I am Wally west

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"I have to say, this place feels homey," Wally complimented genuinely. However, Iris felt their place was still lackluster in comparison to Wally's.

"Come on, this place pales in comparison to your villa," Iris expressed, showcasing a playful envy.

"I don't mean it that way. I mean, this place is full of life, love," Wally said, his expression thoughtful. Iris quickly caught onto this and chuckled lightly.

"Aw, is someone feeling a little lonely? Missing a certain someone, perhaps?" Iris teased, a large grin forming on her face.

"Shut up," Wally pushed her playfully, and Iris burst into even bigger laughter.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

"Yeah, yeah," Wally replied reluctantly, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"When you're free, maybe you should visit her," Iris suggested.

"Maybe I should," Wally admitted.

They paused, both unsure of what to talk about. Around them, the rest of the team was busy with their own activities—chatting, snacking, and enjoying a rare break from the usual pressures of safeguarding Central City.

"So, what have you been working on? Dad mentioned you went to Star City today," Iris asked, her curiosity evident as she shifted closer, waiting for his response.

"Yeah, I went there for a cooperation proposal with ARGUS," Wally replied.

"ARGUS?" She was initially surprised but quickly moved on.

"How did it go?" she asked, not particularly prying since she knew his explanation would likely dive into science and technology—topics that usually left her a bit lost.

"It went well. I should be getting a response soon," Wally said simply.

"Well, I hope everything goes smoothly. You know this will bring me some indirect fame too, right?" She smiled visibly.

Wally shrugged, shifting to a more serious tone. "So, what's your decision on the matter we discussed?" he asked, feigning a grave expression. The truth was, the issue didn't carry much weight for him. The only reason he was insistent on her telling Joe now was that she'd inevitably do it on her own terms. Why prolong a secret you have no intention of keeping?

She hesitated, her expression tightening as she glanced over her shoulder at Joe. For a moment, she simply stared, then sighed and turned back to Wally.

"I've decided to tell him… after tonight," she said softly.

Wally could read her emotions as clearly as if they were written across her face. Fear clung to her—not just of Joe's reaction but of the deeper implications. Telling him meant moving one step closer to her fate. It was illogical, perhaps, but not entirely unfounded.

"Good. It's for the best," he said, sighing slightly. He stared at Iris, who was lost in thought. Deciding she needed some reassurance, he offered a comforting smile.

"Come on, Sis. Do you really think that with Barry and me around, Savitar could lay a finger on you? You're safe with us," he said, his voice steady. But despite his effort, his words seemed to offer little solace.

As his gaze shifted to the gathered group, a mix of family and friends, he felt a pang of guilt. Lately, he'd been so focused on strengthening himself that he'd neglected those around him. No matter how strong he became, they could still be used as leverage against him. He couldn't afford to rush, but he resolved to start somewhere—back to the basics.

The party continued, though the end was clearly near. Conversations grew deeper as people savored the last moments of the gathering.

Suddenly, a ripple tore through the speedsters' senses. Even Cisco turned sharply, his attention fixed in a specific direction. Barry and Pietro exchanged confused glances, trying to make sense of the inexplicable feeling. But Wally already knew. The sensation was unmistakable—it was a manipulation of transdimensional energies.

Before anyone could react, space itself warped, and a glowing breach appeared, shimmering and folding over itself. From the rift, a dark-skinned woman leaped out, clutching a weapon that resembled a pistol.

She ignored everyone else, her focus locked on her target—H.R. Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger. The projectile cut through the air with a sharp hiss, hurtling toward the stunned H.R.

But Wally was already moving.

The projectile was fast, faster than any conventional bullet. Yet, in less than a second, Wally had it in his grasp. Holding it up for closer inspection, he confirmed it was harmless—designed only to incapacitate. Still, it packed enough force to knock the wind out of a full-grown man.

