Starling City was that it rained. A lot. The rain was so heavy that he was forced to take cover under his magazine, his kit swinging at his side. The second thing he noticed was that the drivers were all assholes, including taxi drivers. Soaked to the bone and shivering, Barry was forced to run to the crime scene he had planned to invade.

"Actually, it was only one guy!" He managed to shout, despite feeling slightly winded from the run.

Felicity, Barry decided near the end of the day, was great but she wasn't his soulmate. She was, however, another friend and Barry liked Friends.It wouldn't be until later when Barry discovered who his soulmate was.

 Consciousness hit him slowly and Barry let out a groan, blinking quickly a few times in succession as a harsh light invaded his retinas. "What the hell?" He muttered, pushing himself up slowly.

When he was up he was met with the sight of a panic-stricken team Arrow. Felicity was stood directly opposite him, staring at him in a pleading way. "Please save my friend."  She begged and Barry thought he could see tears beginning to form in her eyes.

His gaze swung from her, past Diggle and to a table which seemed to hold an unconscious body on it. Barry swore he felt his heart stop briefly when he saw Oliver Queen lying there, the tiniest hint of a very specific lightning bolt peeking from the neck of his jacket. He snapped to focus quickly after that. He had a soulmate to save.

Barry hesitated slightly, unsure of whether or not it was sensible to leave a gift here. Knowing that he would miss his train if he didn't leave soon and deciding that really, he had nothing to lose, he left the gift on a table. His soulmate was a superhero after all and all superheroes deserved a proper way to conceal their Civilian identity. Barry also knew that despite Oliver's protests, the greasepaint job would not have held up for much longer. Especially not seeing that Oliver was already on his second superhero name.

He whistled as he left the foundry.

Barry had meant to tell Iris about finding his soulmate, he really had but as usual, crime had struck and by the time Barry had finished processing the evidence from the last crime, it had been time to head to STAR Labs in order to see the particle accelerator turn on so he never got the chance. Iris, as it turns out had met her own soulmate that night after her laptop had been stolen. It had turned out to be a new employee of the CCPD. Barry thought she was happy about it.

As Iris introduced herself to her soulmate, Barry found himself in his lab. Tidying up some of his old work, he turned on the TV turning it to the news station. He figured he could keep track of what was going on at STAR Labs whilst tidying this way. His night had certainly turned out differently than he expected it to and Iris wasn't even there to talk to that evening.

From his desk, his phone began to ring and he stumbled over to it clumsily, the name read Felicity and Barry smiled at the thought of his new friend. "Felicity. Hey." He sighed slightly as she asked him if he had seen the particle accelerator turn on, him giving her a lie about being late, as usual, and hung up after promising to talk to her again soon.

The news broadcast caught his attention even as he noticed the storm building in the sky. He could see the lightning making its path directly towards him but for some unknown reason, he wasn't scared. In fact, he felt a certain affinity for it. As lightning struck his last coherent thought was 'at least that Mark finally makes sense.'

 After finding out about his powers, Barry's first instinct was to run straight to Starling City, the prospect of having this power to cut down the commute between Starling and Central City was exciting. Of course though, despite his wishes, he had a job to do and a civic duty to perform.

Watching Clyde Mardon cause a car crash by enveloping the street he was on in a fog, coupled with a very familiar argument with Joe about what really happened the night his mother was murdered proved to be his limit. He had forgotten just how emotionally draining those arguments could be and despite Iris' attempts at comforting him, he didn't really feel much better and he began to realise why Iris wasn't meant to be his soulmate.

He reached for his phone, he needed to talk to Oliver.

 "I don't think that lightning struck you, Barry, I think it chose you." This one small sentence had meant more to Barry than Oliver could ever know, just knowing that someone he felt connected to has confidence in him stirred emotions within himself that Barry honestly hadn't taken the time to think about.

Perhaps this is what prompted Barry to just blurt it out. "You're my soulmate, Oliver." Oliver shot Barry a look so Barry, despite his better instincts and the cold weather stripped himself of his shirt, turning so that his back now faced Oliver. "Look familiar?" He called over his shoulder.

Barry could see Oliver's eyes widen slightly from under the hood. "I never believed..."

"You never believed in soulmates, right?" Barry scoffed, yanking his shirt back on more roughly than intended in his frustration."Typical frat boy, billionaire playboy type. You must have gone through a lot of girls before the island, you didn't want to feel restricted, right?" Barry huffed, shaking is head slightly.

However, what Barry certainly hadn't anticipated was Oliver's reaction. He felt, rather than saw the moment when Oliver's gloved hand took hold of his arm and allowed himself to be pulled closer to the older male, letting out a quiet sigh of contentment. "That's not what I meant at all Barry." Oliver's voice breathed in his ear, sending shivers down Barry's spine. Barry chose this moment to look back to Oliver and to his shock, Oliver looked saddened and was trying to compose himself before continuing.  "My mum and dad were not soulmates... growing up I kept hearing stories about these mythical things that just sounded wonderful. So I began reading into them."

"You willing read a book outside of College?" Barry asked, slightly surprised.

Oliver shot him a glare. "Barry..." his voice sounded like a growl.

Barry coughed, "Sorry. Right. Yes, continue."

