Reaching McCulloch

The walk to McCulloch Technologies was embarrassing as it had to be, the nude Iris leading Singh down what was to her a by-now familiar route.

It was a relief to duck inside, hurrying through the doors and navigating rooms, letting Singh follow her voice and footsteps rather than having her ass bare in front of him.

For a moment, though, she lingered in the main lab. The place she'd come through, with a mirror still hung up high on the wall. She'd spent a lot of time there.

And then the mirror distorted, and someone walked through. Iris yelped, and drew her arms back in to cover.

It almost took a second to recognize Eva with clothes on. Admittedly it was more a technological outfit than anything casual, form-fitting and covering basically everything from the neck down, but it was much more modest than she'd ever seen the borderline-nudist in in all their time together.

Her expression, though, was different. More sombre, more muted.

"Iris," she said.

And Iris had no idea what to say. Slowly, she walked into the room, only to squeal when she heard Singh come up behind her.

Okay, she was never going to get used to that. She was still jumpy from so long spent naked with just Eva's company, having a stranger wandering around was just... a lot to deal with.

"Is this her?" Singh said.

"David Singh," Eva said. She lifted a hand, and the reflection in the mirror behind her changed: "Go home."

He paused.

"I said go," Eva said. "Iris, I... Can we talk, first?"

"I... guess," Iris said, slowly.

She took a step to the side, watching carefully as David passed her, crossing through the mirror safely back to his home. Only then did the reflection change.

Leaving Iris and Eva alone. Iris dropped her arms, more just glad of the chance to relax as anything. Indoors, in a familiar setting that basically felt like a home, it was the closest she'd come to finding a place she'd be comfortable nude for such a long time.

And her only company was someone who, now, was familiar enough with her body for reasons she hadn't minded.

Though that was... confusing now, as well.

"I wanted to say sorry," Eva said, quietly.

"Are you letting me go?" Iris said, quickly.

Eva's eyes widened, apparently shocked she'd doubted.

"Of course," Eva said. "I promise. I think we should talk first. Clear the air. I'm... aware I didn't handle things the best way I could."

"You could have told me," Iris said.

"Maybe," Eva said. "I was... used to being on my own. And then I wasn't, and you were here, and I let you in more than I thought I would."

Eva paused.

"It's strange. I got everything I wanted, out there, but it wasn't as satisfying as I imagined it would be. Then I looked, to try and work out why, to see if I missed anything..."

"**** never is," Iris said.

"The duplicates were meant to just be tools," Eva said. "Distractions to make sure nobody got in the way, and to get what I needed to escape. They succeeded, but I think they succeeded because they cared, not just because I wanted them to. And... I'm not who I thought I was."

She hesitated. Iris waited, unsure where it was going.

"I'm not Eva McCulloch," Eva said. "She died when she hit the mirror - I wasn't trapped here, I was made here. A duplicate like the rest."

Her voice cracked. Iris's expression shifted.

"I'm sorry," Iris said.

"Don't be," Eva said. "It... brought a few things into focus. I avenged the original Eva, now... I don't think I belong out in the real world, but I don't think I need to be alone. I can make duplicates, and I'm... stronger, than I was. I can make more. Fill this world."

Iris nervously looked over her shoulder. Eva smiled sympathetically.

"Sorry. Ego," Eva said. "In case you'd have felt bad for me, I didn't want you to. I should have trusted you, and I shouldn't have lied. And especially those nights, I did want to tell you, it just... scared me."

Eva lifted a hand: the mirror shifted, the view going from a reflection of the lab, to a more familiar room - it was her home, Barry was there, next to the double of herself. A double that was, for once, fully dressed and holding onto her clothes a little protectively.

"I killed Carver," Eva said. "I was... tempted, to do more, but I couldn't. I barely even encountered your husband; I didn't need to, much. I did that, and I- I'm not going to apologize, but that was all. I thought of this place, I thought of you, I thought of the doubles, I thought... I thought that was enough. I can create a world here, a better one, and I don't need to tread on any toes in your world to do that. And I'll miss you, but I won't keep anyone in this place."

Her voice was as uneven as Iris remembered, though she spoke with oddly more assurance, in among all the hesitation.

"It's okay," Iris said, eventually. "I... understand, even if I don't agree with everything."

Eva nodded, stiffly. She turned, poised to turn the mirror into a portal: Iris quickly spoke up.

"I'll miss you too," Iris said. "You kept me sane, even if some of it was a lie, I don't think all of it was."

Eva might have agreed. She turned her head away, and spoke too softly for Iris to hear.

And then the portal opened, Barry and her duplicate suddenly seeing. Face warm, Iris crossed her arms. Barry did a double take as her saw the real her.

And then he was at her side, moving quickly even without using his speed, to hug her.

Her double hung back, a little self-consciously. Iris wasn't sure how she felt about her - at first she'd hated the idea of someone living her life. But she wasn't some empty puppet or doppelganger, she was... what? Someone who'd existed for mere minutes, and acted out of love, not knowing any better, for the person who'd made her?

Maybe it was just the mirror dimension playing on her mind, but Iris found herself to hate any of the people in this room.

"Are you okay?" Barry said, holding her.

"I'm okay, I'm okay, I promise," Iris said. "It's so good to see you again."

