Chapter Text
Iris paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before she opened the doors to the precinct in downtown Central City. She hadn’t been here since she was a little girl, maybe 5 or 6 years old, visiting her dad at work on her way to the zoo with her mom and younger brother, Wally. Her parents had been divorced for a couple years by then on account of her workaholic father spending too many more hours on the job than with his young family. And although the relationship between her mom and dad were sometimes strained, they always were amicable where she and her brother, Wally were concerned. At least when they were younger and didn’t know better. As Iris grew up, she became more aware of the trouble in her parents’ marriage and as she entered into her late teens, she understood more her mother’s frustrations with her father’s priorities. As teens tend to do, she pulled away from him, making their already strained relationship almost non-existent. They were down to sending cards for birthdays and Christmas but beyond that, they didn’t talk much or spend time together because Joe West was always working. Shortly after high school, she received a full journalism scholarship on the other side of the country and her mom encouraged her to take it. It was the best decision she had ever made, leaving home to spread her wings. She learned and grew into the person she is today. She hadn’t planned on being back home this soon but her mom’s health was beginning to decline. And although her brother, Wally, was drafted by the Central City Cougars as their starting quarterback and was close to home, his schedule made it impossible to be with their mom when she needed help. So she decided returning home was the best course of action.
She walked up to the reception area to ask for assistance.
“Excuse me. Hi. I’m looking for Barry Allen?”
“I’m Barry Allen.”
Iris tilted her head and looked over at the cocky blond, walking towards her with a smile on his face. She had just moved back to Central City after getting a job as the crime reporter at Central City Picture News. It wasn’t her first choice but beggars couldn’t be choosers. She had just been given her first assignment and lucked out on getting this job since the person who held that position before her had a nervous breakdown and left for Brazil indefinitely. She had been given the name of the CSI Director at CCPD since he’d been a great help to her predecessor. Hopefully, he’d extend the same courtesy to her as well. She was given a brief description of him so she had an idea of what he looked like. This guy, however, looked nothing like how he was described to her.
“Are you now? Because I was told Mr. Allen was more of a science nerd and you don’t look like you fit the part.”
He threw his head back as he laughed. He was pretty. And full of himself. She could already tell. Doesn’t seem like the type of guy who hears “no” a lot from women. He had the body type that would make some women swoon. If she was at a bar and pretty tipsy, she’d probably pull him off to the side somewhere and make out with him.
“Okay. You got me. I’m definitely not a science nerd. What do you want with him anyway? I’m sure I can be more helpful to you in any way you need help.”
His voice dropped low as he stepped closer to her, his eyes trained on her. He was flirting with her and normally she’d be flattered. Maybe even flirted back but she really was tired of the same pretty boy games by the same pretty boys and right now, he served no purpose. Of course he thinks she’s just a pretty face and nothing more, which is why he made the pathetic attempt at lying to her about who he is. She’d gotten a whole lot better at sussing out liars and frauds.
“Really? Can you tell me what adipocere is then?”
Iris raised an eyebrow as he stuttered over his words.
“She’s got you there Thawne. Hey Iris. Officer Korber. Your dad’s my commanding officer. He has your picture on his desk. You can find Allen upstairs in the lab.”
“Thank you, Officer Korber. Nice to meet you, Officer Thawne.”
She pushed by him to head to the lab when he called out.
“It’s Detective. Detective Eddie Thawne. Why don’t I show you to the lab?”
She turned and looked him up and down and not in a sexy way. She was sizing him to see if she could take him down if need be. She has a feeling that she may have to punch him in the face one day.
“My apologies. Detective. But I think I’ll be able to find it on my own though.”
“Well it’s a pretty big precinct. I’ll come just to make sure you don’t get lost.”
Iris tried to swallow a groan when she heard him hot on her trail. She was used to guys hitting on her but usually they were able to take a hint once she didn’t further engage. This so-called detective didn’t seem to be the type to pick up on her hints, making her question how good a detective could he be.
“So I’ve never seen you around. Are you new to town?”
“Nope. I grew up in Central City.”
“Oh. So how do you know Allen?”
“I don’t.”
“Well how come you want to talk to him?”
They paused in front of the lab doors when she spun around to answer him and he almost plowed into her. He was standing so close to her.
