*Asks are for fun, no pressure

I'm not fussy.

Before the Quest, on the Quest, after the Quest, all of it!

Give me any and every flavour of Bagginshield getting together and Im happy.

The One Where Everyone Finds Out (Except Oliver)

         “Congratulations,you actually convinced me to sleep with you.” Sara smiled confidently at Mick.She opened the whiskey she’d brought and poured some for each of them, leaningforward so her cleavage showed. Mick’s eyes darted down for a split second, butdidn’t linger, like they would have a year ago.

           Before hestarted sleeping with Barry.

           Neither ofthem had meant for it to happen. Barry had been feeling lonely at Oliver’swedding—Iris, his childhood love and longtime girlfriend, had just dumped himfor her ex-boyfriend, the date he’d brought, Patty, had left with someone elsehalfway through the night, and Mick had found him hunched over the bar, twoempty strawberry daiquiri glasses in front of him and a fresh one in his hand.

           Somehow,the night ended with them falling into Mick’s hotel bed for the first time. Itwas supposed to be a secret, one-time thing. But damn, if it hadn’t been thebest sex either of them had ever had.

           So, it continued.From their naughty weekend away when they had their first fight (and Len, Mick’sbest friend and roommate, found out about them) to now, when they were positivethat Sara and Felicity, Barry’s best friend and roommate, both knew, and weretrying to get them to admit it.

So, their game of chicken began. First,with Sara flirting with Mick at Jitters, stroking his arms and practicallysitting in his lap, and now, with Mick inviting her to his apartment, whereBarry was hiding in the hall bathroom listening to everything and he was sureFelicity and Len were on the other side of the front door, to have sex.

Neither was willing to blink.

Sara threw back her whiskey with asmug smirk. She was so sure he was going to give up first. “So, do you want todo this here?”

Her eyes darted to his favorite armchair,which hell no. No one was ever having sex in his favorite chair,not even him and Barry. The bed? Yes. The kitchen counter? Sure. The pooltable? That happened on one memorable occasion, which resulted in Mick gettinghard every time he played 8-Ball. But neverhis chair.

Mick grabbed her by her hips andpulled her forward, so that they were pressed together, chest to hip. “We could…orwe could move to my bedroom, where we can get some real action.”

For a second, he could see somepanic behind Sara’s eyes. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Why not?” Give up, give up, give up.

The panic disappeared quickly,though, and Sara slid her hands up the bottom of his shirt. “Maybe,” she leanedforward to whisper in his ear, “I want you to rub some oil over my naked bodyfirst.”

           Okay, thatsent a shudder to his nether regions. Don’tlet her win, a voice that sounded like Barry whispered in his head. Don’t let her win, don’t let her win…

           He smiled coyly and slid hishands around to cup her ass. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

           If he weren’tpaying so close attention, he wouldn’t have noticed the way she swallowednervously. “Go get that oil then, big guy.”

           She smackedhis ass as he turned to practically run for the bathroom. Once he steppedinside, he heard the front door swing open.

           Barryclosed the bathroom door quickly. “What’s happening? I didn’t hear that lastpart.”

           “She wantsme to rub oil on her body.” Mick replied. “She’s not backing down.”

           Barry wavedit off. “She’s bluffing. Sara wouldn’t have sex with you.” Mick leveled a glareat his boyfriend, who rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. We cannot lose! We’ll never hear the endof it.”

           This time,Mick rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky you’re hot.”

           Barry presseda quick peck to his lips and handed him some oil they sometimes used. “Go backout there, Casanova.”

           When Mick closedthe bathroom door, Sara was standing in the middle of his apartment again, onlynow, her shirt was off, revealing her lacy, white bra. Dammit.

           “So,” Shepurred, eyes darting between the oil in Mick’s hand and his face, “you ready todo this?”

           Like hellwas she going to get him to break like that. He ripped his shirt off and threwit on the pool table. “Ready when you are, blondie.”

           She steppedforward, her hands dropping to the button and fly of his jeans. She was going to go for it. She wasn’tgiving up.

           She leaned forward slowly,obviously waiting for him to give in, but Mick stuck with it. Then, their lips touched,all he could think was wrong. Thoselips were not Barry’s, the hand opening his jeans wasn’t Barry’s, and it was wrong.

