Author's note: This story takes place during Season 2 of The Flash.
*
Linda Park considered herself to be a fairly relaxed person most of the time. Sure, she had worries and insecurities, but she didn't let them show.
However like everybody she had her breaking point, and apparently having an evil doppelgΓ€nger who killed her boss in front of her, wanting to kill her, and was now once again on the loose after successfully escaping from the resident superhero the Flash qualified as her breaking point.
The fact that she was now hiding in the childhood home of her ex-boyfriend and current crush was not helping, especially when that crush was being so sweet to her.
"I, I know there's probably nothing I can say to make you feel better." Iris admitted softly, "But is there anything I can do?"
Linda could think of a lot of answers to that question, most of them incredibly inappropriate. Not just because she was currently hiding from someone with her face trying to kill her and this was probably the safest place for her, or because Iris West was a woman.
Iris was her co-worker, and Linda had a very strict policy against office romance as it never ended well. Besides, Iris was probably straight, Linda told herself for like the millionth time before desperately trying to take her mind off this subject.
"Do you think she got a degree or something?" Linda blurted out.
Iris frowned, "What?"
"Dr Light. Do you think she's an actual doctor in her world, or did she think it just sounded cool? You know, like Dr Evil? Or is there a whole family out there? Like Mr and Mrs Light? Miss Light? Or Ms Light?" Linda babbled, and then when Iris chuckled she asked, "What?"
"You just remind me of someone." Iris explained.
"Oh." Linda murmured, and then offered, "Barry?"
"No." Iris smiled fondly.
"Caitlin?" Linda guessed again.
"No." Iris shook her head, "This friend of Barry's from Starling... I mean, Star city. I only met her once, but she babbles a lot."
"I don't babble." Linda huffed, "Just when I'm nervous."
Iris frowned, thought about it for a moment and then queried, "So... I'm making you nervous?. Why would I make you nervous?"
Abort, abort Linda screamed in her head, but instead of changing the subject as she should she simply murmured, "You're a reporter. You figure it out."
There was a long pause and then Iris cautiously asked, "Is this about Barry?"
"Barry! Why would this be about Barry?" Linda exclaimed, pausing to fight the urge to spill her guts before mentally thinking, screw it, "I dated him for like five minutes, and now I barely see him. But... but... you. I see you every day. I see you being so sweet and nice to everybody, looking so hot and, and I just... I'm sorry, I should go."
"No! You can't, it's not safe!" Iris exclaimed without hesitating, before lowering her head and adding, "Besides, you're just scared and confused."
"Scared, yes. But confused? No, I'm not confused." Linda grumbled, taking offence at the accusation, "I've had a crush on you since day one, and with every day that passes by the more and more I wish you'd see me in another light."
There was a long pause and then Iris began, "Linda, I-"
"That wasn't meant to be a pun." Linda blurted out, wanting to put off what seemed like an inevitable rejection, "I just... you make me nervous, this whole situation is crazy and, and it's just a stupid crush, and I'm sorry I bought it up. You've been so nice, and I would never want to make you feel uncomfortable, I just-"
Throughout that little word vomiting session Iris tried to interrupt her, but Linda wouldn't let her, terrified of what she would say.
Then all of a sudden Iris was leaning forward and pressing their lips together, Linda so shocked she didn't initially kiss back. Which lasted for about two seconds before she gently put her hands on Iris's hips, pulled her closer and of course kissed back.
Unfortunately a few seconds later Iris broke the kiss, pulled back slightly and looked incredibly nervous, Linda wondering if that was it. If that was all she was going to get. If it was, at least it was something, but Linda couldn't help hope for more.
"I've, I've never kissed a girl before." Iris admitted.
"Oh." Linda murmured, "To quote a terrible song, did you like it?"
"Hey, I like that song." Iris chuckled, before pulling away and softly answering, "And yeah... but it was kind of brief, so maybe we could go up to my room so I could get a more informed opinion. Or we could just make out on the couch until Barry gets here."
The last part was thankfully drenched in sarcasm, so Linda softly laughed, "He'd probably like that, but yeah. Let's go."
With that Iris flashed her a soft smile, and then she turned and headed to the stairs. Linda quickly followed her, getting a great view of Iris's butt as she did so.
She then found herself glancing at Barry's bedroom, Linda feeling awkward as she remembered the only other times she had been up here, her then boyfriend pointing out his best friend's bedroom before leading her into his own.
Now she was going into the other bedroom, Linda trying to decide whether it was slutty or just weird to go after someone else in this family. Iris was obviously thinking something along the same lines given the look on her face when Linda closed the bedroom door behind them.
After a few long seconds of standing there in silence Iris blurted out, "I've... I've always wanted to experiment, but I always had a steady boyfriend in high school and college, and... and, I was kind of hoping you had a crush on me."
Smiling brightly Linda asked, "Really?"