"Anyway..." Oliver rolled his eyes, "in my reading I came across the notion of soul marks." Barry's eyebrows furrowed as he wondered where Oliver was going with this. "I didn't have one so I didn't think I had a soulmate. Years later, that mark appeared but I couldn't decipher it, I guess we know what it means now though." Oliver paused, a small smile growing on his face, Barry thought it made him look even more handsome. "I just never believed I would have a soulmate as good and as light as you, especially not with how dark I've become."

A thoughtful look crossed Barry's face. "Maybe being soulmates isn't about being identical in personality, Oliver. " Barry decided, "Maybe it's about being opposites. Think about it." Barry smiled slightly, "Now thank you for the advice, and for not calling me crazy of course but you have a city to protect. We'll see each other again."  Oliver nodded, pulling up his mask.

Barry watched Oliver swing to another building muttering "cool" just before flashing away, orange lightning trailing behind him. He was unknowingly echoed by Oliver only seconds later.

The next time Barry saw Oliver, the meeting occurred somewhere the former wasn't expecting. Central City. Oliver had just helped Barry out in a warehouse when they met the rest of Team Arrow near a barn.

"So um..." Barry started unsurely.  "What are you guys doing in Central City?"

Barry was slightly unhappy when it was Felicity who answered his question.

Later on, Barry met Oliver in a field, he was late. Oliver's question of "How can you have super speed and still not be on time?" was one that Barry wished he actually had the answer to.

Instead, he gives Oliver a smartass answer that he later regrets.

Painfully.

When Oliver met Barry again he could almost instantly tell that something was wrong. Barry's posture was tense and the other man's eyes were much duller than usual. The spark that identifies Barry Allen from other people is still there but it's dimmer, it caused Barry's face to just look wrong and caused Oliver to feel something that he couldn't be completely bothered to identify it. Not when Barry was acting strangely.

Only then does he notice the anger seeping into the younger man's normally jovial tone. "I told Felicity you didn't want my help!" He called to Barry's retreating form.

"Yeah?" Barry replies, half snapping and half whining. "You're finally right about something!"

Oliver frowned as Barry sped away, pulling out his phone to call Felicity and the rest of the people at STAR Labs.

Subduing Barry in the middle of Central City was one of the hardest things Oliver had to do. Despite everything though, Oliver still knew exactly what Barry needed to hear. "I still believe in you, Barry." He grabbed the younger male in a headlock, pulling him so that he could see the lights and let out a sigh of relief as he felt Barry's body relaxed as he was finally drained of the effects of what happened.

Working as a team became easier the next time and they blended better while taking down Bivilio, Oliver would admit that Barry's genuine apology had helped immensely with that.

Oliver was, to say the least, very surprised to see Barry in ARGUS as a red gloved hand caught a boomerang inches from his own face. with the immediate danger removed, his thoughts turned to the Scarlet Speedster and suddenly he felt panicked for some reason.

It finally occurred to him later as he watched Barry flash into the foundry unmasked and eating sushi right in front of Lyla. He didn't want the younger man to be corrupted or worse, experimented on

Later that year, Barry asked Oliver for help and the older male agreed. The Arrow worked alongside both Firestorm and The Flash and successful helped his younger friend defeat his mother's killer. Oliver asked Barry for a favour in return.

Barry's boyish grin and reply of "Whenever, wherever." Made Oliver much happier than he would admit.

As did seeing a red streak leaving Nanda Parbat.

When the two had taken down Savage together as a team, it had made Oliver feel incredibly proud. Out of all of his friends, Barry had also been the most supportive about his son, something he'll freely admit he thought would be taken by Felicity. Barry had also gotten a hug out of him, something nobody had really accomplished outside of family since Tommy had died. His son's action figure sent his thoughts straight to his lanky friend and he knew without a doubt that the next words out of his mouth were absolutely true.

"He's one of the best guys I know."

Barry felt guilty about running to Starling... well now Star City for help yet again, even more so when he caused Diggle to throw up again. But what they were facing in Central City was an absolutely global catastrophe and Barry was smart enough to know that they needed to put what forces they could afford to on the problem, which included Teams Arrow and Flash.

Oliver's question of "Aliens?" and Digg's subsequent statement after Barry had finished explaining exactly just what was going on in Central City along with the bombshell of Lyla knowing about it certainly didn't help matters.

Oliver's support of him even after finding out about Flashpoint however, did.

"To things not being normal."

"To life being full." Oliver looked at Barry, seeing the darkness begining to settle within him. He thought back to that night on a Starling City rooftop, Barry's voice coming to him almost instantly "Maybe it's about being opposites." To Barry, he said "I think you were right that night."

Barry wasn't certain about what night Oliver meant and frowned in concentration. "About what?"

"About Soulmates being some kind of Opposites. It's about... Balance."

Barry chuckled lightly, "Good to know."  A nervous look overtook his face. "Ollie, can I try something?" He asked, setting his halfway empty beer bottle on the bar in front of him and steeling himself. He didn't want to have any regrets. Oliver wasn't sure just what was going on but he trusted Barry, so he nodded his head. Upon Oliver's nod, Barry gently cupped Oliver's face in his hands and slowly kissed him.

If either man had any doubts previously, they were erased in that moment.

[backtothestart02]

The Burglar in My Kitchen - 2/?