           He jumpedaway. “Fine, fine! You win, Blondie! Damn, I can’t have sex with you!”

           Saracrossed her arms smugly. “And why is that?”

           “Because I’min love with Barry!”

           The self-satisfiedexpression slipped off Sara’s face. “What?”

           He couldhear the bathroom door open slowly, and, behind Sara, Len and Felicity fell inthrough the apartment door.

           “You hearthat? I LOVE BARRY. So, you all can fuck off! I love Barry!” Then, he realized…he’dnever said it before. He’d felt it for months, but he’d always been afraid tosay the words. He turned to see Barry standing at the bathroom door, frozen inplace, with a small smile on his lips.

           “I loveyou, too, Mick.” He whispered, before running forward to jump into hisboyfriend’s arms, taking his lips in a deep, passionate kiss.

           “Yay!Everyone knows!” Felicity cheered. Barry pulled away, his head shakingfrantically.

Wow, this one got away from me. I could literally write a whole series based on his. 

Moving On

The last person Barry had expected to be knocking on hisfront door was Leonard Snart. He stared, wide-eyed, at his ex-husband, unsureof what to say.

           “Hey, Bare.”He smiled, like the past four years hadn’t happened, like they hadn’t gonethrough so much hurt and pain. “Sorry to drop in like this, but…”

           Barryslammed the door shut. He didn’t want tosee Len. How had he found them? They were supposed to be hidden. But a footblocked the door jamb. “Scarlet.” Len called. “I just want to talk. Whateveryou think, this isn’t it. Trust me.”

           And how dare he. Barry threw open the doorangrily. “No!” He scowled. “You don’t get to say that. You don’t get to call me‘Scarlet’ or ask me to trust you. Not after everything you’ve done! Now, goaway, or I will make you.”

           Len justrolled his eyes. “Barry, look at me! Reallylook at me, and you’ll know whoever did those things wasn’t me.”

           Barry didn’twant to look at Len. All it would do is make him angry, make all those uglyfeelings come back. But he forced himself to raise his eyes to his ex-husband’sface. At first, he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be seeing. Then, henoticed his hair.

           It was saltand peppered, but the gray hadn’t quite taken over his head. His skin wassmoother than the last time Barry had seen him. His eyes were sparkling in away Barry hadn’t seen in years.

           This wasn’this Len. This was some past version, still on his travels in the Waverider,long before everything in their lives fell apart. He steeled himself.

           “When areyou from?” He forced himself to ask. He didn’t really care if Len was from thepast or the present—he didn’t want to see his ex—but he knew that the quickestway to get rid of him would be to cooperate.

           “2017.” Lenanswered, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. “Is it possible to talkabout this somewhere other than your front stoop?”

           No. Barrydidn’t want Len in his house. He didn’t want them around…

           He shookhis head, pulling the door closed to block sight into the house. “No, I don’t thinkthat would be a good idea.”

           A lookpassed over Len’s face, like he was ready to argue the point—of course he was—whenloud footsteps came barreling down the stairs. Shit.

           “Dad, dad,dad!” He turned to see Michael, Joseph, and Elise were all running towards him.

           “What did Itell you about running down the stairs?” Barry scolded, accidentally releasingthe door so it swung open all the way.

           “Dad,Joseph used his powers!” Michael tattled. His other son pushed him.

           “Did not!He’s just mad that I won battleship! Ask Ellie!”

           Hisyoungest, however, was staring at the open doorway. “Daddy!” She grinned,running straight for Len.

           Len, forhis part, was frozen in shock as his future five-year-old daughter wrapped herarms around his legs. Michael and Joseph both froze, as well, their eyes widewith fear. Unlike Elise, they were both old enough to remember what their fatherhad done, what he continued to do.

           He laid ahand on his eight-year-old twins’ shoulders. “It’s fine, boys. It’s not reallyhim.”

It would be too hard to explain tohis sons that this version of their father was from the past, that there was atime when Barry believed in the goodness in Leonard Snart’s heart, and Len hadbeen a hero. All they remembered was the Secret Society of Super-Villains; Lenkidnapping them and Barry under the guise of “protecting them” from Lex Luthorand the rest of the Society; holding them for almost a year against their will;Barry risking everything to get them away; the battle between the JusticeLeague and the Society in the streets of Metropolis, where Len shot Barry downin anger and nearly killed him.

