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It starts before the Flash, before the particle acceleration and its fallout. It starts as a simple itch to understand her family's history. It starts as a trip to city hall to dig through their available records. It starts as her mother’s maiden name, Russell, and the name next to it in the family tree. It starts when she realizes she has an aunt she’s never met, maybe even cousins.

After that, she researches. Her aunt’s name is Deliza, and the first thing of importance that she finds is a marriage license to a Lewis Snart. Next she finds evidence that Deliza has given birth to a baby boy, Leonard Snart, her cousin.

It was then that she decided she was going to meet them.

When she found the news of Deliza’s death she was sad, but didn’t allow it to discourage her. After all, there was still Leonard and Lewis. But Lewis was in prison and Leonard had fallen off the grid. She supposed it was possible he had gone to jail like his father and just not made headlines, but she didn’t want to ask her father to run a background check. He would take it the wrong way when he learned she was looking for more family. He would ask why he and Barry weren’t enough.

She leaves city hall dejected; weeks of hard work having ended up as nothing but dead ends. She walks several blocks lost in her own thoughts regarding family and lost opportunities before it strikes her that something is wrong. She walks another block before she realizes what it is, the man pausing to look inside a shop window several feet behind her has been behind her since she left city hall. Iris picks up her pace and watches as the man behind her speeds up from a saunter to a large stepped walk.

Gripping the pepper spray hanging from her purse, Iris turns on her heel and heads towards the man. He continues walking towards her.

“I was wondering when you’d notice me,” He drawls in a nasally tone reminiscent of Central City slums. “I have to admit, with a cop for a father I thought it would be sooner.”

“How do you know that?” Iris demands adjusting her grip on her pepper spray.

The man smiles, but it’s shallow, empty. “You were looking into my family. It only seemed fair I looked into yours.”

“Oh my god, you’re Leonard Snart!” Iris gasps; her hand loosening just a bit.

Leonard grimaces, “Len please, Now why were you looking into my family?”

“I was looking into my own family.” Iris explains, “I just found out that Deliza Russell was my aunt so I followed the family tree until I found you. I just wanted to meet my cousin.”

Len’s eyes narrow, “You Aunt Fran’s girl?”

“Yes.”

“Is that supposed to make me like you?” Len asks as he taps his fingers against his thigh.

Iris blinks in confusion, “I don’t see why it would hurt things.”

“Really,” Len questions, raising a brow, “You can’t figure out why I wouldn’t want to associate with the girl who abandoned her mother instead of visiting her through rehab?”

Iris’ temper flared at that, “My Mom died! If I had the chance I would have visited her no matter what, so I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it’s not me!”

“Really,” Len says, “Because I was at Aunt Fran’s house in Keystone just this weekend.”

“But,” Iris stops. “My Dad told me she had died.”

Len’s lip curls, “She overdosed, and he left her instead of helping her. She’s doing better now though, raising Wally all by herself.”

“Wally?” Iris asks, her voice small.

Len nods once, “Your brother.”

“Can I, can I meet them?”

Len shrugs, “If they want to meet you.”

They exchange contact information after that with promises from Len to put her in contact with her mother and brother and a promise from Iris not to tell Joe about their communication.

Iris gets a text message from Wally the next day and, as awkward as the conversation is at first, she finally gets what it’s like to have a sibling. Len’s sister gets her number also and they meet up for coffee, the three of them.

They click. They click and Iris can’t help but feel that this is what family should be. It should be more than what she already has. Family is this, it’s living with the knowledge that her cousins are criminals, but loving them anyways.

“I think,” Lisa says, tapping her fingers in the same way Len did when they first met, “I think that it’s time you came for a family dinner.”

“I’d love to!” Iris gushes, then her smile falls. “I don’t know if I can drive all the way out to Keystone for it, though.”

Lisa smirks, “Don’t worry about it, we’ll host it at the safe house here in Central. Wally will be there, and Len is going to drag Aunt Fran out.”

“Just text me when and where,” Iris beams. “I’ll be there.”

The dinner is that Sunday at an apartment that
Is farther from the slums than Iris had expected. She knocks on the door once then twice in rapid succession and a fourth time five seconds later.

