After losing the man she loved to the Speed Force and her powers to the Lazarus Pit, Delaney West spent six months controlling her bloodlust and trying to keep her team together. She's taken over the role of team leader before but now she doesn't ha...
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While the rest of the team was working on trying to find a way to test the cure, Iris and I were spending the day at the house since Dad just got back with our sister. Cecile sat on the couch with us as we looked at the pictures that Dad took in Tibet when he was visiting Wally, "Look at these pictures. So peaceful. So beautiful. So peaceful", she gushed. Dad smiled and sat with us, "It is, isn't it? You know, I never understood why Wally went there. Now I do", he told us, definitely feeling more relaxed than he had before. Iris looked at him, "It makes me wonder. Is my baby brother ever coming back from Tibet?", she asked Dad. He shrugged, "Well, all I know is he is more at ease than he has ever been. And if that means he wants to stay away from...the crazy that is Central City, then you know what? So be it", he said.
I smiled and grabbed his hand, "Well, I'm just glad you're back, Dad", I said to him. Cecile smiled and wrapped her arms around him, "We're all glad you're back", she said as he kissed her forehead, "Even Captain Singh is glad you're back", she told him. Suddenly, we heard Jenna crying from upstairs and Dad went to get up, "I'll get it", he said. Cecile shook her head and made him sit back down, "No, no, no. No, you will not. You have been on crying baby duty for far too long, Joe West", she told him as they started giving each other quick kisses. Iris and I quickly averted our eyes, "And you guys say Barry and I are bad", I joked before Cecile headed upstairs.
Dad looked towards the stairs, "Are we ever gonna talk about this couch you bought?", he called after her. "Another day, Joe. Another day", she yelled as she went upstairs. Dad looked to Iris and I for help and I shook my head, "Very expensive", I told him. He looked at us, "So, Cecile...has brought me up to speed. Cicada--been very busy", he said. I could feel Iris' mood drop significantly, "Yeah, well Team SirenFlash will figure out a way to beat him", she said. He shook his head, "But Jonesy was helping him right under our nose, and that got me thinking, Cicada's eluded capture for so long that I'm thinking that he's still getting help from somebody", he told us and I nodded in agreement.
Iris gulped before changing the subject, "I want more coffee. Yeah, I'm gonna make some more coffee. I'll bring you a fresh cup", she said as she took all three of our coffee mugs into the kitchen. Dad looked at me for help and I sighed, "A lot's gone down since you've been gone, Dad", I told him.
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"Stop, that did not happen", I laughed at Dad's story. He laughed and sat at the table with Iris and I, "Yes, it did. My lips went numb, and then they swelled up so bad it looked like I had plastic surgery", he told us. Iris shook her head as she laughed, "What did Wally do?", she asked. He rolled his eyes, "He laughed, of course. The baby laughed. At least now I know I'm allergic to Szechuan peppers", he told us. Iris smiled and started to pull out her laptop, "Dad, do you mind if we work here today, actually?", she asked him, making me give her a confused look.
"Why? We have our own office now, that we're paying to rent", I reminded her. She looked at me, clearly nervous, "Yeah, I know. It's just I noticed something with the plumbing and we can't have water dripping on our laptops, can we?", she tried to make up an excuse but I knew she was lying. Dad got an idea, "Well, hey, uh, the guy that expanded our guest bath--he did a really great job and he's affordable. Let me give you his number", he said as he pulled out his phone. She stopped him, "No, Dad, it's fine, really", she said. He looked at her, "Iris, if you to don't take care of this quickly, it could snowball. Here. Let me just send it to you", he said as he started to send her the number.
Seeing that he wasn't going to stop, she changed her course and started packing up her stuff, "Yeah, why don't you send it to me and I'll head over there and see what I can do. Thanks, Dad", she said and kissed his cheek. "Love you", he called to her as she walked out the door, clearly not noticing that anything was wrong with her. As soon as she was gone, I looked at him, "There's nothing wrong with our plumbing", I told him. He looked up at me confused, "What? But Iris said--", he started, but I shook my head. "She lied. What I don't know is why", I said and tried to think of why my sister didn't want to go to our office.
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I walked into Jitters to see my sister exactly where I thought she'd be, at a table working instead of our office. I sighed and walked over to her, "So I went to the office to see of you needed help with the 'plumbing problem'", I told her, letting her know that I knew she was lying. She looked at me, "Delaney--", she started, ready to make another excuse for lying to Dad and I, but I stopped her. I sat on the seat next to her, "Don't even try to come up with another lie. You're still thinking about Nora's time loop, aren't you?", I asked her. She looked down at her hands, "I mean, Nora and Cisco told us what happened. Although we don't remember any of it, just knowing what did happen...", she trailed off and I nodded.
She looked back at me, "I mean, I broke into Cicada's home. I fought him, Delaney. And as terrifying as that was, I mean, at least I could react to it. But now--now that he knows who I am, who you all are. He could show up at any moment. I just--I feel...", she trailed off. "Powerless?", I asked her. She nodded, "Yeah, I just...I can't go back there", she told me. That's when I got an idea, "Okay, get up", I told her and stood up from my seat. She rolled her eyes, "Delaney, I told you, I don't want to go back there", she said. I closed her laptop, "I'm not taking you to the office", I told her.
She looked at me confused, "Then where?", she asked me as she hesitantly packed her stuff up. "Somewhere I can show you how powerful you really are", I told her.
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"This is not going to work", Iris complained. I took her too Barry's lab so that we could use the extra space in there. I rolled my eyes at my sister, "You haven't even tried it yet", I told her. She sighed, "Look I get it. I'm supposed to take out my frustrations on that bag and somehow get over it, but it's not that easy", she said referring to the punching bag in the middle of the room. I shook my head, "We're not using that bag", I corrected her as I slipped off my cardigan and tied up my hair. She looked at me confused before she realized what I meant, "No, I'm not going to hit you", she said.
"I know that you're feeling. So many metas have broken into the loft to attack Barry and I. Devoe framed my husband for murder in that apartment. After hearing what happened, I was scared to go back there because I never knew when the monster would show up again and I didn't have my powers to defend myself against him", I told her. She looked at me, "How did you move past the fear?", she asked me. I shrugged, "I fought for it. I fought for my sanity. You have to also", I told her and she looked down at her hands.
I looked at her, "Iris, you're never gonna heal until you can work through your anger. Now, imagine I'm Cicada. Show me what you got", I told her. She took a breath before charging at me, but I was easily able to dodge her, sending her tumbling to the mat. She huffed and got up, sending punch after punch my way, but I ducked under them all, "Come on, is that all you got?", I yelled to her as I grabbed her fist that was swinging at me. She was getting angrier and angrier by the minute and before I knew it, she had tackled me to the ground.
I smiled as she helped me back to my feet, "That's what I'm talking about. Now how about I show you how to defend yourself if he ever comes after you?", I asked her. She nodded, "Let's do it", she said, now showing a new determination than before.
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I know this chapter was short but I wanted to have Delaney and Iris to have a moment. I hope you all enjoy.
Also, in case you haven't heard, Hartley was fired for some racist and sexist tweets that he made in the past. I've seen a lot of people saying that he didn't deserve to be fired because of something in the past. That he should be given a chance to change. The only thing I can say is that I believe the showrunners did the right thing. He needs to be held accountable for his actions. We as a society need to realize that our words really do have an effect on people.