A/N: Finally an update! Chapter 1 can be found here. It should be all wrapped up on Tuesday (I hope). Enjoy.

*Many thanks to @valeriemperez for beta’ing again, as always. ;)

Early the next morning, six a.m. to be exact, Iris woke up to the gross realization that she was sweaty and sticky. She couldn’t recall having any nightmares, but she did remember tossing and turning a lot after the startling introduction of their late night guest.

Barry Allen.

She’d thought of him a lot before she drifted off restlessly into three hours of quasi-slumber. Her dad had said he’d moved when he was ten, so that had to mean she knew him to some extent when they were children. She couldn’t recall a Barry Allen at school though, not one that could match the description of the tall, lanky man sleeping on her living room couch.

Maybe he was shorter when he was younger – well, obviously, Iris. She’d rolled her eyes at herself and shook her head. Most kids weren’t tall at ten. He could’ve shot up in high school when he was nowhere near her vicinity. He could’ve even attended a different elementary school than her. She certainly didn’t remember him or this Henry that her dad talked so fondly about visiting their house. It was perfectly reasonable that they lived farther away.

Her dad did say they still lived in Central City though. Was there more than one elementary school in Central City? The knowledge escaped her. She certainly didn’t ever remember writing an article on more than one local elementary school whenever she wrote about simplistic things.

Not that any of this mattered. She probably wouldn’t see him that much once the week was out, if he even stayed that long.

She thought about how often she saw Jerry though – often. Whenever she went to the precinct to see her dad, in fact. With only one CSI working all the cases at the precinct, he had to work very closely with any cop investigating a homicide or any crime that required testing or analysis. If Barry was skilled enough to get hired at CCPD, that meant she wouldn’t be able to avoid him.

She wondered why that bothered her so much.

Her eyes flashed open, her consciousness fully awake, when she heard the sound of water coming down the hall. It was from the nearer bathroom, not the one in her dad’s room, so she knew it had to be Barry, and it made her groan.

Her dad almost always left for the CCPD before she left for CCPN, which meant Barry would have to leave with him. If Barry Allen was already in the shower, it meant he would be gone before she could see if his eyes widened at the sight of her in slightly more revealing clothing than her usual work attire.

She wondered why that troubled her so much too.

It wasn’t like she never got hit on. In fact, she and her best friend Linda were often the prime targets at the newspaper. It had been very flattering and boosted her ego tremendously when she first started there, but soon enough it grew tiresome because she wanted to be credited more for her work than her appearance. And she was, Linda reassured her in those early days. She was one of, if not the best journalist there, certainly the most daring in her field. A fact her father did not hesitate to frown upon even as he congratulated her every success.

I wonder if Barry would be impressed with my reputation at the newspaper, she contemplated thoughtfully, and then promptly stripped away the blankets covering her body. Why does it even matter, Iris? She seethed at herself.

She got up and strode over to her closet, much as she’d done just a few short hours ago. Except this time she went to choose her outfit for the day. Then she waited impatiently until the water stopped and Barry Allen’s footsteps sounded down the hall and the stairs to where her father no doubt was waiting in the kitchen.

…

“Wow, what’s up with you?” Linda asked, watching with amusement as Iris West deposited herself at the desk opposite hers.

“Nothing,” Iris grumbled, taking a long swallow of her very strong, very dark morning coffee, and then darting her tongue out quickly when the temperature proved too much to handle.

“Hot?” Linda asked, taking a careful sip of her own beverage.

“Scathing,” her friend admitted, her lips twisted ruefully as she set her cup down away from her computer.

“Going to tell me what’s up?” She pressed again.

Iris sighed and propped her elbows on her desk, caving to the desire to vent. “Why the hell not?” She blew out a puff of hair, causing some strands to fly to the side of her face.

“Ooo, language.” Linda grinned. “I’m intrigued.”

Iris rolled her eyes and set her chin in the palm of her hand. “My dad brought in the new CSI last night to stay with us for a few days.”

Linda’s eyes widened. “Barry Allen has been hired already?” she asked, gawking. “It’s only been a few hours. He must be really good.”

“Well, I don’t know if he’s been officially— Wait.” Her eyes narrowed, analyzing the girl across from her. “You know about him?” Linda nodded. “How? You do Sports,” she spat. “I’m the one who usually ends up at the precinct.”

“But you didn’t know,” Linda realized, a smirk twitching at the corner of her lips. “Did you?”

Iris’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Eddie Thawne told me.”

“Eddie Thawne?” Iris asked, clearly with disgust. “What does he have to do with sports? Or wait, let me guess, you’re dating him.”

Linda laughed. “Hardly. His cousin happens to be the new assistant coach to our much esteemed Central City Falcons. I stopped by last week to get some info on him since, as you know, he is much cloaked in mystery.”

Iris nodded absently.

“What do you have against Eddie anyway?” She took a sip of her drink. “He’s very pretty.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “He also keeps a tally of all the arrests he’s made. That’s the equivalent of boasting about how many women you’ve hooked up with in my opinion. I don’t care how pretty he is, nobody likes someone with an ever-present inflated ego.”

Linda shrugged. “He seemed alright when I talked to him.”

“That’s because you weren’t allowing him to talk about himself. He was forced to give information on something that had nothing to do with him other than being related to the star of your article.”