There’s no answer for a moment and Iris bites her thumb nail nervously wondering if she had remembered the orders Lisa gave her correctly. Suddenly the door opens and Iris finds herself face to face with a large broad-shouldered man with a shaved head.

“Who are you?” He asks brows furrowing.

“Umm. Iris.” She informs him. “Is Len here?”

“Let her in Mick,” Len’s voice calls from another room. “That’s my cousin I told you about.”

Mick hums as he assesses her. Iris isn’t sure when it happened, but she can tell his gaze is sharper now. He opens the door wider for her to enter, but catches her arm as she walks past.

“I don’t care how you're related to Lenny or Lisa, I don’t care that Aunt Fran is your mom and Wally is your brother. If you tell your cop father about them or hurt them in any way, I’ll burn you alive.”

Iris swallows then regains her composure.

“I wouldn’t do that to them, ever. Still it’s nice to see that that they have someone looking after them. Now, release my arm before I make you.”

With a laugh, Mick obeys her. “Alright kid, I need to go finish the food anyway.”

With that the older man disappears and Iris head towards where she had heard Len’s voice from earlier. As she enters the room she’s not shocked to find Len playing monopoly with Lisa and Wally. Laughing as Len’s smirk, she settles down to watch the game.

“So,” Iris says cautiously after the greetings. “Who is Mick? Is he family too?”

“In a way,“ Lisa answers and her face is more closed off than Iris has ever seen it.

She watches as the two Snart siblings share a look and Len shrugs. “May as well tell her, if she can’t handle it, we don’t want her around anyway.”

“Mick and Lenny are partners,” Lisa explains with a small smile.

Iris raises a brow, “Like in crime?”

“Yes,” Len laughs, “That too, but Lisa meant in life”

It’s takes a moment, but eventually it clicks for her. Iris just smiles at Len, “So I do have another cousin!”

Len cracks a smile, “I guess you do Iris.”

Wally proceeds to destroy all of them at Monopoly and Iris can’t focus on trying to defeat her brother. Her mind is too busy wondering to her mother and her location.

“I’m here,” a voice calls from the door and Iris tenses. This is it, the moment of truth.

“Come in Aunt Fran,” Lisa calls and Iris stumbles to her feet.

The woman who walks in is beautiful and Iris loses the carefully planned words that had been that had been on the tip of her tongue. This is her mother.

“Hi Sweetheart,” Francine greets her voice soft and tender.

Iris launches herself into her arms. “Mom.”

The rest of the dinner goes smoothly, Iris and Francine bond quickly and make plans to stay in contact. Iris also does her best to bond with Mick which is easier now that she knows where his threat to burn her alive came from. She’s glad to see that Len and Lisa have someone looking after them.

From that point on, Iris stays in constant contact with her family. She feels as though she belongs and she has people besides her foster brother and her father to talk to.

Her family is where she turns when the particle accelerator explodes and Barry falls into a coma. She can’t lean on her father for support, not when he is already falling apart.

“They don’t know if he’ll wake up.” Iris whispers as she grips the coffee cup that sits between her and Lisa’s concerned gaze. “And we can’t afford to keep him in the hospital much longer.”

“So take him home,” Wally suggests. “You said yourself that the doctors don’t know what’s happening.”

Iris shakes her head. “But what if something changes? I’m thinking our best bet is to send him off with Dr. Wells for help.”

Lisa freezes, “Wells as in the man whose particle accelerator did this?”
“Yes,” Iris tells her. “He may be uniquely suited to helping.”

“It’s not a good idea,” Lisa informs her. “Don’t trust him.”

“People would say the same about you,” Iris argues.

“I would trust Lisa on this,” Wally tells her. “She has a good sense of people. If you’re really not sure ask Lenny, his reads on situations are generally pretty close to perfect.”

“Call him up,” Iris instructs. “It’s not that I don’t trust you Lisa, it’s just, this is Barry’s life and I need to be sure I’m not ruining it.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Lisa grins as the phone rings.

The phone is picked up and for a moment all they hear is quiet panting. Then they finally get a quiet response, “What can I do for you Wally?”

“Iris needed your advice,” Wally answers. “Should she entrust a comatose Barry to Dr. Wells?”

There’s a grunt and yet another quiet moment before Len gets back to them. “I can’t see why you would, Star Labs wouldn’t have any real doctors on hand and if anything that’s what Barry needs. Besides, Wells is learning how to navigate his new disability, he won’t have time to care for Barry properly.”

