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Central City was bright and shining and dangerous.
Iris wasn’t a stranger to danger. She’d been all over the world reporting, flinging herself into dangerous situations as a photographer, she’d lived in Gotham and Metropolis, Iris was used to running towards danger.
It was different this time.
This time she had Wally and Wallace.
Wallace was clinging onto her back still. He was probably too big for this, but he wasn’t big enough to walk for long yet, and Iris hadn’t grabbed anything other than her nephews.
Wally looked excited. He’d been bouncing ever since Iris told him where they were going, had already had a bag packed to run away with before she said anything.
She would need to ask him about that. She’d need to ask him about Rudy eventually, but first she had to make sure he was safe, and with someone who understood what was going on with him.
Assuming he could be trusted.
“I can feel something,” Wally said, bouncing on his heels next to her. Wallace perked up too.
Storm clouds gathered far too rapidly overhead. Black filled the sky and the heavens opened as thunder shook the ground around them.
Lightning flashed as the crack shook the buildings around them.
People were opening doors to let pedestrians in to take cover.
“It’ll be over in a minute if you want to step inside for a moment, ma’am,” a young man said. “It’s just the Weather Wizard again.”
“Aunt Iris,” Wally tugged on her hand.
Lightning struck the end of the road, and red flashed.
This seemed like a bad time.
“Aunt Iris.”
Iris tugged Wally inside before he could try running.
“Later,” she whispered, as the lightning disappeared further down the street.
Iris had no idea how to find the Flash other than by trying to find crimes that were actively taking place, but she was not going to let Wally and Wallace near them, and she also wasn’t willing to let Wally and Wallace out of her sight.
No one she’d met had any way to contact him either. The Flash just showed up when he was needed, then disappeared just as quickly.
And now the boys were getting hungry again.
Or Iris was assuming that was why Wally had firmly planted himself by the shop.
It was only a small one. No one else around.
Iris handed Wallace over to Wally.
“I want you both to stay by the door, do you understand?”
“What are you going to do?” Wally asked.
“Everything will be fine,” Iris promised.
She kept her scarf up to hide more of her face, and picked up a few things before heading to the register.
He looked young. What was she thinking?
“How likely is it the Flash shows up if I say I’m robbing you?” Iris asked.
“Depends,” the boy- Hartley according to the nametag- said. “Are you going to do it violently?”
Iris hesitated.
“Probably not then,” Hartley said. Was he even old enough to be on his own in here? “He leaves that to the police, he just steps in when people need help, you’d need to do something like rob a bank with hostages or break into Iron Heights or put on a costume and get a gimmick. If you want to just fill up a bag and leave, I won’t stop you.”
Iris raised her eyebrow.
“If my manager wanted me to care, he should pay me more and schedule enough people on shift,” Hartley said. “Minimum wage, minimum effort. Also, food should be free and available to everyone who needs it, and if capitalism says otherwise then we should destroy capitalism.”
“How old are you?” Iris asked.
The bell over the door rang and a man with floppy blond hair and bright blue eyes walked in, wearing a red bow-tie and suspenders under his jacket, a dusting of freckles over his nose, and his hand in a young girl’s, maybe Wallace’s age, with dark hair and dark eyes.
He waved at Hartley, who groaned.
“I swear he plans this,” Hartley muttered.
The man stopped by the register and Iris wasn’t sure what to do.
“I said I could walk,” Hartley scowled. The little girl waved at him. “Hi, Avery.”
“Are you here on your own again?” the man frowned. “You carry on with this, I need to call your manager.”
“Can you be a witness to say the robbery wasn’t my fault?” Hartley asked. “Not that anyone is robbing anyone. He’s a cop.”
“I have money,” Iris said. She winced a little as she pulled out the last few bills she’d managed to grab before running.
“Here,” the guy pulled out his own wallet. “I’ll pay. Did he give you the capitalism speech?”
“I think he was about to,” Iris said. “You two know each other?”
“He’s my roommate,” Hartley sighed. Iris looked at the clearly much older man.
“I’m his probation officer,” the guy said dryly to Hartley’s immediate spluttered protests, then laughed. “No, he’s my nephew, he’s staying with me until he finishes school. His other uncle was very insistent.”
He gave a Hartley a very pointed look.
“Barry Allen,” he said, offering Iris his hand. “I’m not a cop. I was a forensic tech, but not anymore.”
“Nadine Rhodes,” Iris said. She shook his hand. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Call it a favour and you can pay me back later then,” Barry said with an easy smile and a twinkle in his eyes. “I insist.”
“You should let him,” Hartley said. “He’ll pout otherwise.”