“Wow.” Linda sank bank in her chair and crossed her arms beneath your breasts. “You’ve really got it bad for that Barry Allen, don’t you?”

Iris nearly choked on her coffee. “What?” Her eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. Her jaw dropped. “How…How can you even say that? I’m just annoyed that my dad—”

Linda grinned. “Iris, I’m your best friend. I know you.”

She scoffed. “Not this time you don’t.”

“No?” She raised one eyebrow.

“No.” Her eyes narrowed. “I almost pummeled him last night with a baseball bat.”

Her jaw dropped. “What did he do? Diagnose the true cause of your fish’s death?”

“I...no.” She scoffed, annoyed. “Besides, my fish aren’t dead, Linda.”

Linda snorted into her drink. “Yet.”

“I take care of my fish.”

“When is the last time you fed them?” She folded her arms on her desk and stared Iris down, daring her to respond honestly.

Iris glared, but then shook her head, determined to change the subject.

“Barry almost got pummeled because he was stealing an orange out of my fridge.” She decided to ignore how pathetic that excuse sounded in the light of day.

“Your fruit are that precious to you, huh?” she teased, which only bothered Iris more.

“I didn’t know he was going to be there, Lin. My dad never said anything.”

Linda’s voice took on theatrical tones.

“So, you decided there was only one way to prevent the unthinkable from happening. You were going to pummel to death the fruit burglar who dared to enter your place of residence.” Her voice resumed its normal tone. “Is that it?” She took another sip of her drink.

Iris tried to maintain her anger, but her best friend made it impossible. She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms beneath her breasts.

“You think I’m exaggerating?” Linda nodded once. “It’s just weird, Lin. Apparently my dad has known Barry’s dad for years and known Barry for years too, and yet he never thought to bring it up. Ever. In all these years.”

“Never?”

“Well, his dad – Henry Allen – is an old friend of my dad’s from college who apparently stitched him up a bunch when they were younger and my dad was a daring rookie on the force. But…” She shrugged. “Aside from that? No. Nothing.”

“Hmm.”

She leaned forward across her desk.

“The reporter in me is screaming, Lin.”

“And what about the woman in you?” She gave her a crooked, devilish grin.

Iris blinked. “What are you talking about?” she asked, sounding mystified but unable to meet her eyes for a moment.

Linda’s grin widened. “You know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t think I do. I mean I…”

“What do you think of him? This…Barry Allen.”

“I don’t even know him,” she said, her voice and facial expression insisting that should be enough.

Linda shrugged. “You know a little.”

“Not enough,” she finally said.

“Yeah.” Linda nodded. “Enough.” Iris’s mouth opened, but she kept going. “You know what he looks like, what he sounds like, how he reacts to a woman in pajamas threatening to pummel him with a bat – the silver one right, not the plastic?”

Iris sank into her chair, resigned, and nodded. “The silver one.”

“I’m guessing you saw a touch of personality too when things got cleared up. Did he – at any point – boast about his skills as a CSI?”

“No,” she admitted.

“Did he hit on you?”

She sighed. “No.”

“Did he disrespect your dad or make assumptions of anything he was entitled to while he’s staying in your house?”

Iris avoided her eyes again.

“What’s your point?” she muttered.

Linda suppressed her laughter just barely.

“As a woman, not a reporter, not as someone immediately jumping to conclusions about anything, even just based on his looks… What do you think about Barry Allen?”

Iris recalled how disappointed she’d been when she realized she wouldn’t be able to show off some extra skin that morning before Barry left for work with her dad.

She looked at Linda and said nothing, but the look on her face was enough confirmation.

Linda laughed once, freely, letting her know she knew.

“You’re into him,” she said. Iris’s lips parted, but she didn’t say a word. “Like I said,” she took another sip of her drink and booted up her computer. “I know you.”

…

That afternoon on her lunch break, Iris marched over to CCPD, determined to prove her best friend wrong. She couldn’t be right about this. Iris was not the type of girl to be into someone based on one crazy interaction. It didn’t matter that she found out his favorite food, how he reacted to a legitimate threat, and some of his family history, as well as how respectful and apologetic he could be whether he’d done something wrong or not – which was generally not something she’d expect even on the first date.

You’re thinking in terms of dates now, Iris?!

She was furious with herself.

The truth was she didn’t like how Linda had put her on the spot. She had never been in denial of her attraction to a guy before. She wasn’t as bold as Linda, the girl who spotted a guy and immediately pursued him, but she sure as hell didn’t deny how she felt about a guy either, at the very least on a physical level.

Linda had to be reading her wrong; and if she wasn’t, there was only one way for Iris to know for sure.

She would have to get all her reporter urges out of her system. She would have to invade this Barry Allen’s personal space and ask him all the questions that were gnawing at her, questions that had absolutely nothing to do with the possibility of her physically attraction to him.

She would become Barry Allen’s worst nightmare. If he still wasn’t repulsed after that and his record came up clean…

Well, maybe I’ll…think of something when the time comes.

But that time was not now and—

She stopped dead in her tracks when she was halfway across the lobby of CCPD. Barry was standing with her dad by his desk. They were talking seriously about something, Barry’s arms folded across his chest, nodding every so often at what her dad was saying. Then he grabbed a file off her dad’s desk, opened it, and presumably started talking about its contents. Her dad nodded along and they began conversing again.