“Thank you,” Iris tells him as the phone goes dead. She looks back to her brother and cousin. “I guess I’ll convince my dad Barry should come home with us.”

It’s hard at first, caring for Barry. After all, his state had baffled doctors who were well qualified for this, and both Iris and Joe have day jobs. Still, they make it work and nine months after the explosion Barry wakes up.

“Barry, woke up!” Iris announces cheerfully at her next family dinner. “He’s gone back to working with the CCPD.”

There’s a low chuckle among the criminal element at dinner and Iris has to bite back a smile. At this point, her cousins’ criminality is merely an amusing activity that results in fascinating stories.

“That’s wonderful,” Francine tells her, her hand covering Iris’. “Did they ever find out the root of his medical mysteries?”

“No,” Iris shakes her head. “But Barry’s actually begun consulting with STAR Labs in an attempt to figure it out himself.”

Looking up from her meal, Iris finds her cousins and brother staring at her incredulously. She rolls her eyes.

“Yes I know, we kept him out of STAR Labs grasp only for him to deliver himself. What can you do?”

“Tie him up,” Lisa suggests with a bright smile even as Mick and Len begin to pipe up with similar answers.

“Has he at least found any answers?” Len asks after shooting his partner and sister found looks. “I imagine STAR Labs has been gathering data since the explosion. It shouldn’t take long.”

Iris shakes her head, “I think he’s getting close. He’s spent a lot more time there lately.”

“Enough about that,” Lisa chimes in. “Tell us about
.”

“What is there to tell,” Iris laughs. “We’ve been dating for a few months by now.”

“Yeah,” Mick rumbles, “But have you told your dad yet?”

“You know she hasn’t,” Wally snickers. “Iris loves keeping a good secret from her dad. After all, Joe still doesn’t know about us.”

“True,” Len muses. “That’s enough of that, though. Let me tell you about an amazing opportunity that’s recently come to my attention.”

Iris watches Len as he speaks, noting the fact that Lisa sits between him and Mick once more. She hopes that they get past their lovers quarrel soon. Not only does she miss seeing her cousins happy, but they’re safer when they are together. Mick smooths out the rough edges of Len’s plans, accounts for the human variable, while Len focuses Mick and keeps him steady and stable.

They make a good team, one she hopes hasn’t met its end over a stupid disagreement.

The next day, Iris watches her cousin on the news as he absconds with a diamond and uses some sort of cold producing weapon to fight the flash.

“What the fuck?” She asks the second he picks up the phone. “What was that?”

“You like it,” Len asks. “I’m calling it the cold gun; don’t worry, Mick gets the matching heat gun.”

“Thank god, you two are back together than?” Iris asks in relief. “Wait no, you’re getting me all side tracked!”

Len hums. “Oh really, that wasn’t my intention.”

“Don’t even try that,” Iris tells him. “Also, consider this an Iris West exclusive with Captain Cold. The juicy bits will be in the paper. Now, tell me everything.”

Laughingly, Len obeys. He is sure to gloss over any and all deaths as he always does. He knows Iris is vaguely aware that he’s a murderer, but it’s different to be confronted with evidence of it. Besides, he really has been trying to kill less lately, for her sake.

After he finishes the story, there’s a pause.

Finally, Iris speaks. “And Mick, is everything okay there? I mean, I know he was pleased with his gun, but you two worked out the rest as well, right?”

“Yes Mom” Len answers rolling his eyes.

The call wraps up, and Iris sets to work writing. If she finishes tonight, she can be published in tomorrow’s paper. Already she knows that stories about the so called ‘Captain Cold’ will be desired tomorrow, but her exclusive should take the front page what with the details that couldn't have come from anywhere else.

She gets her front page story, and with it the attention of her bosses. After finding out she had connections with Leonard Snart, they were all to willing to give her what she needs for other cases. After all, all that matters in their books is being the number one selling newspaper.

She also gets a visit from the Flash.

“You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“How do you mean?” She asks. She’s taking notes on his behavior, the way Len has recommended will help her identify people hiding things from her. It’s useful in her line of work, albeit not in the same way as it is in Len’s.

