Work Text:
Going to Star City’s Amusement Park—Season Stars—seemed like a good idea at the time.
Irey ran over from Keystone and Lian immediately gave her cotton candy.
It was just the two teens today. Jai was on a trip with Mom and Dad and Lian’s parents were on a mission.
It was loud and full today and Irey could tell something was sort of off with Lian.
With cotton candy still in her mouth, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Irey blushed in embarrassment and finished the food.
Lian didn’t seem to notice. “Nothing.” She shrugged.
Irey stopped them and led Lian to a line for a ride.
“Clearly, it’s not. Talk to me.”
“Why? It’s not like you can fight this with fists.” Lian countered.
“Fight, what?”
“It’s just. It’s weird seeing everyone again. It’s like, we mourned you, but moved on. So I should, too—but like, I died, Irey!” She lowered her voice when they got some stares. “I died.”
“I know and we did mourn you. I wouldn’t expect you to move on from that like nothing.”
Lian opened her mouth when all the music stopped.
Then all the rides stopped and started going wrong.
People were upside down in roller coasters and about to fall. The Ferris wheel started going faster. So did the Twister.
“Later?” Irey questioned.
“Later!” Lian agreed, already rushing to the bathroom to change.
Irey ran away from cameras and changed.
Irey brought all the people down from the roller coaster as Lian came back out.
Irey rushed to the Ferris Wheel and Lian rushed to the control panel.
Irey got all of the people off the Ferris Wheel as Lian fought off the man that was causing the chaos.
A gunshot rang out and Irey quickly turned to see Lian fall with a bleeding shoulder.
Suddenly, she felt too much static.
Irey was there in a flash to catch Lian before she hit the ground.
She put pressure on the wound and looked up to see the man raise his weapon.
“Two for one. Best contract.”
He shot his gun, but then Dad was there, holding the bullet and punching the man.
“Dad, what do I do?”
“It’s okay. We’re going to get her help. Stay with your mom and Jai, okay?”
Irey tightened her grip and then released her friend.
“Okay.”
Then they were gone.
Mom came over and gave Irey a hug and wiped away tears Irey didn’t even know were falling.
Irey had to wait a long time in normal time, so it was basically forever for a speedster.
Finally, she was let into the hospital room. Lian had a bandage and was fake sleeping.
“Oh, she’s sleeping. Maybe you can come later.” The nurse was saying.
“Yeah.” She coughed. “Yes. I will. Sorry.”
Irey came back the next day and was told Lian was discharged that morning.
Okay, nope.
A few days of silence later, she practically had to ditch Dad with how close he was staying to her while they ran through Star City’s streets.
“I’ll be talking to Roy and you can see Lian. He knows we’re coming.”
Irey nods.
They knocked on the door and Lian opened the door, looking surprised.
“Uh, hi.”
She let them in and Dad left them.
“Irey—“
“Hi? Hi?! After 3 days of nothing, “hi” is the best you can do?”
Lian’s face twisted into a frown. “Hey! I got shot, not you. Excuse me if I need a bit of silence.”
Irey felt her face heat up. “You said we didn’t mourn you and then you just ignored m—everyone!”
Lian caught her slip and rolled her eyes in a way she never did before. Her tone was uncaring but guarded. “Not everything is about you.”
“Why are you being like this? You were never mean!” Irey deflected. Lian must’ve known.
“Why am I being like this? Maybe because everyone is handling me with kid gloves and making me feel bad and I thought my best friend would be different. Guess I was wrong. Go hang out with someone else, someone cooler!”
Lian started to walk away but stopped when Irey yelled out, “You got hurt because I wasn’t fast enough after claiming that I moved on! Newsflash, Lian, I didn’t!”
Lian stopped completely. Her brown eyes were wide with shock.
They were both in need of taking a breath.
“None of us want to make you feel bad, but I won’t apologize for something I couldn’t do.” Irey said after a moment of silence.
Lian had tears falling down her face. Irey risked taking a step forward and very slowly, she opened her arms. Lian took a slow step and hugged her. Irey hugged her back.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know. It’s…well, it’s in the past. Don’t shut the world and me out.”
Lian let out a shaky breath. “Okay. As long as you don’t do the same.”
“Shut the world and you out?”
“Yeah.” Lian answered, using that terrible height difference to put her chin on Irey’s head. They used to be the same height, but now Lian is a few inches taller. They’re 14 now. The past is past.
Irey knows it’s always a risk for speedsters without lightning rods in people. People that keep speeders in the world and connected to their humanity.
Irey knows that’s what her parents have and she’s always wanted that for herself—but now isn’t the time, she supposed.
Later, she reasoned as she hugged Lian tighter.
“Okay.” She agreed.