She stood there, perplexed, watching the two interact. She didn’t know what she expected. For Barry to be failing miserable perhaps? For him to be a total basket case? He clearly wasn’t. He looked to be very much on her dad’s level. There wasn’t a hint of annoyance or embarrassment from either. When Singh came over to join them, there was a similar attitude between them.

Iris was about to turn away, guilt flooding through her for assuming the worst, when a familiar voice stopped her.

“Iris!”

She looked up and spotted her dad walking towards her, a welcoming grin on his face. She put away her swirling emotions and met him halfway, embracing him.

She looked over his shoulder before they parted and spotted Barry watching them. He quickly looked away when their eyes met, but the moment couldn’t be erased. Just like the fluttering in her stomach couldn’t be ignored. She would just have to hope the sports news Eddie had given Linda last week would be enough to keep her occupied when Iris returned to CCPN later.

“Hey, baby,” her dad was saying. Iris refocused and looked up at her dad, smiling brilliantly. “What brings you here?”

“I’m uh…” Her eyes went past him to Barry, who was watching them again and quickly looked away as soon as she caught him for the second time. She looked back at her dad. “I’m on my lunch break. I just thought I’d stop by and say hi.”

Joe smiled warmly. “That’s really sweet, honey. You know I always love seeing you.” She forced a smile as his lips twisted ruefully. “Unfortunately I have a heavy work load today, since we got called out for a double homicide as soon as we walked in this morning.”

Her jaw dropped. “A double homicide?”

“Mhmm.” He nodded.

Her mind started swimming with a different set of questions.

“Anything you can give me for a story?” she asked, a sneaky grin on her face.

Joe laughed. “Well, as I said, I’m a little busy right now, honey.” She pouted. “But Barry was with me on the scene, so I’m sure he’d be more than happy to fill you in since he’s going on break now. In fact, he’s done for the day.”

She felt the blood rush out of her face. “Done?”

“Yeah.” He eyed her curiously. “He was working Jerry’s shift more than shadowing him so far today, so Singh has basically ordered him to go home and do more observing tomorrow, less participating. I’m pretty sure that’s just code for not wanting to look like in front of pushover for new hires, but he’s clearly impressed. I’m sure by the day after tomorrow, or maybe even sooner, he’ll be handing over the paperwork for Barry to fill out to become a full time employee.”

“I…see.”

Concern etched across Joe’s face.

“Are you okay, honey? You don’t look so good.”

Her eyes refocused on him, and she gave him a reassuring smile.

“I’m fine, I promise. I was just hoping to spend some time with you.”

Joe’s gaze softened.

“Tonight after dinner,” he promised. “We’ll spend some time just you and me, okay?”

She nodded. Her smile soft but still forced.

“Sounds good.”

“Alright, well, I should go then.”

“Okay.” The smile was starting to hurt. “I’ll see you later.”

He nodded once and then started to turn away when he remembered.

“You really should ask Barry about the case though, honey.”

Barry looked up at the sound of his name, and Iris panicked. Which was ridiculous, she scolded herself, since she’d come over with the intent of interrogating him anyway.

“That boy is so excited about the case, it’s unreal. And it’s a murder.”

Red flags went up.

“Why is he excited about it?” she asked, trying to sound only vaguely interested.

“According to him, the cause of death is cyanide, but they both have gunshot wounds to the head delivered post-mortem.”

“That is odd.”

“It gets weirder.”

She crossed her arms, intrigued.

“How so?”

“Well…” he hesitated, suddenly aware of what he was doing. “I really shouldn’t give you too much information on a case, Iris. Especially since it’s not even solved and we still have to catch the killer.”

“Dad,” she whined.

“If this gets out in the media, our guy might run. The last thing we want is to lose the culprit because he ran as soon as the story hit.”

“So I won’t publish the story until you solve it. Problem solved.”

He sighed.

“I don’t even remember all the details. If you have to know, you should ask Barry. Like I said, he’s very excited about this one.”

“Well, I am too, so—”

“It was a hit man,” Barry said, surprising both of them as he’d done the night before.

“A hit man?” Iris’s jaw dropped. “How do you know?”

Barry sidled in close to her. Joe started to shift away, not even bothering with a good-bye.

“They both had folded notes in one hand that read the same thing.”

“What did they say?” She couldn’t hide her insatiable curiosity.

“‘Our father killed us,’” he said.

“And why is that odd?” Her brows furrowed.

“Their father lives in London.”

“He could have traveled and no one knew about it.”

Barry shook his head.

“Joe checked it out. It’s impossible.”

“Why’s that?”

“He’s been in a coma for the last six months.” Barry’s intrigue and excitement were brimming not so subtly in his riveting green eyes.

Iris glanced down to what he was clutching in his hands.

“Those don’t happen to be the files on the…”

“Cyanide case?” He lifted them slightly. “Yes, they are.”

She swallowed, her fingers tingling with excitement.

“You want me to tell you more about it?” he asked. “I could give you some quotes for your article.”

You’re not even assigned to this story, Iris, she told herself. But Barry doesn’t know that, and how exciting would it be to bring back full details on an untold double homicide with mysterious circumstances? It was an opportunity she could not resist.

“I…would love that,” she said, wondering why it was suddenly so hard to breathe.