“And if the kids want to grab anything else,” Barry whispered.
“We’ll be fine with this,” Iris said. “We’re not in town for long. Thank you so much.”
Hartley pushed everything through and Barry paid. He slipped Iris a card.
“If you need anything,” he whispered.
“Thank you, really,” Iris said. “I should go.”
Robbing a bank and taking hostages was out. Iris was a reporter; she did not need to resort to any of this.
Besides, Wally’s face when she stopped outside the Flash Museum was worth all of this.
“I bet he has a secret door somewhere,” Wally said.
“I don’t think he lives at the museum, honey,” Iris said. “But who knows?”
Wally bounded in regardless, eagerly rushing around so fast Iris grabbed his hand before he could start actually running.
The Flash had first appeared in Central City two years ago. No one was sure where he’d come from. One day a man in red had stopped the previously unstoppable crook known only as the Turtle Man, and he’d kept running. He’d got his name out some old comic books about a superhero with the same powers, got a museum built in about a year which he seemed both incredibly flattered and embarrassed by when asked and apparently had specifically requested the extensive science wing and all the exhibits on the history of Central (presumably so it wasn’t all about him).
He had his own reoccurring villains and the self-dubbed Rogues even had their own exhibit in the museum. Mirror Master, Top, Golden Glider, Captain Cold, Heatwave, Weather Wizard, Captain Boomerang, the Trickster, and sometimes the Pied Piper all enjoyed causing problems from the Flash, though the Piper had shown up helping him a few times recently.
They had rules about anyone else getting hurt though. They didn’t let children get involved, and they refused to kill people. Grodd, the large gorilla Central had to deal with occasionally, didn’t have the same rules, but the Rogues had helped the Flash with him before.
Godspeed- whoever he was- hadn’t had those rules. Reverse Flash hadn’t followed those rules.
She guided Wallace very quickly past that one.
The Flash had dealt with other things too. Big, world saving things. He’d recently been involved in this new Justice League with Black Canary, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman, and seemed a little confused when they’d referred to him as their leader, but had rolled with it.
He seemed nice. Everyone said he was nice.
He’d help, Iris knew he would, she just had no idea where to find him.
There was a wall of thank you cards on the way out though.
Iris grabbed a pen. She didn’t have anything he could call, or even a place to stay, and he wouldn’t see it, but at least scribbling a note asking him for help felt like she was doing something.
The problem with going to commit a crime to get his attention was she wasn’t willing to leave Wally and Wallace, and she didn’t want them involved.
She was getting twitchy every time she saw a police officer. Wally had said he hadn’t told anyone except Iris about the powers, Rudy had disapproved of Wally’s love of the Flash and Mary had been disinterested, but Charlotte lived close enough they might point in the direction anyway.
Maybe she should go to Charlotte, but Iris assumed Rudy had already called her, and Iris wasn’t sure if she’d listen.
She needed more information on these Manhunters but the whole point of getting Wally and Wallace out was so Rudy couldn’t drag Wally in, she couldn’t investigate until she knew Wally and Wallace were safe and there was only one person who knew anything about these powers and Iris had to be able to trust him, he was a superhero.
People trusted him to save their lives, he would know what to do to help Wally and Wallace.
There were three other people with these powers. All were in Iron Heights, and Iris didn’t want Wally and Wallace near any of them, but she knew one would be willing to help.
She needed somewhere for Wally and Wallace first. She didn’t particularly want to leave either of them, but she also didn’t want to bring them with her to Iron Heights. She wasn’t worried about Rudy already having said anything, but Iron Heights was not somewhere she wanted to bring either of them.
Iron Heights was on an island. Iris wasn’t sure it was a natural island, but it was only accessible by boat. They checked I.D. before boarding and Iris had been there before, once, there was every chance she’d be recognised so she’d probably have to use her real I.D.
Wally was sparking again. Iris had taken them to the park, to burn off some energy, but Wallace was sat on a swing, not moving, and Wally’s face was screwed up and he was sparking.
Iris rushed over, right as a small girl appeared and grabbed hold of Wallace’s hand with bright eyes.
“Wally, honey,” Iris said. “Wallace, don’t go far.”
Wallace tumbled over with the girl, laughing, and Iris took hold of Wally’s hands.
“Wally, honey, look at me,” she said.
“Is everything okay over here?” a voice said.
Iris turned to see Barry Allen again.
“Oh,” he said with that friendly smile. “Hi again.”
“Hi,” Iris said.
“It’s you,” Wally said, looking up at him with wide eyes.
