Warp Speed (A Flash and Arrow crossover Fanfic)

Iris Knows

    Oliver and Barry didn't have to search very long for Mindbender, as a blaring alarm led them to a local bank. They had quickly devised a plan: Barry would do his best to draw the villain out and away from civilians. Meanwhile, Oliver would be perched on a nearby building, bow drawn. As soon as the villain was down, Barry would hand him off to the archer, then rendezvous back at S.T.A.R. Labs with him after talking to the police. Okay, so it was more of them agreeing on a concept than a plan, but it was all they could come up with on short notice.

    Barry walked into the building, which was full of employees and customers alike, all clutching their heads in pain. Barry said a silent prayer of thanks for his anti-telepath modifications. When he fully entered the building, Mindbender was cheerily helping himself to the contents of the safe.

    "Sorry to interrupt," Barry called out. "But if you want to make a transaction you're going to have to set up an account." He mentally winced. That was corny, even for him.

    Mindbender turned around slowly, his eyes sharpening to slits beneath the cowl of his hood, as he discovered his powers were failing against Barry. "You're as bad as Bast. What do you want? As far as I'm concerned I'm not your problem."

    "Debatable. After all, this is my city, therefore making it my business when you decide to rob a bank." Before Mindbender could blink, Barry practically flew by him, snatching up the rucksack of money that was clutched in his hands. "Hey!" Mindbender yelled, running out the door after him.

                                  ...

    Barry quit running about three blocks away, stopping a few yards from where Oliver was watching on top of a nearby apartment complex. A small light flickered from the top of it, signaling that he was ready. Barry offered him a small nod before Mindbender came skidding around the corner.

    "You. Are. Despicable." Mindbender said, breathing heavily. Barry resisted the urge to bust out laughing.

    "Now give me that money." He snarled. Barry snorted.

"'Cause it's always that easy," he answered, backtracking to bring Mindbender into Oliver's line of fire. Mindbender advanced, falling for the trap perfectly. Or so they thought.

    The instant the arrow left Oliver's bow, Mindbender side-stepped the speeding projectile so that it missed him by mere inches.

"Clever," he said. "But not that clever." Before Barry could react, he pulled a knife from somewhere in his cloak, driving it into the speedster's side. He left it lodged in there, knowing he wouldn't be able to heal quickly with it inside him.

    Barry collapsed onto the pavement, screaming in pain. Mindbender grinned madly, raising yet another knife to make the killing blow.

                                     ...

    Oliver practically flew down the stairs, lunging for the door, knowing he wouldn't get there fast enough. A knot of despair clenched his stomach. He felt like screaming as he reached the empty street, and saw Mindbender standing over his friend, light gleaming on the dagger he held clutched in his hands. Oliver's face contorted with desperation and he tried in vain to speed up just enough to help his friend, knowing he wouldn't be fast enough. Luckily for him, someone else was.

                                   ...

    As the knife plunged down, an orange and black-striped blur barreled into the villain. Through blurred vision, Barry could see Bast beating Mindbender back tooth-and-claw. He didn't focus on them for long though, but instead tried desperately to dislodge the knife in his side. His fingers, slick with blood, slipped off of the hilt.

He thought sadly of Iris, his heart painfully aware he may not see her again. As he re-tried to get rid of the dagger, the strength left his arm and he lost consciousness. He was vaguely aware of Caitlin sobbing in his ear, and of Cisco screaming for him not to close his eyes. His last thought was of how heartbroken Iris would be, and that he still hadn't told her...

                                     ...       

    Bast sneaked a glance at Barry before blocking another one of Mindbender's punches. The sight of a bleeding Flash made her want to vomit. The scene reminded her of another speedster, one she had already failed. She wasn't going through that again.

    Bast also knew that Oliver wasn't strong enough to get Barry anywhere anytime soon. Unfortunately it would also mean giving up her best chance of taking out Mindbender, but the choice was clear. She stepped away from reluctantly, giving him the chance to escape.

    "Arrow!" Bast called out. "Take care of Mindbender." Oliver nodded reluctantly, taking off after him. She turned back to the motionless hero, considering his still form.

Sighing, she finally decided to forget about keeping her last little secret. Her muscles contorted, becoming more muscular and lithe as she transformed into what was probably the biggest Bengal tiger in the known world. With careful ease, Bast hefted Barry onto her back. Sure he was secure, the tiger launched herself up the wall of the nearest building. Her reinforced claws strained at the extra weight, but held firmly lodged in the wall.

      Bast sighed as she realized how little time she had to find help for him, and knew that no matter how fast she could run, she couldn't get Barry to his friends by herself. With that thought spurring her on, she ran for the Central City News Department.
                                                                 ...
      Iris West was just exiting the building, sipping a cup of cold coffee and thinking sadly of the times when her ex-boyfriend Eddie would pick up from work, when a tiger the size of her car jumped into her path. Before it could really get weird though, the tiger decided to scare the living crap out of her and turn into what she later described a catwoman.

      The catwoman quickly adjusted her passenger before he could hit the ground, and Iris was shocked to see the Flash dangling from her shoulder.
"Name's Bast," Grunted the cat. "And he needs your help."

      "Why come to me?" Iris managed, barley keeping her composure. Bast didn't respond, instead deciding not to waste time, and ripping Barry's cowl from his face. Iris gaped as she recognized the face, though not quite registering what it meant.

       "Because you're going to lose someone that is very important to you unless you GET MOVING!" Bast thundered. Iris finally snapped into gear, wrenching open her car door and inserting the keys in the ignition. Bast jumped in with her, careful not to hurt Barry.

"Where to?" Iris demanded. "S.T.A.R. Labs and step on it. Forget about running red lights." Bast responded. Iris gave her a look, then remembered what was at stake and slammed into gear.

        Picking the comm out of Barry's cowl, Bast put it up to her ear. "Caitlin, Cisco! Get ready for surgery, we're coming as fast as we can." A yelling sound was audible from the comm. "I had to tell Iris, Caitlin. And is now really the best time?"

       The comm fell silent, and Iris prayed silently as she ran a third red light.
                                                                       ...
     Back at the lab, Iris watched in horror as Caitlin and Cisco worked double-time to save Barry. Tears flooded her face as Bast removed a bloodstained dagger from his side. She sank to her knees and prayed, and hoped, and silently told Barry to keep going. And that she needed him, that she loved him.