It Happened in a Flash

He has a conversation

  "Sorry about that," Kara said, as she noticed who it was her face fell and she felt Barry move a little closer to her, his grip slightly tightening.  

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"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." 

 Barry hoped his small increase in grip and space were enough to ensure Kara that things would be alright, even though he failed to convince himself. "Can we please just talk about this?" He questioned desperately. 

"Please tell me that this is just a bad dream or a horrible coincidence," Iris begged as her eyes began to burn from the threatening tears.

"Iris..."

"Please tell me that you didn't just replace me that quickly, especially w-with h-h-er." Iris tried again as the tears spilled from her eyes. Wally who was standing beside her looked at Barry with disappointment and anger.

"Iris it's not like that-"

"Then what is it like!? Explain it to me then, please! It's been about a week since we ended it between us! I've been in pain, trying to convince myself that you guys didn't sleep together that night, to believe you! Meanwhile, you are going out on dates with her?! So tell me what are you then Bartholomew!?!"

Barry grimaced at the bitterness of his name, he had become quite complacent with Kara using it as a term of endearment, that it hit him hard as Iris spat it out as if the word was toxic. "It's complicated." He explained quietly.

As he expected his answer wasn't well received. "Complicated? Complicated?!" Iris replied in disbelief, her voice amplifying as her anger and pain increased. "It's not that complicated Barry! We had an argument, I left and you had an affair with some freaking blonde!" Iris knew she shouldn't attack Kara but she was angry and any belief she had in Barry she was willing to break as long as she made her point. 

Barry squeezed Kara's hand in support but decided it best to ignore Iris' dig on her and just press on" You know we didn't sleep together. You said it yourself; you believe that we didn't sleep together, which we didn't." Barry emphasized as he noticed Wally giving him a look of disbelief. 

Before Barry could get any further Iris cut him off. She knew she shouldn't but she couldn't stop herself, she focused in on Kara who seemed to be having a staring contest with the floor. "What about you?" She spat, Kara looked up realizing that Iris was now focused on her. "You can withstand bullets but you can't talk? You know I thought you were better than this, but clearly, I was wrong. Maybe you aren't as good as they say, maybe you're just a failure." Iris said bitterly. She knew the second the words came out that she was crossing a line and instantly regretted it. Kara's breath slightly hitched at Iris' words.

"Enough! Iris, leave her out of this. I get that I hurt you and I'm sorry. You can hate me all you want, you can tell the others that I was a jerk, you can tell Joe not to let me come back but Kara did nothing wrong, so leave her alone." Barry said noticing that Kara's eyes had begun to glaze over in tears at Iris' words. Iris and Wally looked at Barry in shock, but he maintained his hard stare. 

"Fine. But can I ask you something?" Iris said, humbled by Barry's defensiveness of the close-to-indestructible-girl. Barry nodded, having calmed down "Did you ever care about me?" She asked timidly. 

Barry's heart broke at her words, "Of course I did, I still do." Iris looked at him in confusion pushing him to explain, "Iris, I've always wanted to take care of you. I love you still. The thing is I was so in love with the idea of us together that I didn't realize that we weren't as perfect as I imagined. I love you Iris but I'm not in love with you anymore, I'm sorry." 

Iris was quiet as tears streaked her face, her dark brown orbs looking bigger as she cried silently. She wiped her face and took a breath before responding. "I get it. We were great together but it was more comfort than fun. I still don't think I can really face you guys though, but I forgive you." She said with a small, sad smile. She then took Wally's arm and they went around Kara and Barry who still had intertwined their hands together. Barry and Kara watched as they went and sat down at the table that Cade had left their menus on. After a moment Barry looked down at Kara only to be met by her own gaze. 

Barry tentatively leaned down and gently pressed a kiss to Kara's temple snapping her attention away from the others. "Let's go home," He said, she nodded with a small smile dawning on her as she turned towards the door to leave. They walked out into the cool air of the night.  A comfortable silence surrounding them. They came to a crosswalk and waited for a clearing, simply enjoying each other's company. Suddenly Kara leaned up and kissed Barry's cheek. He looked down at her both blushing from her sudden act. "What was that for,"Barry asked, then he added, "not that it was unappreciated." 

Kara laughed lightly before explaining, "That was for defending me to Iris, I know that you wouldn't have shown any annoyance towards her if she had insulted you." As they crossed the street Kara thought of Iris' words wondering if there was any truth behind them.

As if Barry could read her mind he spoke up, "I will always defend you.  Also, know that none of what she said was even close to true. She was just angry."

"I wasn't even thinking about-"

"You always bite your lower lip a little when something is bothering you." Barry interrupted her futile attempt to convince him that she wasn't thinking about it. She smiled at him marveling at how well he knew her, happy to have him in her life. 

"You know I'm getting kind of tired of walking," Kara said smiling. In response Barry quirked his eyebrow in amusement, she laughed as a mix of entertainment and surprise enveloped his face. 

"Well, I think I may just have a solution to that." He said jokingly.

"Oh do you now?" She asked.

"Yep, you could always fly." He said with a smile. Kara looked at him in mock offense, honestly surprised he didn't just sweep her off her feet. Suddenly she got an idea she sighed and said; "Well if you insist." Barry realized that she was moving closer to him, noticing what she was about to do he gave her a warning look and was about to threaten her when she picked him up and flew into the air. He gasped at the sudden jump he looked around marveling at the view of the cityscape. He looked up at her still slightly in shock, she shrugged with a grin and replied; "I can't let you win all the time." He just laughed as they flew over the town together admiring all of the beauty, peacefully and together.

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Hey guys! So for once I don't have to apologize for being late because I'm actually on schedule! Whoo-hoo! Anyway I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter I had fun writing it. Currently, I'm getting ready to take midterms so this is a nice break. Thank you also for all the support on this story, it means a lot to me. Anyway, hope you guys are all having a great day!