“Great.” He grinned, dimples forming in his cheeks. The butterflies returned. “Let’s go up to the lab, and I’ll show you the samples I tested.”

He led the way, and she followed, just barely managing not to skip on the way to the staircase. There was nothing quite so thrilling as the opportunity to get hands-on with an intriguing new story.

Except, of course, the company of the very attractive man who promised to deliver details to the story she sought after.

*Also available on AO3 and FFnet.

[sophisticatedloserchick]

Fanfic - Worth Waiting For - 1/1

Summary: On the morning of her eighteenth birthday Iris woke up to find a yellow lighting bolt etched into the skin of her left wrist. Soulmate!AU.

Rating: PG

Word Count: 3,237

A/N: This is a gift for @quickflash. She requested a soulmate!au fanfic that I decided to base in Season 1 for fun.

At age eighteen everyone wakes up with a ‘soul mark’. A symbol on their wrist that only one other person in the world shares with you. When you found the person whose mark matches yours then you found your soulmate.

On the morning of her eighteenth birthday Iris woke up to find a yellow lighting bolt etched into the skin of her left wrist.

She had hoped to find her soulmate soon after. Most of her friends already had. More than anything she wanted to find the person she was meant to be with. She wanted the love she’d seen others share. To find the person whom she belonged with.  

She waited but he never appeared. When waiting became too hard she started to search. All in vain because she found no trace of him. Found no one who shared the same mark she did on their wrist.

Iris never gave up hope but it became harder and harder as the years passed.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iris tried to forget about the lighting bolt on her wrist. She does her best to cover it up her mark with strategically placed bracelets or long sleeved shirts. She doesn’t bring up the subject anymore. Her family and friends know better than to press her about it.

For the most part her life is good.

She’s doing well at a job she loves, rising through the ranks of Picture News faster than most cub reporters. She’s got her health. She’s financially secure and owns the apartment she lives in. She has the love of her father and support from friends.

She supposes if this is how the rest of her life will be then she’ll be okay. She’s happy as anyone could possibly be in her situation.

But she can’t get over this nagging feeling that something is missing. One last remaining piece of her life that has yet to slot into place. And it all comes back to the yellow lighting bolt on her wrist and the person who shares the same mark.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then with no warning Iris’s life changes.

One night her editor sends her down to the Central National Bank to cover the story of Captain Cold and Heatwave launching a large scale bank robbery. Iris struggled to make her way through the chaotic streets. All around her scared pedestrians are running from blasts of ice or red hot flames. Police are trying to regain control but failing to stop the diabolical duo from getting away with their scheme.

Iris is preparing to write an article on how CCPD once again failed to apprehend this new breed of criminals plaguing the city.

Then a burst of yellow lighting crackles through the air.

Iris watches in shock as a blur of red comes zipping through the streets. In a matter of seconds Captain Cold and Heatwave’s guns are gone. Both of them struggling to fight against this red blur that moves faster than light. In a blink of an eye the two criminals end up knocked out cold on the crowd.

The red blur stills to reveal a shocking sight. A tall, lean form encased in dark red leather. A mask that covers up his face. The red blur turns out to be a man but one who is capable of impossible feats. The Red Blur calls out to the police to declare that the bad guys are defeated and the city will be safe as long as he’s around. He gives the confused crowd of pedestrians a reassuring smile as he strikes a heroic pose.

Then in a flash of yellow lighting he disappears.

Instinctively Iris’s fingers move to her left wrist. To press through the layers of her coat to where the lighting bolt is etched into her skin. She thinks to herself how similar it is to the gold and white lighting insignia on the dark red costume worn by the Red Blur.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In weeks to come Iris develops a relationship with the new superhero known as The Flash.

It started with her writing articles on him. Keeping the people of Central City informed of how The Flash worked to protect their city. The articles become hugely popular. Ending up on the front page nearly every time. Her editor near demanding she write one every week.

The only way Iris can do this is by hunting down the Meta-Humans she knows the Flash is after. Using her journalist skills she tracks them down, figures out their plans, even deduces how to stop them. And Iris being Iris can’t hold back if people need help. Which is why she might have placed herself in danger on more than one occasion.

This time it had been Weather Wizard. Iris had gone alone to foiled his plans of robbing the C.C. Diamond Exchange. She pulled the alarm just in time to stop the crime but not to get away. In a rage the Weather Wizard had flung a gust of wind meant to push her through the glass windows onto the street below. Iris remembers hitting the glass. The breathless terror of seeing the concrete sidewalk coming up far too quickly.

She would have died in that moment if it wasn’t for The Flash.

All Iris could see was gold lighting. In seconds her impending death disappears. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her, pulling her in close. Before Iris knew it she was standing on top of a roof, safe and far away from the Weather Wizard.

“You should be more careful Miss West.”

Iris found his voice very strange. Very low and it wavered as if his vocal chords were vibrating. Nor could she make out his face, his features seemed to blur into the shadows. The Flash wasn’t taking any chances of her finding out his identity.

“Sorry,” Iris smiled at him breathlessly.  “But I’ve never been good at being 'careful’.”

The Flash shook his head at her, though whether it was disappointment or amusement she couldn’t tell.

“Now that you’re here,” Iris stepped towards him. “I wonder if you’ll answer a few questions for me.”