He shifts awkwardly, his shoulders racing up towards his ears before dropping back down as he thinks on what to say next. It’s curiously familiar, and she makes a note to look into the matter.

“Captain Cold is dangerous.”

She snorts. “Not to me.”

“Your position as a reporter won't keep you safe from him.”

“I’m not worried about it. Honestly.”

“Just stay safe,” the Flash warns, and then he is gone.

She tells Len the next day, bringing him all of her observations. Len bites his lip, flipping through her notes, and the conversation she has written down. He looks at Mick, who laughs heartily.

“The Flash is someone you know.”

“What?”

Len nods. “He’s right, why else would the Flash be so involved in your well being? Besides, you said he felt familiar.”

“But I don’t have any idea who he could be!” She exclaims. “If he’s so worried you assumed we’re close, and if we’re close why wouldn’t he tell me?”

“Perhaps he’s been told not to,” Len suggests.

Iris is silent for a moment.

“I know who it is.”

Len bats his eyes, “And you want to tell your darling cousin?”

“For you to use it against him, no. If you need to know, you can figure it out yourself.”

Len sighs dramatically, “Fine, but at least tell me that you’re going to chew out whoever it is for being involved in your personal business and not trusting you with theirs.”

Iris’ smile is feral. “Of course.”

She waits for Barry in his room, a discreet camera set up in the corner. She knows that Len will figure out Barry’s identity soon enough, and that he’ll appreciate watching Iris tear into Barry. He has a lot of feelings about Barry’s decision to follow her father and become a cop, especially since he’s met Doc Allen, and knows he’s innocent. That’s not even touching on how stupid he thinks Barry is for working with STAR Labs after she had worked so hard to keep him away from them.

“Iris,” Barry starts when he walks into his room. “What are you doing here?”

“That depends. Is there something you want to tell me, Barry?”

Barry rocks back and forth on his heels, eyes darting around. “Not that I can think of.”

“So there isn’t anything that you chose to hide from your best friend, the one who also happens to be a reporter?”

“No,” Barry answers, though she can practically hear the question mark on the end of the word.

“Right,” she says. “So STAR labs, the place you’ve been going since you woke up from your freaking coma isn’t the Flash’s headquarters? You don’t know anything about any of that?”

“It hasn’t come up.”

“So then you won’t mind if I post an article debating whether or not the Flash is on Barry Allen?”

“No!” Barry yells, “You can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Iris asks, blinking up at him innocently. “Are you hiding something, Barry?”

“Alright, you caught me.” Barry admits, and the truth comes pouring out of him. He tells her everything about how STAR Labs approached him, how they’re training him and helping him fight crime.

“But why did you hide it from me?”

“I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, and your dad made me promise not to involve you!”

“My dad?” Iris asks, her voice rising. “And you listened to him? I am an adult now, Barry. He has no say in my life, and he shouldn’t control yours either.”

“He was worried for you!” Barry objects.

“It doesn’t matter. You need to grow up and learn to make your own decisions. You think you can be a superhero? You can’t even talk to you best friend, you can’t even listen! I told you about how uncomfortable STAR Labs made me, about how eager they were to get their hands on you before you woke up from your coma, and you just ignored me and went to work for them.”

“That’s not fair. STAR Labs has been great, they have all this equipment to help me with my speed, and they’re training me to go even faster than ever, think about how many people I can help.”

Iris scoffs. “Help? If you want to help, why doesn’t STAR Labs donate the money they’re spending on training you to those negatively affected by the particle accelerator blast? You think you’re the only person affected? You were in a coma for nine months, but do you think that’s the worst thing that happened to people? Why doesn’t STAR Labs donate to the funeral costs of those who died, why not pay medical bills for those hospitalized? Why were you the only person that they wanted to personally care for when you were sick?”

“I, I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it. I didn’t realize you had.”

Iris sighs, running a hand over her face. “I’m sorry I yelled, and dumped that on you. “You’re right, I normally wouldn’t have thought of that, but I’ve been in contact with some people who run in different circles and they’ve taught me a lot about the world, Barry. Yes, I’m black and I face some disadvantages because of that, but socio-economically, we’re well off Barry. We could recover from the Particle Accelerator in ways that other people can’t. We can pay off your hospital bills, think about the people affected who had to change their whole lives because of this. I’ve met people who lost their jobs, who lost their families; I’ve met people who had to turn to loan sharks, who are in debt because of STAR Labs.”