“Hi, kiddo,” Barry said. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Do you know the Flash?” Wally asked.
Barry looked taken aback.
“I met him a few times when I was a C.S.I.,” he said carefully. “Are you a Flash fan?”
“The biggest!” Wally said. “And Aunt Iris said he can help!”
Barry frowned slightly and Wally’s face dropped.
“My other aunt is Aunt Iris,” he said quickly.
“I see,” Barry said slowly. “What do you need help with exactly?”
“We should go,” Iris said. “Wallace, we’re leaving!”
“I don’t wanna,” Wallace protested.
Iris went to pick him up and he darted out the way in a burst of yellow and pink- pink was new- lightning, tumbling over and laughing with Avery.
“West as in Daniel,” Barry said. “You’re Iris West.”
Wally grabbed Wallace and vanished, and Iris turned to run.
“Wait, please-”
And then Iris’s world turned to yellow.
Wally had brought them back to the car.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s not your fault,” Iris told him firmly. “Wally, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I used them, I’m not meant to-”
“Hey.” A man appeared in front of them, wearing red with yellow boots, a yellow belt, and a lightning bolt on his chest.
“You’re really fast, kiddo,” the Flash said. “Iris West?”
Iris pulled Wally and Wallace behind her slightly. She had been looking for the Flash, but now he was here-
“I got your note.” He held up the paper Iris had left at the Flash Museum. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“You actually got that?” Iris asked.
“I read everything that gets left there,” the Flash said, like reading the hundreds of sheets Iris had seen was no big deal. “I read really quickly. I don’t remember what I read at superspeed, so when it’s something like this I slow down, but, yes, I read everything people leave me.”
Wally rushed forward to hug him.
“Hey, kiddo,” the Flash said. He sounded so familiar.
“You did come,” Wally said. “I was calling you.”
“That’s what I could feel?” the Flash asked. “Good job. What’s your name?”
“Wally.”
“Wally. Wally and Wallace?”
“My brothers haven’t talked for fifteen years,” Iris said. “And Wallace is a family name.”
She hadn’t told him Wallace’s name. He shouldn’t know Wallace’s name.
“It’s not like I’ve got a great name,” the Flash said. “So, powers. Is that what you need help with?”
“Partly,” Iris said.
“My dad is a really bad person,” Wally said. “He’s involved in a cult. Aunt Iris helped us run away.”
“Oh,” the Flash said. “Do you have somewhere we can talk about that?”
Iris gestured at her car. The Flash had blue eyes under his mask.
“I’m a terrible passenger,” the Flash said. “I can run somewhere if you give me an address?”
“I don’t have anywhere,” Iris said.
“You’ve been living in a car with two children?” the Flash asked. “What about food, none of you are eating enough, are you?”
Iris held Wally and Wallace’s hands.
“Nope,” the Flash said. “Look, I have this friend, Barry Allen, you can stay with him for now, okay?”
“Barry Allen?” Wally asked. “We met him.”
“Yes, you did,” the Flash said. “I wasn’t sure who I was looking for when I felt the pull, so I asked Barry to help me look.”
“He said he only met you a little bit,” Wally said.
“That’s because it’s a secret we’re friends,” the Flash said. “I will run you all to Barry’s house and then I’ll talk to your aunt when you’ve had a proper meal and got some sleep in a proper bed, deal?”
“But Barry’s at the park, we saw him,” Wally said.
“I’ll run Barry home too,” the Flash said. Iris was pretty sure now. “You want to come running with me, Wally? If your aunt says yes.”
“Please, Aunt Iris, please,” Wally turned to her, his questioning completely forgotten. “Please?”
“You can go,” Iris nodded. “Look after him?”
“He’ll be completely safe with me,” Barry said. “I promise, Iris.”
Barry’s house didn’t seem big enough for all of them, but he’d insisted on them all being able to shower first while he threw their clothes in the wash and started on dinner.
The fresh clothes laid out for them Barry claimed the Flash had dropped off, guessing sizes. Wally seemed thrilled.
Iris watched Barry closely.
There was no way he could cook that much food at once without slipping up.
Barry’s house was neat and organised. There were a few things that didn’t quite seem to fit though. Some shoes that were a different size. Places photos had been hanging but weren’t anymore.
There was one in the drawer though. Barry with his arm around a shorter man, both of them laughing.
“That’s his ex,” Hartley said. He looked at Iris suspiciously. “What do you want with him?”
“The Flash insisted-” Iris started and Hartley folded his arms.
“His help,” Iris said honestly. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
“I won’t let you hurt him,” Hartley said. “He's had enough of that. Hurt him and I’ll hypnotise you right into Iron Heights myself.”