This wasn’t that Len, though. Thiswas the one who sent him flowers with secret notes, who fought to protect time,who woke Barry up with kisses and stayed up with him when his nightmares weretoo much.

Elise held her arms up. “Up, Daddy.Up!”

Len shook himself out of his tranceand, without hesitation, scooped his future daughter into his arms. His eyeslit up, and Barry’s heart broke. There was never a doubt in his mind that Lenloved their children, or even that he loved him. He had no idea what was tocome for them, though.

“Come in, I guess.” Barry steppedto the side, and Len walked inside cautiously. Len wasn’t dumb, after all. Hewas almost certain that he’d noticed the way Michael and Joseph stepped quicklyout of his way, putting Barry between them. Elise rested her head on Len’sshoulder, though, and that made Len smile.

“Why don’t you three go backupstairs and wash up?” Barry suggested. “Dinner’s almost ready, and Daddy and Ineed to talk.”

Michael and Joseph nodded, backingslowly towards the stairs to keep Len in their sights. Barry could’ve sworefrost covered the banister where Michael touched it. Len sadly placed Eliseback on the floor.

“Daddy, are you staying for dinner?”She asked hopefully. Michael and Joseph paused on the stairs, both looking toBarry.

Len sighed. “I’m sorry, Doodle Bug.”It’d been so long since Barry heard that nickname, but Elise’s face lit up. “Ihave some friends who need my help. I just need to get something from your Dad,and then I have to leave.”

Elise’s face fell, and Barry couldtell it broke Len’s heart. Then, she flashed forward and wrapped her armsaround Len’s neck.

Barry heard a faint, “I love you,Daddy” before she zipped away again, past her brothers and up the stairs.  

“NO RUNNING ON THE STAIRS!” Barryshouted after her. He grabbed Len’s arm and pulled him towards the kitchen.Without sparing a look at his ex, he grabbed his oven mitts and took the bakedchicken he’d been preparing out of the oven.

“So, what do you need from me?” Heasked, heading for the fridge to pull out the salad he’d already prepared.

“What happened, Scarlet?” He barelyheard Len’s whisper, and, when he turned, he was staring around at their housewith awe and sadness. “Why am I not here? What happened between us? Why are ourchildren afraid of me?”

A loud crash echoed through thekitchen. The plate Barry had been holding was snapped in two in his hands, hisknuckles white. “They are mychildren.” He growled. “You don’t get to call them yours, after I have had to raise them by myself forfive years!”

That familiar Snart anger flared,and Len rounded the kitchen island. “And why?Why did you take our childrenfrom me? What did I do that was so bad?”

Barry flinched when Len steppedinto his space. He remembered those nights, locked away in that lair, that hisLen would come home tired and angry, and Barry would be wound-up and irritatedfrom being more or less held prisoner, and they would have a fight. Heremembered the way his husband would crowd him, scream at him, bully him.

Len jumped away, though, horror inhis eyes. “No…” He shook his head as he backed away, putting the island betweenthem again. “I didn’t…I….” He stared down at his hands. Barry franticallyshook his head.

“No. God, Len, no. You never put ahand on any of us. I mean, outside of the beating you gave me when we fought asCold and the Flash after everything was over, but that was work. You neverwould’ve laid a finger on me or our children, Len. Never.”

“But I did hurt you.” Len squeezedhis eyes shut. “I hurt my family. I know that fear in our sons’ eyes. Theythought I was going to hurt you, or them. What kind of father was I?”

Barry sighed, turning his attentionback to the dinner he was preparing. “Len…you shouldn’t know too much about yourown future. But, for the record, I don’t think you were a bad father. Maybe youdidn’t make the best choices, and maybe you weren’t the best husband all the time,but everything you did was to protect us. You just took everything way too far.

“Just…” He licked his lips andshrugged. “We just all have to move on. I’m trying to move past this, yourfuture self needs to move past it,and you just need to…forget about it. Forget about all of this and move on.”

Len threw his arms in the air. “Barry,that’s crazy! I can’t ‘move on’! How am I supposed to forget all of this? Ican’t move on from something that wasn’t supposed to end!”

