Barry & Iris - Post 3.05 - Alt. Ending
“You still up?” came Barry’s voice as soon as Iris pressed speaker.
“Finishing an article,” she said, distractedly typing up her piece.
“Oh.” A pause. “Want some company?”
Her finger hovered over a key as she glanced down at the phone, seeing both her boyfriend’s name and the time. She took the phone off speaker and put it to her ear.
“It’s 1 a.m. Is something wrong?”
Confusion clearly colored his voice.
“Then - oh! Something happened with Julian, didn’t it?”
“Uh yeah, how did you know?”
“I haven’t heard from you since before you went to pack up your stuff. I just figured - ” She froze and flushed when she realized the assumption she’d made. “- that something came up,” she finished quickly, hoping he wouldn’t take notice.
You shouldn’t just assume he wants to talk to you for a good hour every evening just because he’s been making a point to either in person or over the phone, Iris, she scolded herself. Barry did have a life outside of her. He likely got tired too.
“Oh.” He sounded surprised but didn’t press her for information. “Well, we sort of had a breakthrough I guess you could say.”
“Oh, really?” She stood to her feet, all smiles as she started to cross the room. “That great, Bear.”
Iris could hear him smiling into the phone; she smiled wider.
“Did you take my advice and try and see things from his perspective?”
“I think so.” He sounded confused, or at the very least wondering. “I think he sort of helped me see it himself without even realizing he was doing it.”
“Well, I’m glad you guys are off to a good start now. That’s great.”
The silence lingered, and then a beat later Iris heard a sound against her door. Her brows furrowed and she went do it. Something was blocking the peephole.
“Barry?” She asked and smiled when the object removed itself.
“Yeah?” He responded, louder this time but not because he’d raised his voice.
Iris unlatched and unlocked her door, letting in her boyfriend who almost fell to the floor because he’d been caught off guard.
“Bear.” A little laugh trickled out of her.
“Hey,” he said sheepishly. The dark outside couldn’t blind her to his blush.
“What were you doing out there?” She wrinkled her nose.
“Well, I…I didn’t know if you were asleep.”
“Barry, Barry…” She draped her arms around his neck and asked for no further explanation.
