N I N E T E E N:
iron fist

"I gotta say, Iris, you look amazing," Tony complimented, closing in on the two girls. Bibiana knew better than taking her phone out and endangering everyone inside. "Who are you?"

"Bibiana Solace," Bibiana answered, she took a sip of her drink.

The girl decided to stay by Iris side since he looked dangerous. Even if he wasn't a meta-human, Bibiana would've still stuck by Iris.

"Thanks, Tony. Um, you too," Iris replied.

"Oh. Yeah, I keep in shape," Tony said. Bibiana tried to think of what to do in front of Barry's enemy without giving it away that she's Electric Storm. "Got a gym at my place. Been living out in Keystone. The west side. You should, uh, stop by sometime. Maybe you too, Bibiana."

Bibiana wanted to gag. She was sure he wasn't really interested in her.

"So, uh, can I get you a drink?" Iris asked.

"We're still talking," Bibiana said, following Iris as Tony followed them both.

"No, I came to see you," Tony told Iris. Both girls turned to look at him.

"How did you know I was here?" Iris asked.

"Yeah," Bibiana backed her up.

"Been reading up on the Streak and Electric Storm," Tony replied.

"You can read?" Bibiana asked surprised. She can never keep her mouth shut. It'll probably put her in danger one day.

"Yes I can," Tony replied. "Found your little blog. Why are you writing about these guys?"

"People say that they're heroes," Iris said.

"I say they're cowards," Tony retorted. "And I just happen to know that he took a beating last night and ran off like a little girl. Electric Storm also never showed up. You should write about that. Do you, uh, have any idea who leather boy or lightning girl is?"

"No clue," Iris replied, taking steps away from him. Tony looked at Bibiana.

"What would I know? Captain America is Steve Rogers, Iron Man is Tony Stark, Hulk is Bruce Banner," Bibiana replied, also taking steps back.

"So, um, if you don't want to drink, I should get back to work," Iris stated. "Bibiana, you can help me."

Both girls started to walk away again before Tony started to talk.

"Actually, I'd prefer to buy you a drink," Tony said. He looked Iris up and down. Bibiana wanted to slap him. "What time are you off?"

"Thanks. Tony, but I don't think my boyfriend would approve," Iris replied. "He's a cop, like my dad."

"I never really did like cops too much," Tony said. He turned to Bibiana. "How about you?"

"My boyfriend, Barry Allen, works with Iris's boyfriend," Bibiana lied. She had to say the first name that popped into her head and it had to be Barry.

"Iris," a girl whispered. It caught Bibiana's attention least to say. Her eyes landed on the wanted sign on the TV with Tony Woodward's picture.

"Well, our boyfriends are picking us up for the C.C.P.D.'s ball," Iris said. Looking for her phone. "Wall-to-wall cops, can't swing a cat, I should call to see where he is."

"And I should probably call in at work," Bibiana added, taking out her phone. Then she noticed that Tony saw the wanted news.

"Give me the phones, Iris, Bibiana," Tony said. "Now!"

He took them out of their hands and crushed them by making his arm into steel.

"I just paid it off," Bibiana quickly said, taking a step back. If only she didn't have a secret identity to keep.

"Sorry," Tony replied. He put a wad of cash in the jar where he had dropped both phones. "For the damage. We'll pick this up some other time."

Bibiana stood next to Iris, watching Tony leave. The girl didn't hesitate to take deep breaths. She also knew it wasn't smart to leave Jitters.

Iris ran behind the counter and took out her laptop. She started to type quickly before she looked at Bibiana.

"I have something or someone to show you," Iris said. "And what did you mean Barry is your boyfriend?"

"It was the spur of the moment and I was scared," Bibiana replied.

⇝⇝⇝

Bibiana stayed with Jitters throughout the whole day, to try and see if Tony would come back. She took a sip of the free coffee Iris gave her when Barry ran into Jitters. In his suit of course. The girl spits out her coffee and onto her work out clothes.

"So much for first impressions," Bibiana mumbled, looking down at her clothes. She was playing along like it was the first time she met the hero.

Barry was relieved that Bibiana was safe. The girl didn't call or ever return to S.T.A.R. Labs, it had scares, everyone.

"I guess you got my message," Iris said, getting out of the booth. Bibiana followed her lead and acted like she was in awe.

"How is this possible?" Bibiana asked. "Does your metabolism break down your food fast because you can run fast and all?"