Barry chuckled humorlessly. “Youknow, that’s exactly what you told me the last time I saw you, when I told youthat it was over. But for you, this isn’t over. You still have your Barry in2017—you are together, aren’t you?”

Len nodded.

“Good. We’ve had our bad times,Len, but I would never trade our good times to stop them. They’re what keeps megoing. Well, them and our little meta monsters upstairs.”

A warm smile grew on Len’s face. “Whatcan they all do? I mean, I know that Elise is a speedster, but what are the boys?”

“Joseph can read minds, and Michaelmakes ice.” Barry grinned, and Len laughed. “What did the Legends need from me?”

Len frowned, confused.

“You know, your mission?”

“Right.” Len cleared his throat. “Thetachyon device that Thawne used as Harrison Wells. We need it to fix the timedrive, so we can travel back to 2017.”

Barry remembered it well. Hemotioned for Len to follow him out of the kitchen, and down a set of stairsthat led into a basement-turned-lab space. “Cisco made this for me after wemoved here. I can’t go to places like S.T.A.R Labs or the Watchtower since…well,since what happened, because someone might track me and find us. So, we had allof this put here, instead, and Cisco opens breaches every now and then to visitor bring us stuff.”

No more Flash. No more JusticeLeague. No more CCPD. He’d had to restart his entire life, but at least his Lencouldn’t find him or his children.

He headed for one of the worktables below where the tachyon device was displayed. He pulled it off the walland handed it to Len. “I’ve always loved you, Len.” He whispered as theirfingers brushed together. “I want you to know that.”

He wanted to kiss Len, to feelthose lips against his one more time, but he knew that his time with Len wasover. He needed to move on. They both walked upstairs, and Barry walked himback to the door.

“I’m sorry.” Len sighed. “I’m sorryfor what I did to you, whatever it was. I promise, I will try my hardest toprevent it.”

There were no words to express whatBarry was feeling—the hope, yet disbelief that anything would change. So, he justnodded. When the door closed behind Len, it was like a weight raised from hisshoulders. He leaned his head against the wood for a second and took a deepbreath.

“Kids, dinner is ready!” He calledas he straightened himself up and headed for the kitchen. He knew it would takethem all a few minutes to get downstairs, enough time to compose himself. Whenhe stepped into the kitchen, though, a drawling voice stopped him in histracks.

“It’s about time. I thought he’dnever leave.”

Sitting at the island, dressed inhis long black coat with his cold gun raised, was Len. His Len. Fear shot through Barry’s body. “How did you…?”

           Lenchuckled. “Memories are a funny thing, Scarlet. Like, when you suddenlyremember your past self finding where your family is hiding out. The exact address.”

           He rosefrom his seat and slowly walked over to where Barry was paralyzed in place. “Youcan kill me, but please don’t hurt them.” He whispered, not sure what Len wasplanning.

           Len,though, just tilted his head, stepping calmly into Barry’s space. “Oh, Scarlet…”Barry resisted the urge to flinch as he raised a hand to his face, brushing hisfingers against Barry’s cheek. “I’m not here to kill you. Why would I kill youor hurt our kids? I love you.”

           Withoutlowering the cold gun, he leaned forward and brought their lips together. Barryhated himself for wanting the kiss. He indulged himself for only a minutebefore turning his head away.

Scarlet and Popsicle

Barry was about to roll out of bed, when an arm wrappedaround his waist and dragged him back across the sheets.

           “Are yousneaking out on me?” Len muttered, one eye peeking open. A grin pulled at Barry’slover’s lips as he scooched back far enough to press a gentle kiss to his lips.

           “I wasgoing to go get some breakfast and surprise you before you woke up.” Heanswered with a grin. His boyfriend quickly snagged an arm around Barry’s waistand, before he knew it, he was pinned to the mattress under Len’s weight.

           “I canthink of what I’d really like for breakfast.” He smirked before dropping hishead to nip, kiss, and suck at the skin of Barry’s neck.

           Barryhummed in satisfaction, biting his lip to hold in his moans and whimpers. “Y’know…”He finally gasped out. “Cold criminals may be able to run on a diet of sex andlove, but we speedsters, unfortunately, require more sustenance than that.Unless said cold criminals want their speedster boyfriends to pass out duringsaid love and sex.”