Before she could take another step The Flash zipped out of her line of sight up to a higher part of the roof.

Iris gazed up at him both impressed and annoyed.

“You’re very secretive,” Iris called up to him.

“I have to be,” The Flash called back. “To protect the people I love.”

“Your parents? Your friends?” Iris took a guess. “Or perhaps your soulmate?”

He remained silent which Iris took as a 'yes’ on all counts.

Of course, Iris thought, even superheroes have found their soulmates.

“I’m not going to stop by the way,” Iris changed topics. “I will do anything in my power to keep this city safe.”

The Flash disappeared and reappeared this time by the ledge of the building.

“Like trying to figure out my identity?” The Flash asked hesitantly.

“No, you’re safe on that.” Iris smiled at him. “You’re too important to the people of Central. I meant helping you going after the bad guys. I know the risks and I’m willing to take them.”

The Flash sighed in defeat and Iris felt rather proud about that.

“You’re going to need my help,” Iris pressed.

“Yeah,” The Flash nodded in agreement. “I think I will.”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She helps The Flash from that point on.

He jokes that she is his 'sidekick’ but Iris quickly corrects that 'partner’ is more accurate.

Iris can’t remember a time where she felt more alive. All she’s ever wanted to do was to make a difference. To help keep people safe and to keep evil people behind bars. And it means a lot to know the 'Fastest Man Alive’ needs her help. Despite all of his abilities at the end of the day he needs Iris’s investigative skills to track down the criminals and meta-humans who threaten the peace of the city. She might not have her soulmate in her life but at least she has this.

But after months of working together she still doesn’t know much about the man behind the mask.

The Flash continues to vibrate his vocal cords and his face making it impossible for her to identify him. On the few times they interact The Flash makes certain to keep a wide berth between them. They never get too personal with each other. When they are together they are strictly 'The Flash and Miss West’.

Yet she can’t deny the pull she feels when around him.

Deep down she keeps thinking about the mark on her wrist. She knows its naive to hope. That after all these years of waiting the person who is to be her soulmate turns out to be a superhero. Its the stuff of fairy-tales. Iris has learned the hard way not to hope against reality.

Still, her eyes can’t help but linger on the lighting bolt symbol on his chest.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“You really don’t know how to stay out of trouble, do you Miss West?” The Flash sighed out.

Iris knows he means well but she can’t help the breathless giggle escaping her. Not too long ago Iris had taken down the Clock King. The man had been holding her and several officers hostage at CCPD. Iris can’t deny she’d been afraid. Afraid for her father and the other detectives that the crazed maniac holding them hostage was going to kill them. In the end Iris convinced him it be easier to deal with one hostage instead of several. When the two of them were alone Iris took the opportunity to pull a gun on him to disable him.

She was now standing on the rooftop of Picture News recounting the event. Her usual meet up spot with the Flash. She can tell by the sound of his voice that he’s not pleased with her despite him still masking his voice from her.

“I mean it,” The Flash continues. “You should have waited until I arrived.”

“A girl’s gotta be her own hero sometimes,” Iris counters.

The Flash lets his shoulders slump in resignation. Though Iris swear she sees a smile pulling at his lips. She knows deep down he’s rather proud of her.

“I know you’re a hero Miss West,” The Flash agrees, “I’d would just rather you not put your life on the line.”

“Aww Flash, I didn’t know you cared,” Iris teases him.

The Flash doesn’t answer immediately. Instead he zips in closer to her till he’s inches away. Iris feels her breath catch in her throat. Her heart hammering hard in her chest.

He’s never come this close to her before. In all their interactions he always keeps his distance.

“I do care,” The Flash speaks this time with a voice Iris knows is his real voice. “I don’t know what I’d do…Miss West I don’t want….”

Iris takes a risk and grabs his left hand. For the first time since they’ve met The Flash goes completely still.

Her hands move to go up to his shoulders. Despite his slim frame he had surprisingly broad shoulders. Her fingers brushing against the hard leathery surface of his suit. Her body instinctively moving closer to his.

To her surprise The Flash’s hands moved to encircle her waist. His grip firm as if he was afraid she’d slip through his fingers if he let go. Iris glanced up to his lips and not for the first time wonder what it would be like to kiss him.

Sick of always wondering but not doing anything about it, Iris pushed herself forward capturing his lips in a kiss. At first The Flash stilled under the press of her lips but it didn’t take long for him to respond. His mouth moving perfectly against hers. A soft escaping Iris when he nibbled on her lower lip. His tongue slipping easily into her mouth. The kiss was messy and wet and absolutely prefect. The two of them drinking each other in.

They pulled apart when they needed to breathe. Their foreheads pressed together as their breath mingled. Iris’s hand had wandered to Barry’s chest. Her palm pressed against the lighting bolt emblem.

Emboldened by the kiss Iris spoke the words she wanted to say since the moment they met.

“Take off your glove,” Iris whispered.

She sees the fingers of his left hand flex briefly. She wonders if he’s been thinking the same thoughts she has. That the two of them finding each other, working together, and being drawn to each other might mean something more. 

Slowly he tugs the glove off. The red leather peeling away to reveal his hand. He upturns to show his wrist, and there Iris sees the lighting bolt mark on the pale skin.

