Chapter Text
Barry shuffled his feet next to Iris. Two hours into her yearly “Spring Closet Cleaning” and his feet were killing. He enjoyed spending time with Iris—he really did, but he had a late night at S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry put up with it, though, because he hadn’t been able to hang out with her like they used to before Eddie pushed his way into their duo. He felt a little guilty thinking that because he had no right to say Eddie was even intruding on anything.
Lost in his thoughts, Barry looked up to see Iris waving at him a couple paces ahead. He jogged a bit to catch up before he saw where she was leading him. Barry followed Iris into the candle store happily. They’d always had this rule that the candle store was the last stop before they paid a visit to the greasy food in the mall cafeteria. No matter how many times they promised to only smell the weird leafy scents, they always ended up here: digging into the backs of the shelves to find the candles that smelt like cookie dough and apple pie. Barry and Iris inhaled deeply as if trying to hold in the last of the scent before they walked to the food court.
Iris glanced at him before fixating on the walls of food. The court was entirely enclosed by different fast food restaurants (and that one overpriced coffee shop that never seemed to go out of business).
Barry thought she might start drooling all over her new clothes, so he interrupted her thoughts. “What should we go for today?” He pulled out his wallet and carded through his bills. “I think I’ve even got enough for two at the Italian To-Go-Pizza,” Barry said thoughtfully.
“You know I never let you pay anyway.” Iris rolled her eyes. Childishly, Barry only stuck out his tongue in response. She took a second look-around and landed her eyes on the Chinese take-out. She raised her eyebrows in question towards Barry, knowing he saw her practically whimper at the sight of Chinese food.
“Seriously?” He asked exasperatedly. “I’m pretty sure you brought me this food last week when I called in sick.” She tried to purse her lips in an attempts to contain herself, but the snort that left her nose broke the facade.
“Fine, you caught me,” Iris laughed. “But it’s still good, so I’m choosing there!”
Barry wasn’t sure how it happened, but all of a sudden Iris was hissing vehement words at him. He thought it could have started when the cashier mentioned the robbery that he—the Flash, that is—was present for. Of course it could have started when she started talking about her blog again. It shouldn’t have been an issue, but Barry wanted to spend their day together talking about normal things. Like...the weather! He heard that was a good conversation to have. But no, Barry had somehow turned into the sounding board for her crazier-than-usual Streak theories.
He was doing good so far. He even had a system. If her eyes were glinting madly, Barry leaned back, forced his face to be pensive, and nodded slowly as if her logic made complete sense. Of course, if she got too close to being correct about anything he would laugh and suggest something farther off from the mark.
Then he heard it. There was some mumbling behind him several feet, but he swore he had heard someone say “Sebastian.”
Iris started talking again, but he hushed her immediately. “Excuse me?” Iris growled. Barry flinched, but he attempted to hone his hearing into whoever was behind him again. She didn’t pay him any attention and continued, “Barry Allen. Don’t you dare tell me that we are going to fight about the Streak again. Am I boring you so much that you can’t even stand to hear me talk?” Iris’ voice shook with anger.
“Just be quiet for a minute,” Barry muttered dismissively.
This time he was positive that someone said his old nickname. He turned to look for the culprit, and he got a cold wash of sticky liquid down his face. He could feel ice chunks sliding down his shirt, and his hair was dripping onto his hands.
He wiped two huge globs of stickiness off his eyes clearing his vision. Looking at his hands, he saw red. Literally. Great, Barry thought. Huge red stains will be so much fun to get out.
Barry looked up to try to find the idiot that tripped into him.
Instead his eyes caught sight of a familiar Latina.
She smirked. “Hey, Twink.”