           He moanedloudly at a hard bite against his skin right before Len popped back up with apout. “Fine. I guess even sex slaves deserve food.” He joked, laughing as Barrysmacked his arm. He caught the hand and pressed a kiss to his palm. “I loveyou, Scarlet. You know that, right?”

           Barryblushed. Of course he knew, even if Len rarely ever said it, he showed it allthe time. Hearing the words though never failed to make his heart flutter. “Ilove you, too, Popsicle.”

           Len’s nosescrunched at the nickname, but said nothing as he rolled off the bed. Barrymoved to follow, but Len raised a hand to stop him. “Nope. You’re staying here,I’m getting you some poptarts and cereal, then we’re continuing with that loveand sex you talked about.”

Okay, there’s a funny story behind the inspiration for this one, which is I was watching clips from ‘The Muppets’ TV show (You know, the one where Miss Piggy has the show, and Kermit is her EP, and it’s sort of like 30 Rock?) while trying to come up with ideas, and I thought ‘OH MY GOSH, A COLDFLASH AU!’, and so this was born. 

Late Night with Len

           The job ofan executive producer was hard. Especially when everyone else’s jobs rest on your shoulders.

           First stop,writer’s room.

           Barryknocked on the open door, shaking his head when he saw Cisco, Nate, and Raystanding over a sleeping HR, permanent markers in hand.

           “Hey!” Hecalled before the ink touched the writer’s face. They all froze in place,guilty expressions on their faces. “Everything ready for rehearsals?”

           Theynodded, and Barry rolled his eyes as he checked ‘Writers goofing off, but somehow completed their work’, off hislist. “Carry on.” He announced, turning to walk back out. Sometimes, he justneeded to choose his battles. He passed Caitlin, the stage manager, on his wayto his next stop—the band.

           “Thewriters are using HR’s face as an easel again.” He warned.

           She let outa deep sigh. “I’ve told them.” She stomped towards the writer’s room, and Barrydidn’t envy a single one of them. He headed for the stage, where Wally, Jesse,Linda, and Jax were warming up.

           Wally wasthe first to notice him approaching. “Hey, Bare!”

           He wavedwith his pen. “You guys picked a song for tonight? You know Kara Danvers is ourguest tonight, and she wants to perform with you guys.”

           Linda andJax were practically buzzing with excitement, but Jesse, keeping it cool, justgrinned. “We’re gonna blow her away. Don’t worry about it.”

           He wastrying not to. He couldn’t help but have flashbacks to the Beyoncé incidentlast season. “Fingers crossed.” He said instead. He looked up at the stagelights, frowning when he saw Curtis positioned precariously on top of one,messing with the wires.

           “Rene?” Heall but ran for the other stagehand, who was kicked back beside the ladder thatlead to the catwalk. “Why is your boyfriend messing with dangerous equipmentwithout a harness? Or without telling anyone?”

           “He toldme.” Rene replied unhelpfully. “Don’t worry, hoss. He knows what he’sdoing…most of the time. He probably won’t fall.”

           That wasalmost no comfort. He was about to chew Rene and Curtis out, drag the latterdown by his ear if he had to, but a call over his headset stopped him.

           “Barry, you told me to let you know whenSnart got here.” Iris said through their talkies.

           Barryturned away from Rene. “And?”

           “Well, he’s here. But he’s hungover as hell.He tried to hide it, but he must have had a lot last night. I think you shouldcome back here.”

           The last thing he wanted was tosee Len when he was already stressed about the rest of the show. This was theirseason premiere—after all the bad publicity their so-called ‘star’ had gottenrecently, they needed a good opening if the show was going to survive.

           He sighed.“Iris, I’ll be there in a minute. Just…make sure he makes it to his dressingroom and that he’s drinking lots of water. The last thing we need is for him tokeel over from dehydration.”

           “Got it. I’ll get Mick to help.”

           Barry spared one more glanceback at Rene. “Curtis better be off that light by the time I get in here, orI’m siccing Caitlin and Laurel onyou.”

           Honestly,they were the best threat he had, between Caitlin’s mothering and Laurel’slegal talk, no one wanted to crossthem. He broke out into a run for the stage door. Sara—the on-air announcer—waswaiting for him, holding out a red Gatorade.