"It's so good to see the real you," Barry said.

"It's-" Iris said.

Barry almost kissed her; she quickly moved back, face warm.

"Okay, bad time, I just... there's no good time to say it," Iris said. "I need to be honest."

"About Eva?" Barry said.

His expression was soft. Iris faltered.

"It's okay," Barry said, as earnestly as ever. "She told me. I understand - you were alone here, both of you I guess, you were afraid, they were hardly normal circumstances. Iris, it's okay."

Iris breathed out, relieved - she hadn't expected herself to be so tense, but finally getting that out, it had made her glad. Apparently she'd been carrying around more uncertainty than she'd expected.

"And the fact you wanted to say it before anything, that you wanted to be honest, that's why I love you," Barry said. "You being happy is the most important thing to me. Were you?"

"I... More than I would have been otherwise, I think," Iris said. She smiled widely: "Thank you, Barry."

"Always," Barry said. "Now let's go home."

"Wait!"

The double quickly stepped forwards. She faltered: it was odd to see her own face from the outside like that, making expressions that Iris didn't feel.

"Can I talk to her for a moment?" Iris's duplicate said. "Alone, please? I just... feel like I need a moment with her."

Barry looked at Iris; unsure, Iris nodded. Closure would be nice.

Apparently as surprised, Eva nodded. She took a step back, and went out of the room; Barry went with her. The two of them were talking to one another, apparently clarifying whatever had been worked out.

Which left the naked Iris left alone with herself. The double took a step forwards, unsure - then she pulled off her shirt, offering it to Iris.

"I guess these are yours," the double said. Eyes widening, Iris took it gladly.

"Thank you," Iris said. "Really. You're... Not what I expected."

"Nor are you," said the double.

She offered her bra next, before reaching for her pants.

"You really are like me in every detail, aren't you?" Iris said.

It was hard not to stare. It was... almost scary how similar they looked, even in the most intimate of areas. Her double smiled.

"That's me," her double said. "I wanted to say, maybe it wasn't my life, and maybe you didn't give it exactly, but it felt... nice. It was good to have for a time. A husband, friends, I know I was sort of stealing it, but it would feel wrong to not be grateful."

She was smiling so warmly; Iris couldn't help but smile back.

Motivated by loneliness, by wanting to belong, more than any power-hungriness or sadism. They were so unlike most foes Team Flash seemed to face.

Maybe things had been messy, but she felt like she'd be looking back with oddly fond memories.

"It is a good life, isn't it?" Iris said.

"I think I feel a little of what you do," the double said. "I was made from you, after all."

"I suppose," Iris said.

"So," the double said, finally handing over her panties, standing awkwardly with her arms over her front. "What's life like here?"

Iris took the underwear. It felt so strange to wear actual clothes again, the fabric tight and uncomfortable against her skin. It had been a while since she'd worn anything, let alone anything this decent.

It was almost alien to her to not feel embarrassed.

"It's good," Iris said.

"Really?"

"Really," Iris said, genuinely. "Eva, she's a good person, when she's not... overly focused. And if you're like me, I think you'll... definitely find things to enjoy here."

The duplicate seemed relieved.

Her double stood there for a few moments, a hand over her core, and her other hand awkwardly holding a textbook from a nearby desk over her chest. She seemed less confused now; despite everything, Iris was glad she'd helped.

"Okay! I think we're done!" the double called, as soon as Iris was dressed.

That had been nice too, Iris reflected. Okay, they were still her clothes, but willingly giving them all up was still a sign of something.

The door opened, Barry and Eva re-entering. There was a vague ruckus from outside, the sound of movement; apparently Eva had already made a start on populating this new world of hers.

"Okay, everyone ready to say goodbye?" Barry said.

Iris nodded; her double did as well. She walked over to Barry; Iris looked away, happy to give them a moment of privacy to say a farewell. If the duplicate was her, well Iris had maybe crossed a line she shouldn't, she could hardly begrudge Barry a farewell.

She only looked back when she heard the distinctive sound of people walking through the mirror. Sharply, she turned, frowning - Barry and the double had gone back through.

Wait.

"Good to have you back," Eva said. She rested a hand on Iris's shoulder. "I know you got used to clothes in the real world, but you won't need them here. Ever."

Iris blinked.

Wait, handing her clothes over, that wasn't just charity, that was to make the others get the two of them confused. Iris's eyes widened.

"Wait!" Iris said. "I think there's been a mistake. I'm not-"

"Shh," Eva said. "Don't. You don't need to pretend, just to comfort me. I know you're not the real her."

"I am-" Iris began.

"Thank you, really," Eva said, softly. "But don't pretend."

Eva dragged a hand down Iris's back; whatever enhancements she'd had to her powers saw Iris's clothes vanish clean off her body, shirt and underwear alike, until her all-too brief foray with clothing was at an end.

Naked again. Iris yelped, covering up with her arms, only to have one arm taken away as Eva held her hand.

"Come on," Eva said. "I want to show you the new world I'm making."

Iris's eyes widened. Naked, still here, and by the sound of it the mirrorverse wasn't nearly as empty as it had once been. What had Eva said? Populating the whole world with more creations, mirror-duplicates?

No privacy. And no clothing. Iris whimpered.