He glared at Iris.
“Hartley,” Barry said, appearing from nowhere. “Could you put Avery to bed and show Wally and Wallace to the guest room? I only have a double in there, is it all right if they share?”
“You’re already doing so much,” Iris asked.
“I bet the Flash already left pyjamas too,” Hartley grumbled.
Barry raised his eyebrow.
“Fine, I’m doing it,” Hartley said. He trudged off and Barry looked at the picture Iris was holding.
“Sorry,” she said. She put it back. “Investigative journalist.”
“I’d be suspicious too,” Barry shrugged. “I’ll see if the Flash-”
“Barry,” Iris said. “Your eyes are the same.”
Barry gave her a tiny smile.
“I don’t tell people,” Barry said. He showed Iris into the living room and sat. “Well. Not no one."
"The guy in the photo," Iris guessed.
"Godspeed," Barry nodded. "Negative Flash too, that's complicated, it wasn't her fault, and Heatwave knows apparently, I don't know how, but I haven't even told my parents. I don't tell people."
“I won’t tell anyone,” Iris said. “I promise.”
“I trust you,” Barry said. “I’m not sure why. Your brother tried to murder me once. But it's not like he's the only one who's ever done that. Why were you looking for me?”
“I didn’t know where else to go,” Iris said. “Who else to trust.”
“We haven’t met before,” Barry said. “Have we?”
“When I was a little girl,” Iris said, “a man made of lightning broke into our home.”
“You were there when Daniel time travelled,” Barry nodded. “I ran you both outside. The child Daniel.”
“It was you?” Iris asked.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save your father,” Barry said.
“William wasn’t a good man,” Iris said. “Daniel and I went to live with our uncle after that but as far as I’m concerned, Ira West is my father. You did what you could. It was time travel?”
“It was,” Barry said. “Is that why you’re here?”
“My other brother,” Iris shook her head. “Wally’s father, Wallace is Daniel’s son. I’m a journalist. I was following a lead and the name Manhunters kept coming up. I’m still not sure of the details, what they want exactly, but I think it’s some kind of cult, and Rudy is involved with them, and I think they want Wally for something. I’m not sure what, but Rudy and Mary aren’t good parents to Wally. I think they’re a lot worse than he’d admitted to me, but I know I’m the only one Wally told about his powers. They were both struck by lightning.”
“So was I,” Barry said. “Was it the storm a year ago? That was when Meena got powers too, and Avery though hers took longer to start working so I assume Wallace would have been the same.”
“Your Avery?” Iris asked.
“At first Meena was just studying the Speed Force. It was how we met, and Avery’s parents went to Meena for help. They disappeared a few months ago, Avery’s staying with me until we can find them.”
“Hartley mentioned you'd been hurt a lot," Iris said hestitantly. "And hypnosis and I know Pied Piper has been seen helping the Flash a few times."
“It’s how I found out Heatwave knows,” Barry said. “Maybe the other Rogues too now, I’m not sure. He showed up at my front door with Hartley under his arm and announced the Rogues had just found out he’s only seventeen, can I keep him in school for another year and then he can go join in with their various crime sprees. I think they would have said older, but Trickster is nineteen, he wouldn’t have accepted it. I think they decided I was moping about August too much and needed a distraction and elected Hartley. Do you have any leads to follow on these Manhunters?”
“I need Wally and Wallace safe,” Iris said. "Wally had his bag packed and we’ve been calling it running away, but..."
“I understand,” Barry said. He nodded. “I’m not involved with C.C.P.D. any more, bad memories and was presumed dead for a month, long story involving a different ex, maybe another time, but I have a few friends left there that might be able to help. I know a private investigator too, and he’s a friend of the Flash. My old college roommate is a lawyer, I can call him first thing and see what he says. We can get this figured out so they can stay with you. I don’t know how yet, but we will, and all three of you are welcome to stay here for as long as you need.”
“I can’t ask that,” Iris said.
Barry rested his hand on hers and smiled.
“If you don’t have anywhere else, I’m not letting you sleep in a car,” he said. “Iris, please.”
“I’m fine,” Iris said. “You-”
“Will be fine on the couch, you take my bed,” Barry said. “We’ll sort out the rest in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Iris said. She turned her hand to hold Barry’s properly.
“We’ll figure all this out,” Barry said so earnestly Iris believed him without any hesitation.
“I promise,” Barry said. “You need rest. You’re safe here.”
His smile was kind.
“I know,” Iris said. She smiled back and Barry’s cheeks tinted red. “Thank you, Barry. For everything.”