           “I heardLeonard was out late again. Can he do rehearsals, or do I need to come up withan explanation for Kara Danvers?”

           The factthat he and Sara had a system for this sort of thing was sad. He accepted the Gatorade.“Just…hold off for a moment. Let me talk to him and I’ll get back to you.”

           She nodded,following him most of the way to Len’s dressing room. It was a bright bluedoor, far from anyone else’s dressing rooms or offices, with a white snowflakeon it instead of a star. When they’d started the show, it was a running gagbetween him and Len. Now, it fit so horribly well with their lives.

           He raisedhis hand to knock, but it opened before his fingers touched the wood. Mick,Len’s assistant, poked his head out, relief softening his features when he sawit was Barry.

           “Good. Heneeds you.” He only opened it wide enough for Barry to slip inside.

           “How bad isit?” Barry whispered, staring at the curtain that separated the front of theroom from the ‘resting area’—the one with Len’s vanity and couch. He could seeLen laid out on the couch through the thin fabric, still and quiet.

           “On a scalefrom one to ‘Lewis showing his ugly face again’, I’d give it a ‘The dayValentina Vostok purposely leaked their sex tape’.”

           Barrycringed. That’d been a really bad day. “What happened?”

           Mick’seyebrows raised, like Barry was the biggest moron he’d ever seen. “Don’t youknow what last night was?”

           He furrowedhis brow. It was a Sunday. Sunday, March 16th—

           “Damn.”Barry groaned, palming his face. “Was that really yesterday? Alright, I’ll…I’lltake care of this. Just, go and tell Sara to prepare for the worst for now.”

           Mick dartedfrom the room, eager to be far away from the drama that was about to ensure.Gathering his nerve, Barry stepped through the curtain.

           Len wasstill wearing his sunglasses, his hand resting on his forehead to massage awaythe pain, and a water bottle hanging from his other hand.

           Barry tooka seat at the foot of the couch. Len didn’t acknowledge his presence. He shookhis head. Len had been doing so good—he’d cleaned up his act, stopped drinking,stopped drugs, stayed out of the papers. Then, over the summer, everythingsuddenly changed.

           Suddenly,Leonard Snart was all over the tabloids—at clubs, at after-parties, gettingdrunk and throwing up in storm drains. Luckily, he hadn’t gone back to the drugs,as far as Barry knew.

           “Stopstaring.” Len mumbled, still not moving. “You’re thinking too loud.”

           Barry rolledhis eyes. “I’d ask how your feeling, but if it’s anything like how you look, Ican assume the answer is ‘shitty’.”

           Len barkedout a laugh, followed by a groan. “It hurts to do anything.” He moaned. “Painkillers?”

           Barry shookhis head. “Sorry. No drugs. You’re a recovering addict remember.”

           “I’m hardlygoing to go back to shooting up because I took a Tylenol.” He grumbled, sittingup so his back was against the arm of the couch.

           “Honestly,I don’t know where your head’s at right now.” Barry shot back. “So, what you’llbe getting is a Gatorade and zero pity from anyone here over your hangover.”

           Len rolledhis eyes, but accepted the bottle Barry offered him.

           “Now, arewe going to talk about what the hell you’ve been doing these past months, orare you going to yell at me again and try to have me kicked off the lot again?”

           A smiletugged at the corner of Len’s lips, but only for a second. “What I get up toisn’t your problem anymore, Allen. My life outside of this studio is my life.”

           Oh, so that’show it was going to be. “Actually,” Barry scoffed, “it is my business when it starts carrying over into your work, or whenthe bad publicity you’ve been stirring up starts affecting the ratings of my show.”

           “Funny, Ithought it was my show. You know,since my name is in the title: Late Nightwith Leonard Snart.”

           Barry’snostrils flared. This shit—this exactshit and attitude—is why theyweren’t together anymore. Len’s head getting too big, becoming an insatiablediva, mistreating a lot of the crewmembers on the show. Finally, on March 16th,Barry had enough. They’d been having dinner with some big wigs from the studio,and Len had started bad-mouthing their friends from the show. At that point,Barry’d had enough.

           “Thosepeople work their asses off for you, Len!” He’d shouted after storming out ofthe restaurant. Len, who’d chased him out, snorted.