"A speedster. Quite rare," the woman—Gypsy—said, returning the gun to its holster. On the other hand, Joe still had his gun pointed at her.

Barry, standing just a few feet away, had been ready to spring into action himself, but Wally had beaten him to it. He couldn't help but crack a small, proud smile before his attention snapped to the intruder.

"Hey! Who are you, and why are you attacking us?" Barry demanded, stepping forward, his voice steady but with a clear edge.

The woman's sharp gaze shifted to him, her stance unflinching. "Stay out of this," she said curtly. "This has nothing to do with you, Flash."

Barry's eyes narrowed. "It does when you show up unannounced and start shooting at my team."

The woman exhaled, clearly frustrated. "He's not your team. That man," she said, pointing at H.R., "is a fugitive. He's wanted on my Earth for violating our laws. I'm here to bring him back."

H.R., who had been frozen in place since the breach appeared, finally found his voice. "Now, hold on! This is all a big misunderstanding!" He instinctively moved behind Cisco, using him as a human shield.

Barry's tone remained calm but firm. "Look, I don't know what H.R. did, but you can't just show up here and start throwing around accusations—or weapons. If you have a problem, let's talk about it."

The woman's eyes narrowed further. "This isn't a negotiation. My orders are to take him back. Move aside, or I'll make you."

Barry's posture shifted slightly, his determination clear. "Not until you tell me exactly what's going on. If he broke a law on your Earth, then we'll figure it out together."

Wally, still holding the projectile in his hand, stepped up beside Barry. "And in case you didn't notice, you're not the only one with powers around here." Unlike Barry, Wally contrasted the talk-first, fight-later philosophy. If Gypsy overstepped, he wouldn't hesitate to step in.

Her expression flickered with surprise as she glanced at Wally but quickly returned to a cool, calculating demeanor.

"I'm a collector. I enforce the laws of my Earth, and your friend here violated them by coming to this Earth. He's a fugitive. My orders are to bring him back to Earth-19 to face justice."

"This is all a misunderstanding!" H.R. edged closer to Cisco, clearly hoping for protection. "I didn't hurt anyone—I just… left!" His words fell short. He already knew the consequences of his actions but never thought he'd be caught.

Gypsy's expression hardened. "You broke one of our most sacred laws: interdimensional travel. On Earth-19, that crime is punishable by death, and you knew that before coming here."

Gasps rippled through the room. Cisco stepped in front of H.R. instinctively. "Whoa, whoa, whoa—death? Are you kidding? He didn't even do anything dangerous!"

Gypsy seemed thoughtful for a while, recalling the countless invasions their Earth had endured and the lives lost in the process.

Cisco stepped forward, trying to diffuse the tension. "Let's just take a deep breath and not turn this into some brawl. Ma'am—uh, whoever you are—we've dealt with multiversal visitors before. Why don't we all take a moment to sit down, maybe have a drink, and talk this out?"

The woman's stern expression softened slightly as she glanced at Cisco, but her posture remained guarded. She turned her attention to H.R. and spoke coldly, "You have two hours to get your affairs in order. After that, I will take you back to deliver justice. And remember, I have a lock on you now—don't think you can escape me."

With that, she thrust her hands forward, sending out a vibrational beam that tore through dimensional barriers. She briefly glanced at Wally, her thoughts unknown. Moments later, she vanished into the light.

Wally stared at the air, relaxing his tense muscles. He had been ready to spring into action. The only reason he hadn't outright attacked her was because of the team present, along with the fact that he was giving Cisco a chance. Maybe he might be able to work it out this time. He knew it had been a while since Cisco had some intimacy in his life. Additionally, he felt Gypsy was a perfect match for Cisco.

One thing also bugged him: why had she appeared so early? He could have attributed it to the butterfly effect, but in this case, it was different—each Earth had its own timeline, so it wouldn't apply.

He glanced around. Everyone present had their own conflicted expression. Caitlin spoke first. "Guys, what are we gonna do?"