“I didn’t know. I didn’t, how did you? How do you know these people?”

Realizing her mistake, Iris bites her lip. She doesn’t want to admit to the other half of her family, at least not to the Snarts and Mick, but she needs Barry to understand that there is more to the world than the view they were raised with. Her family has taught her so much, and she doesn’t want Barry to miss out on this understanding.

“I found my birth mother.” Iris admits, discreetly palming her camera at this point. Len won’t need to see this “She isn’t dead, my dad lied. She’s alive and well, or mostly well, but she’s being treated for her MacGregor’s syndrome. That’s not what matters, what matters is that she was suffering. My half-brother was watching her decay, and there was nothing he could do to help.”

“You have a brother?” Barry gapes.

“Yes, but that isn’t the point. The point is that they introduced me to a world I never would have known otherwise. I’ve learned so much from them, Barry, and I think that you need to also. Especially if you want to keep up with this superhero stuff.”

“I’d love to meet them.”

“Yeah, let me just make a few phone calls,” As she exits the room, she pauses in the door frame. “Don’t tell my dad about them. He doesn’t need to be a part of this relationship.”

She calls her mom as she leaves. “I told Barry about you and Wally. I think I want you guys to meet.”

“Oh baby, have you decided it’s time to stop living two lives?”

“Not quite,” Iris admits with a chuckle. “I don’t think he’s ready for Len and Mick after their TV escapade. He might be ready for Lisa too, but only if she behaves.”

“Lisa? Behave?” Francine laughs. “Oh, baby. You know that girl doesn’t behave without an incentive.”

“Her love for her cousin.” Iris offers dryly. “Or at least a chance to meet him before Len?”

“That one may work,” Francis admits.

Iris makes plans for a family dinner minus Len and Mick, and offers to come all the way out to Keystone this time. She knows her mother is having difficulty getting around right now, and what is Barry’s power good for if not to help out family.

“We’ll be there.” Iris promises, moving to hang up.

“Wait a minute,” Francis stops her. “There is someone else who should be meeting your mother.”

“Who do you mean?” Iris racks her brain, trying to figure out her mother’s machinations.

“Well, I’d love to meet that man of yours.”

Iris laughs, “Alright, I’ll bring Eddie.”

Before the family dinner can happen, Len and Mick steal a painting and set off a series of events that Iris had never seen coming. Mick makes his supervillain debut, and the two of them kidnap Caitlin Snow only for Iris to watch her boyfriend arrest them both on live TV.

“Lisa,” She says into her phone, still staring at the TV. “Tell me this isn’t happening.”

“It is,” Her cousin tells her happily. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“They’re going to jail!” Iris squeaks. “Because of Eddie.”

“Honestly, Iris, it’s okay. They’ve been to jail before, and they aren’t going to blame you for it just because of who it is.”

When Iris hears that Lisa has broken Len and Mick out before they even reach jail, she just sighs and places her forehead against the cool kitchen counter. She’ll be hearing about this from both her cousins and Eddie, she’s sure. She might even hear it from Barry.

She gets a version of the story from all of them, and another Caitlin when she swings by STAR Labs to grab something from Barry. Now that she knows his secret identity, Barry has taken to inviting her into the fold, though Iris isn’t sure how she feels about it.

Her time with her cousins has made her better at reading people, and she doesn’t like the way that Harrison Wells looks at Barry and her. The man is too interested in them, and when she tries to ask him about why he decided to help Barry become a superhero, Wells proclaimed his desire to help the city, or at least he had until she’d begun to ask why he doesn’t just donate his significant wealth to fight off the damage he's inflicted on the city.

He avoids her now.

It’s this that inspires her to invite Len and Mick to break into STAR Labs the night that Barry will be in Keystone for her family dinner.

“There shouldn’t be anyone around, and you know you’ve wanted to have a look at the Flash’s base of operations!” Iris pleads.

“True,” Len hums. “Though Barry could come back at any moment.”

“No,” she laughs, nervous, “He’ll be in Keystone.”

“Yes,” Mick rolls his eyes. “We know he’s the Flash though, and he could be back at any moment.”

Iris scowls, “ I’ll keep him busy, but how’d you know?”

