Iris West-Allen

## Background

### 1975 - 1982: Iris West

Iris & her twin brother Daniel were born in Central City to Joe & Francine West. As a young girl, she frequented the local park with her twin, older brother Rudy & their parents.

At the age of six, Iris was home alone with her mother & twin brother during the summer. Unknown to Iris, her mother nearly overdosed on pills & subsequently ended up unresponsive on the couch, causing Iris to call the police. While Joe & his partner drove to the house, the stove caught fire as Francine had left it on. Iris had a small burn on her hand as she was standing in front of the flames. Joe & his partner managed to get all three of them to safety.

Soon after, Joe told Iris & Daniel that her mother was sick & had to go away. In reality, Francine was a drug addict who left them but Joe didn't want his daughter to grow up believing that she'd been abandoned. Instead, he told Iris stories of the mother he knew she deserved, not the mother Francine really was.

### 1982 - 1997: Iris West

In time, Iris met Barry Allen & the two became best friends. Though they both secretly harbored crushes on each other, neither was ever able to vocalize their feelings during their childhood. Both Joe & Barry's parents were well-aware of the connection between their children, often setting the two up on multiple play dates.

Barry, Iris & Daniel regularly walked home from school together due to living around the corner from each other. After dropping Barry off, Iris & her brother barely made it to the next house before they heard Barry's piercing scream. As the two kids came running back, they found Barry's mother laying in a pool of blood. Daniel ran home to get their father while Iris stayed with Barry. The police arrested Barry's dad, who professed his innocence. Barry was then taken in by his paternal uncle, who also lived in Central City, allowing him to somewhat keep his former life. Him & Iris became much closer, as she became the only one he talked to about his mother. It didn't take long for the close friendship to bloom into something more.

Barry spent many night running away from his uncle's house but always ended up at the West house in the kitchen talking to Joe or in Iris' room crying. Things eventually got better for Barry. Even when Iris decided to go to college all the way in Metropolis, their relationship never waivered. After college, she returned home & got a job as an intern at the local news reporting station while Barry began working at the CCPD. They were engaged shortly after.

### 1997 - Present: Iris West-Allen

Unfortunately things don't always work as planned. As the two spent the next year planning their wedding, Barry was struck by lightning & doused with chemicals inside his office. He was found unconscious & rushed to the hospital. For the next six months, Barry remained in a coma with Iris staying by his side. She set up a temporary office inside, working on all her news reports from his hospital room. Upon waking up, Iris wanted Barry to take things slow but he disagreed. He was still ready to get married so the two tied the knot that November.

Iris was the first one Barry confided in about becoming a superhero as the struck of lightning granted him superhuman speed along with some other powers. She supported him completely & became the first addition to Team Flash. The team has grown over the years as her daughter, son, two nephews & new sister all gained a connection to the Speed Force. Iris has maintained her role as the den mother of the team. Outside of her family & occassional hero antics, Iris works as one of the lead reporter for the WGBS News.

## Romantic Relationships

* Barry Allen: Boyfriend (1990 - 1997); Fiancée (1997 - 1999); Husband (1999 - )

## Powers & Abilities

* **Learned Intellect:** Her background in psychology has sharpened her natural wits & intuition, which she presumably inherited from her police officer father.
	+ ***Investigation*:** Iris is very intelligent and an excellent investigator, as she follows every lead and rumor to discover the truth behind any story. Her detective skills would have made her a prime candidate for the police academy. She has a methodical approach to studying & investigating the various metahuman cases around the city, allowing her to help the team when combating them.
	+ ***Leadership*:** Iris is a capable leader; having taken over the leadership role whenever Barry is incapacitated.
	+ ***Mechanical Aptitude*:** Iris is quite skilled around cars, helping her father work on them in his spare time during her childhood.
* **Acrobatics:** She also showed considerable reflexes, able to dodge a sucker-punch from a mugger before knocking him out herself.
* **Firearms:** Iris is skilled in the use of firearms, having been taught by her father in case of emergencies.
* **Hand to Hand Combat:** Planning for his daughter's safety, Joe extensively taught Iris since her childhood how to defend herself. During sparring matches against Barry as children, she was never once hit by him, though it should be noted that Barry was not actually trying to hurt her.

### Weaknesses

* **Family:** Iris will risk her own life to help or save her family without a thought.

### Ratings

* **Intelligence:** 4 - Trained / Learned
* **Strength:** 3 - Average / Basic
* **Speed:** 3 - Average / Basic
* **Occult:** 1 - Nonexistent
* **Weapons:** 3 - Average / Basic
* **Range:** 2 - Impaired / Below Average
* **Strategy:** 3 - Average / Basic
* **Combat:** 3 - Average / Basic
* **TOTAL:** 26 - Threat Level 1 / Minimal Threat

## Trivia

* Iris has a habit of always being honest, no matter the consequences but she does it in a way so it is not so harsh.
* Iris is described as very loyal, having never left Barry's side until he got out his coma.
* Her favorite childhood toy was a stuffed turtle she named "McSnurtle."
* Her favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip though Barry states that it is more of an obsession.
* She likes her coffee dark.
* Iris & Barry got married on November 28, 1999.
* She is terrible at cooking.

## Notes

* *Earth-44 Explanation: The West family received inspiration from the Arrowverse & the comics. In Earth-44, Joe West is black & Francine is white. Therefore, Rudy, Iris & Daniel are all mixed (half Black & half White).*