“Why are you standing so close to me?”
“I really like your perfume. What is that?”
She crossed her arms and sighed heavily at him.
“Detective, I’m here on an assignment for my job which you are currently keeping me from by asking me questions that I’m not comfortable answering and are quite frankly none of your business.”
“Whoa! I was just trying to be nice and get to know you. Not asking you to marry me…yet.”
She shook her head as he stood there smirking at her. Oh she’s definitely going to punch him in his smug face one day. And she may even enjoy it too.
“Detective Thawne. Is there something I can help you with?”
Iris whipped around to the voice behind her, almost losing her balance. Whoever he was caught her before she fell back onto Detective Clueless, causing her to blush.
“Wow!”
She whispered to the handsome stranger before her. He was tall with the most beautiful eyes she’s ever seen.
“Allen. I was just escorting Miss…”
Iris was too busy staring at the handsome face before her to hear anything being said. It was only when he raised an eyebrow at her did it register that she was being addressed.
“What was your name again?” Eddie asked.
“Uhh, West.”
“I was just escorting Miss West to your lab.”
Barry’s eyes shifted to hers and he thankfully picked up the pleading in them.
“Thanks Detective. I’ll take it from here.”
Iris breathed a sigh of relief when Barry turned his back to the detective and ushered her into his lab, his hand lingering lightly in the small of her back. She looked back to make sure Thawne was gone before speaking again.
“Thank you for rescuing me. I thought he’d never leave me alone.”
When Barry chuckled, Iris noticed the dimples on his cheeks. Fuck! She always was a sucker for dimples.
“Thawne can be a bit much sometimes.”
“He’s pretty full of himself. Tried to tell me he was you.”
“Did he now?”
“Yeah but I didn’t buy it. He didn’t even know what adipocere was?
“Do you know what adipocere is?”
She shifted her weight to one leg, propped her hand in her hip, shook her head no while giggling.
“Of course not. That’s why I’m here to see you. I just threw it out there to test him. I’m not even sure if I’m pronouncing it correctly.”
“You are. So points for you!”
She smiled at him before sticking her hand out to him.
“Iris West. CCPN’s Crime Division.”
“Barry Allen. Nice to meet you, Miss West. Captain Singh did tell me to expect you. You’re not who I pictured.”
“Oh! What did you picture?”
“Someone older. Maybe with some grey hair and a husky voice from smoking too much and yellow teeth from drinking too much coffee.”
Iris laughed, loving the comfort and ease in which she felt with Barry right away. Maybe getting assigned to the crime scene wasn’t such a bad thing after all. He smiled at her again.
“Well I am a self diagnosed coffee addict, but I tend to be quite vigilant about my dental hygiene. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“I’m not.”
His eyes widened as he heard what he just said out loud. She watched as his cheeks turned red and his long fingers clamped over his mouth. He clearly didn’t mean for her to hear him.
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry about that. That was totally unprofessional.”
Iris laughed and reached out to lightly touch his arm. She watched his eyes linger to where her hand rested on his arm.
“It’s okay. Cause you’re not what I was expecting either.”
This time he perked up and his gaze turned towards her. There was something about the way he was looking at her that made her want to invade his personal space and pull him down for a searing kiss. Wait. Wait. Wait. She can’t be thinking about kissing this man she’s just met. He could already be taken. Besides, he's a work colleague and that would be inappropriate. But he wasn’t directly a work colleague and she doesn’t see a ring on his finger so maybe she could. She knows what Linda would say but would that still make it okay?
“What were you expecting?”
“Huh?”
Shit. She wasn’t paying attention and had no idea what he just asked.
“You said I wasn’t what you were expecting. What were you expecting?”
“Well for starters, someone much older for sure. Middle aged maybe with a slight beer gut and thick glasses with tape in the middle. Shirt tucked into his pants. A pocket protector. Typical dad bod nerd. You know.”
He chuckled lightly at her comment.
“Well I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“I’m not.”
She echoed his words and watched as colour began to creep up his cheeks again when he realised she meant it.
“You’re trouble, Miss West.”
“It’s Iris. And only the good kind.”
She thought he was going to faint when she winked at him but he managed to keep it together. He might be into her and the feelings were mutual. One way or another, she’d get her way and kiss the hell out of him.