Iris lets out a choked sob. She’s feeling a million emotions in this moment. Happiness and relief mixed in with frustration and anger. She hates that its taken this long to find him. The years of waiting and hoping with no results. Finally she has found him.

Without saying a word Iris takes off the watch on her left wrist to show her mark that matches his own.

Iris lifts her head up to look at him. For the first time his face is no longer an indistinguishable blur, though still masked she came make out more of his features. She can see the expression of wonder on his face. His eyes, a pale shades of green and blue, entirely focused on the mark on her wrist.

Iris moves to touch him. She’s waited for this moment since she was eighteen years old. To be with her soulmate. Every cell in her body yearning to be closer to him. And she knows he must feel the same way too.

His head then tilts. Like he’s listening to a voice Iris can’t hear. She’s always suspected he has other people helping him. In what capacity Iris has never been able to figure out yet. All she does know is that it couldn’t have come at a worse possible time.

“I need to go,” The Flash is pulling away. “I’m sorry.”

Iris opens her mouth to call him back but he’s already gone.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“I should of expected this,” Iris stares down thoughtfully at the drink in her hand. “I’ve always had the worst luck.”

“Don’t start,” Her dad says sternly. “I won’t hear you talk like that.”

Iris sighs but doesn’t speak again. Her eyes glance at the festivities surrounding her. Her dad dragged her out to the annual CCPD Christmas party against her will. She wanted to stay home to continue looking for the elusive Flash, her dad on the other hand felt she needed to get some air. To enjoy life a little. Iris is trying but she knows she’s not doing a very good job of forgetting. 

A week has past since that night on the rooftop.

Iris hasn’t been able to think of anything else since. She’s tried, unsuccessfully, to track down who the Flash is. Using all the information she’s gathered about him to no avail. She feels stuck in limbo now. She can’t go back to what her life used to be, but she can’t go forward at the same time.

“Baby listen to me,” Her dad reaches out to squeeze her hand reassuringly. “I know all seems hopeless right now.”

“Dad, my soulmate who I’ve been waiting for turns out to be speed powered superhero.” Iris’s thumb absentmindedly rubs the lighting bolt on her wrist. “I had him for a total of five minutes before he disappeared again.”

“For now,” Her dad reminds her. “Be patient. If the universe wants two people to be together then it has a way of figuring things out.”

Iris feels her throat tighten with emotion. All she can do is squeeze her dad’s hand back as a way of saying 'thank you’. More than anything she hopes he’s right.

“Until then why don’t you get us more of those delicious Christmas cookies.”

“Haven’t you had enough yet?” Iris teases him fondly.

“Its Christmas,” her dad protests, “You’re allowed to get wild on Christmas.”

Iris rolls her eyes but gets up from her chair anyhow. She struggles to make her way to buffet table. The space is packed with policemen and their families. Most of them in various states of drunkenness. Iris has heard more than her fair share of drunken karaoke singing and seen embarrassing attempts at dancing. With a small smile Iris greets those she’s known since she was a child. To the younger rookies who blatantly check her out Iris sends them annoyed glances.

Steps away from the buffet table one of the more drunken party-goers bumps into her. Iris attempts to right herself but she can’t stop her half stumble that results in her knocking into someone else. She feels grateful for the pair of hands that grab her elbows to steady her.

“Oh god. I’m so sorry.” Iris pulls herself upright again. “I didn’t mean to…”

Iris’s voice trails off when she notices the blue-green eyes she’s been dreaming of every night this week.

She allows herself to take a good look at him. The man behind the mask. He has the same tall and lean body. Now she can see his auburn brown hair, the freckles across the bridge of his nose. He’s handsome in a boyish way and kind looking, and everything Iris hoped him to be.

And he’s smiling at her like she’s the most wondrous thing he’s ever seen.

“Ah, sorry about that Iris!” Captain Singh comes up between them. “I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s okay Captain,” Iris assures him but she can’t keep her eyes off her soulmate.

“I see you’ve met Barry Allen our newest CSI,” Captain Singh claps Barry’s shoulder. “Barry this is Iris West, Detective West’s daughter.”

“Hi Iris,” Barry’s eyes looks at her like he’s afraid she’ll disappear.

“Hi Barry,” Iris finds herself smiling up at him.

Thankfully Captain Singh moves off leaving the two of them alone.

Without hesitance Iris reaches out for his left hand. Happiness spreading through her to see the lighting bolt mark on his wrist. He’s here, finally after waiting for so many years. He’s finally here in front of her.

“Where did you go?” Iris lets go of his hand to look up at him sternly. “You made me wait a week.”

“I’m sorry,” Barry sweeps a nervous hand through his hair. “I had to go to Star City for awhile. Superhero stuff you know.”

Iris hums thoughtfully which seem to put Barry more on edge.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” Barry rushes forward. “I honestly didn’t think we’d find each other. You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you.”

“I do know,” Iris relents to give him a smile that has Barry’s shoulders sagging in relief.

“I wanted it to be you,” Barry’s hand reaches out to grab her hand. His eyes staring at the mark on her wrist with no small amount of happiness. “All this time we’d been working together. I wanted it to be you so badly.”

He then surprises her when he lift her hand up to softly kiss the mark on her wrist.

“Me too,” Iris says honestly.

This, Iris thinks to herself, was worth waiting for.