“Well,” Len drawls. “We knew it was someone that you knew, and you seemed pretty sure the Flash wouldn’t be around. Besides, you’re family. That means that it’s essential that I know pretty much everything you know.”

“I can’t believe this,” Iris mutters. “Go break in, Barry and I got to go.”

“See you later,” Mick beams.

She’s watching Barry and Wally laugh together, sipping a glass of wine and crashing on the couch with Eddie, Lisa, and her mom when her phone rings. The caller ID is unknown, causing her to sigh.

“I got to take this, be right back.” She announces to the room at large; Lisa gives her an understanding look and pats her on the shoulder.

“Are you done already?” Iris asks, putting her phone to her ear.

Len’s voice is hard as steel. “Barry needs to come back right now.”

“Why?” She asks, worry creeping into her voice. “Is everything okay?”

“Depends on how you define it,” Mick answers. “Get Scarlet here as soon as you can, this can’t wait.”

“He’ll see you though,” She objects.

“Trust me,” Len mutters, “We’ll be the least of his problems.”

“Do you want Lisa too?”

“No, not yet.”

Walking back inside, Iris quietly excuses Barry and herself, wincing at the questioning look that Eddie shoots her. She promises herself that one day she’ll tell him why she has so many secrets, but it can’t be right now. Her family is still so new to her, and she’s worried about how the truth will affect her relationships with them and Eddie both.

“Run us back to STAR Labs,” Iris orders.

“Why, what’s going on?” Barry asks even as he obeys.

“I don’t know yet.”

The look that Barry gives her is searching, but he does as she asks. He’s been doing that a lot lately, ever since she chewed him out after learning his real identity. One day she’ll need to address it, to see what’s going on, but now’s not the time.

When they arrive at STAR Labs, it’s eerily empty.

“Guys,” She calls out. “Where are you?”

She screams when they walk straight out of the wall.

“Snart? Rory?” Barry gasps in shock. “Why are you here?”

“Don’t worry Scarlet,” Mick replies, “We ain’t here to fight. There’s bigger things to talk about.”

Iris glares, “Like where the hell you just came from?”

“Exactly,” Len agrees. “Follow us.”

Barry looks to Iris helplessly, but he follows them nonetheless. As they move, Barry leans over and whispers.

“How’d you know that they were here?”

“That isn’t what matters,” Len snaps, “This is.”

They watch in shock as the wall splits open to reveal a hidden room and the haunting yellow suit within. Before they can process that, the illusion of a face appears on the wall and begins talking to them.

“Good Evening, I am Gideon. How can I help you today?”

“Gideon,” Len snaps. “Tell them what you told me.”

“This room belongs to Eobard Thawne, or, as he is known now, Harrison Wells. He is from the twenty second century, and traveled back in time in order to kill the Flash as a child. However, Barry escaped, and he killed Nora Allen instead.”

“What?” Barry gasps. “Why should I believe you two anyway? You’re my enemies.”

Iris shakes her head, gently resting a hand on Barry’s shoulder. “They’re telling the truth, you know they are. There’s no way they could have planted the suit here, let alone Gideon. There’s something else going on.”

“But why were they even here? Why help us? How did they even have your number?”

“Is this really the place for those questions?” Len asks. “Wells could be back at any moment, and I’d rather not be discovered in his secret lair.”

Barry nods, before grabbing Iris and running towards his house. Halfway there, he realizes that Joe may not appreciate the presence of two criminals, and he changes directions, running towards Jitters. Leaving Iris there, he runs back for Snart and Rory, grabbing them before they have time to object to anything.

“Now that there’s no chance of Wells showing up, explain.”

“We broke in. We found that. We figured it was something you needed to know.” Mick rolls his eyes, exasperated by Barry’s questioning.

“But how did you have Iris’ number?”

“Enough,” Iris calls out. “We can talk about this later! The concern right now should be what we’re going to do about Wells.”

“We’ve done our part already,” Snart says. “Don’t see why we’ve got to be here.”

Iris glares at them, unsure if Len really meant it or if he was simply trying to stay in character as some villain in front of Barry. She has a feeling it's the latter, that he’s just waiting for her to take the lead. He’s more than okay with Barry knowing if she is, and thinks it will be hilarious, as long as Joe never does.