           “Come on,Barry. You complain about them, too. They goof off, almost never get their workdone in time for the show, always make mistakes you have to clean up—”

           “It doesn’tmatter, Len! What matters is that those people in there—the ones you wererunning your mouth to—can get them all fired.Do you understand that? All of those people who have dedicated their lives tomaking our show great, who sacrifice their social lives by staying behind untilwell past midnight to make sure everything is perfect, who are there right now planning tomorrow night’sshow, those are the people you justsold out in there. And now I’m going to have to grovel to some studio head sothat they don’t all lose their jobs!”

           The Len heknew and loved would’ve, upon realizing what he’d done, run back inside andtried to fix things, if not for their friends, then for Barry. But, instead, helaughed in Barry’s face. “If they cared about their jobs that much, they’dactually work to keep them. Maybe what my show needs is some fresh faces andnew ideas.” He took Barry by the hand. “We’ll talk about it later though. Comeon, Scarlet, let’s finish dinner.”

           But Barrycouldn’t. He yanked his hand from his boyfriend’s grasp and stepped away. “No.I can’t…I can’t do this anymore, Len.”

           Len raisedan eyebrow. “You’re breaking up with me? Over this?”

           He hadn’twanted to. But he’d known that he needed to. “Yes. Because the man I loveshould be worried that what he says and does could put hard-working people outof their jobs. Should care that about someone other than himself.”

           He’d walkedaway right after that, leaving Len standing alone outside the restaurant. Whenthey’d come in the next day for work, they interacted only when they had to, andmostly spoke through Mick.

           It hadn’thelped things when TMZ got their hands on a cellphone video of the break up anddecided to run it. That had sparked another fight between them, right in themiddle of the soundstage in front of most of their crew. They avoided eachother for nearly two weeks after that.

           One yearlater, they were finally getting to a place where he thought they could worktogether without any…underlining feelings.

           Of course,Len was still a handful on a good day and a full-blown bastard on a medium day.He didn’t like to even think about bad days.

           Barry jumpedto his feet. “For now. Did you know that I had a meeting with Eobard Thawne? Youknow, the man who holds all of our jobs in the palm of his hand? He told methat, if you don’t get your act together, this whole show is getting cut from thelineup. I had to beg him to give youanother shot. Do you know how degrading that is—begging a man like Thawne? I owe him a favor now!”

           He could see the tension in Len’sshoulders, but the diva huffed. “It can’t be that bad.”

           “What thehell is wrong with you?” Barry demanded. “For months, you’ve been stompingaround like a spoiled child, doing whatever the hell you want without thinkingabout the people whose lives you affect. Ever since…”

           He paused,thinking back to the first day he’d noticed something wrong with Len. It wasthe night after Oliver Queen came on the show, the night he’d asked Barry out.

           “Is thatwhat all of this is about?” He asked. “Is this about you being upset thatsomeone asked me out? Or just that he asked me over you? Is that why you’vebeen making an ass of yourself for months?”

           Len snortedand turned his head away. “Maybe not everything I do is about you, Barry? Haveyou ever thought of that?”

           Barry hadhad enough. “Fine. Whatever. Just…be at rehearsal in ten minutes, or I’msending Sara in here to drag you out.”

           His headsnapped back around. “You wouldn’t.”

           Barryhuffed as he strode back to the door. “Don’t push me, Len.”

0000000

           Rehearsalwent better than expected. The song the band picked was fun and Kara seemed toenjoy singing it with them. They ran through the schedule for the show withouta hitch. The material from the writers was genuinely funny and witty. Even Lendid amazing, given his state.

           By the end,Barry felt a weight lift off his shoulders, like maybe Thawne would let themkeep their show longer than the six months he’d promised. His phone buzzed.

           Oliver Queen

           He stepped backstage to take it.

           “Hey,Ollie.”

           “Hey, Barry. How’s rehearsal going?”

           Barry sighed. “Stressful, but sofar, pretty good. The worse part so far has been Len. I had to fight him to getserious about the show.”

           “Well, you know from experience what aprimadonna he can be.”

           “That’s harsh, Ollie.” Hedefended, even though Oliver was completely right. “He’s going throughsomething right now. I just wish he’d tell me what was going on.”