"Are you two okay?" Barry asked in his fake voice. He ignored Bibiana's question because she already knew the answer

"Cop's daughter. I can handle myself," Iris replied.

"I was raised by a military family," Bibiana added, crossing her arms. "I can take care of myself. Just not when crazy people want to buy me a drink."

"Not with this guy," Barry said.

"I knew him when we were kids," Iris stated. "He didn't want to hurt me. He wanted to impress me. But he is fixated on you and Electric Storm and not in a good way. Where is she?"

"She comes out when I need her," Barry replied. "Do you know where he went?"

"He said something about Keystone," Bibiana said, snapping her fingers. "Would you age quick? Will you be an old man in five weeks?"

"Said he had a place in West Keystone," Iris repeated Bibiana's words. "Bragged how big it was, but I have no idea where."

"I do," Barry said, preparing to run.

"Wait," Iris said. "There's something else. His hand, it transformed. Like an iron fist. He's like you and Electric Storm, isn't he?"

"Yes," Barry replied. "And writing about me and Electric Storm is what brought him to you."

"I know but maybe I can talk to him--"

"No," Barry cut Iris off. "He's too dangerous."

"How many bugs do you swallow everything you go running for a day?" Bibiana asked. There was a knock on Jitters door. Bibiana and Iris turned to see cops.

"Damn, that's my ride," Iris said. She turned to look at the Flash slowly. "Eddie insisted on a detail. I have to..." The Streak was gone. "...go."

"Did my questions scare him?" Bibiana asked Iris as she picked up her gym bag.

"No, he just never answers them," Iris replied.

⇝⇝⇝

It took a while before she was able to assure Iris that she would be okay on her own. It also didn't shock Bibiana when Iris didn't want to go in Bibiana's apartment since Barry was there.

Bibiana entered the cortex of S.T.A.R. Labs and saw Dr. Wells yelling at Barry.

"What were you thinking!" Dr. Wells yelled. "I told you that we would figure out a way to deal with him."

"I'll heal," Barry said. Bibiana ran up to them.

"Barry Allen!" Bibiana yelled. "How dare you go and face Tony on your own! If you only gave me 3 minutes I would've been able to go with you and stopped you from doing this! You are so lucky I was with Iris before I went all Electric Storm on you!"

"You can't heal when you're dead," Dr. Wells said in a serious tone. He knew Bibiana would give Barry hell. "He could have killed you."

Barry got up and started to walk away.

"I know, all right? I know," Barry yelled. "In the past 36 hours, I've had my ass handed to me twice by the guy that tortured me as a kid. I couldn't stop him then and I can't stop him now. Even with my powers, I'm still powerless against him."

"Not necessarily. Cisco," Dr. Wells said. Caitlin turned to Bibiana.

"Where have you been?" She asked.

"At Jitters with Iris," Bibiana answered. "I had to face Tony as a normal person and stick with Iris in case he came back."

Caitlin pinched Bibiana. "Ow."

"Any material, if struck at a high enough velocity can be compromised," Dr. Wells explained.

"We ran an analysis on the metal in Tony's footprint," Cisco informed them. "Based on its density and atomic structure, if you impact it at just the right angle, at just the right speed, you could do some serious damage."

"How fast would I have to go?" Barry asked.

"Factoring in the metal's tensile strength, estimated dermal thickness, atmospheric pressure, air temp you'd have to hit him at approximately Mach 1.1," Cisco answered.

"You want Barry to hit something at 800 miles an hour?" Caitlin asked.

"When you accomplish that," Bibiana started off. "You can go to my favorite food place and buy me food. Then I'll forgive you."

"Eight hundred thirty-seven, actually," Cisco said.

"That's faster than the speed of sound," Caitlin replied.

"I know. He would create a sonic boom, which, as I said before, would be awesome," Cisco said.

"I've never gone that fast," Barry stated.

"Yet," Dr. Wells added.

"I believe in you," Bibiana said.

"I can't believe we're actually entertaining this idea," Caitlin stated. "I mean, he'd need a straight shot from miles away."

"Yeah, 5.3 miles, theoretically," Cisco said.

"Do it right, you'll take him down," Dr. Wells added.

"Do it wrong, you'll shatter every bone in your body," Caitlin stated.

"Uh, forget what I said earlier," Bibiana said.

•○•

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jmc