“You’re going to help,” Iris tells him, watching as Len gives her a discreet nod in response. “But first we need a plan.”

“Wells won’t be expecting Snart and I,” Mick rumbles. “We haven’t made any moves against his ‘Reverse Flash,’ and it wouldn’t make any sense to start now.”

“Len’s cold gun will be a convenient weapon,” Iris muses. “That is, if he can hit Wells.”

“I can,” Len assures her. “I’m a good aim.”

“I can vouch for that,” Barry agrees, looking down at his feet and thinking about the bitter cold from when Snart iced him.

Slowly, the plan begins to take shape. Barry and Iris tell Len about the capabilities of the STAR Labs team, and Mick shoots down Len’s bad ideas, salvaging the ones that can be.

“It’d work better with more people,” Barry muses, staring down at the hastily drawn map on his napkin.

Mick’s smile is absolutely feral, “We have someone for you.”

“Of course,” Len adds, “There’ll be a price. We’ll need another gun.”

“I’m willing to give you another heat gun, not a cold gun.” Barry barters, thinking about the potential repercussions after Wells is gone.

Len snorts. “Oh no, she’ll be wanting something else entirely. Tell Cisco to be expecting a visit in the next couple of days.”

The four of them part ways with the knowledge that one way or another, it’ll all be over soon.

Iris watches Mick and Len leaves with a ball of dread in her stomach. With them gone, she knows that Barry’s questions will return. Afterall, it doesn’t make sense for two hardened criminals to have her phone number, nor for her to trust them so readily. Besides, if she’s right and the extra person that Len is bringing is going to be Lisa, she should let him know sooner rather than later. She doesn’t want to risk Barry being distracted by the sight of her confirmed cousin working with two known criminals.

“Barry,” Iris sighs. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What?” he asks, eyes wide and innocent. “Is it about how they had your number? Are you in danger, Iris?”

“No,” She laughs. “Nothing like that, Len and Mick will never hurt me.”

“Len and Mick, you’re on a first name basis with them?”

“They’re my cousins,” Iris blurts out. “Or, at least, Len is my cousin. Mick’s his partner. You know how I introduced Lisa as my cousin earlier, she’s Len’s little sister, half sister actually. Len’s mom was my mom’s younger sister.”

“How, how long have you known?”

“I don’t know, since before your coma. They’re the ones who helped me through it. Listen, I know they’re criminals; I know that you don’t like them, but they’re my family and I love them.”

“Does Joe know?”

“No,” Iris yelps. “And you can’t tell him! He’ll get all over protective and try to keep me away from them, besides it isn’t any of his business.”

“Not any of his business? He’s your dad!”

“I don’t care.” Iris tells him, her eyes cold and her voice icy. “He gave up the right to be involved in this when he lied to me about my mom’s death. Barry, if you tell him about this, you’ll be just as dead to me as he is.”

Three days later, she hears Cisco babbling about the beautiful girl who kidnapped him and demanded a gold gun, and she laughs until she can’t anymore. It seems Lisa had gotten what she wanted, in more than one way. Briefly, she wonders if she should be concerned. Afterall, it’s far from normal that she thinks the kidnapping of her friend by her cousin is rather amusing, especially since she knows the only thing that kept Lisa from actually harming him was that Iris likes Cisco.

They spring their trap just over a week after their planning session. Iris acts as the go between for her cousins and Barry, and Len had told her several days ago that everything was ready on their side. Barry finds her to say the same when she’s sitting alone at Jitters writing an article over the weakness of the Central City Museum and why it was such a popular target. Lisa had helped her, having just broken recently and having found their security fairly lacking.

“I have a pipeline cell ready for him, though it wasn’t easy to do without telling Cisco and Caitlin.”

“And you’re sure that they won’t interfere?” Iris asks, looking up from her laptop.

“Yeah,” Barry sighs. “Cisco has a date with Lisa, and Caitlin is going with Ronnie to go see Dr. Stein. I’ve also disabled their access to my suit stats, so they won’t know anything is going on until after we’ve stopped Wells. Then we can see if they’re in on it.”

“And when Lisa doesn’t show up? What will Cisco do then?”

“I know for a fact that Joe is dropping by that same bar tonight, and once he’ll go talk to Cisco when he sees him alone.”

“That better work.”

“It will.”