           There was adeep sigh on the other end of the line. “Bare,you have a big heart. It’s one of those wonderful, loveable things I adoreabout you. But it’s not your job to worry about him outside of the studioanymore. If he wants to crash and burn, you shouldn’t make yourself sick aboutit. He has to want to save himself.”

           “I know.” Barry agreed. “I just…whenyou’ve cared about someone for years, it doesn’t just go away, y’know? I’malways going to want to help him.”

           “I know, Barry. I know.” Oliver didn’tsound jealous, just concerned. “Do youwant to go out for dinner tonight? Get your mind off of things?”

           Barry pursed his lips, thinkinghard. “Not tonight. Maybe this weekend? There’s so much going on here rightnow. I need to be here.”

           “I understand. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

           He felt eyes on his back as hehung up, and he turned to see Len hovering behind him. “I’m sorry.”

           Barry’seyes widened. Had something happened? Was Len replaced by a clone? Was it AprilFool’s? Len never apologized.

           “I’ve been…unfairto you.” He continued. “I was upset that you moved on so quickly from ourrelationship. I guess I thought that…that maybe this wasn’t permanent. That itwas just a fight, and we’d be getting back together. Then, you and Queenstarted dating, and I realized…I realized it was really over. You were donewith me. I tried to go out and pretend that I was moving on with my life, too.And maybe I was purposely trying to hurt you, I don’t know. But you don’tdeserve any of the hateful things I’ve said or done. And no one in this studiodeserves to get fired because I can’t move on.

           “I knowthat, during that big fight we had, I told you that you were just a fad, and thatwhat we had was a passing fancy, but I didn’t mean it, Scarlet. Back then…I wasangry and hated myself for making you leave. I lied when I told you I didn’tlove you, because you needed to move on from me– I needed to protect you fromme.”

           He hung hishead. “I’m a train wreck. I always have been, since my father forced me intothis life. Between the drugs, and the tabloid stories, and the constanthook-ups…Barry, you were the best thing I’ve ever had. I thought that maybe youcould help me be better, but instead I just started dragging you down, too. Youdeserve better than me, everyone here does. But if I can help you all keep yourjobs, I swear, I’ll try.”

           It was themost honest he’d heard Len be in so long, and it was the first time he’d openlydiscussed their break-up since it happened. If he’d said those things a fewmonths before, Barry would’ve rushed into his arms, forgiven him completely,and kissed the sorrow away.

           But thingshad changed. Maybe there was no going back for them—at least, for the timebeing. But damn, did he still love him. He just couldn’t stop.

           Len headedback for the soundstage without another word, leaving a shocked-silent Barrybehind. “Barry!” Caitlin’s voice camethrough his headset, jarring him from his paralysis.

           “Yeah?”

           “Did you tell Curtis to mess with the satelliteon the roof? Because he and Rene are heading up that way with tin foil, ducttape, a screwdriver, and a ladder.”

His Bodyguard

           He hadn’tmeant to fall into bed with his bodyguard. Really…it’d just happened.

           Ray had been at a gala…

           No, itreally started earlier than that. After Leonard Snart, his last bodyguard, quitto elope with his boyfriend, but left a card with a recommendation: Mick Rory.Ray had been expecting someone like Leonard—organized, sharp, cold. Mick Rory,though, was almost the opposite.

           Mick waslike a roaring fire—warm and inviting when he was calm, wild and furious whenreleased. He was unpredictable, untamable, and Ray couldn’t get enough of him.Which had been starting to become a problem.

           Then camethe incident. The one that put him inhis situation. Honestly, he should’ve thought twice before going to a QueensConsolidated gala in Starling City, of all places. He wasn’t even surprisedwhen the armed robbers came rushing in, guns raised, demanding everyone’s moneyand jewelry.

           He was surprised when one of the gunmenshoved the muzzle of the gun in his face, was suddenly knocked to the ground bya solid punch to his face. Before anyone else in the room could react, Mickstarted disarming the rest of the crew, until they were all unconscious on theground, and Ray was horribly aroused.

           Now that hewas watching Mick walk towards his shower, he couldn’t bring himself to regretit. “Hey, Haircut.” Ray snapped out of his daze to see Mick’s smug grin. “Youjust gonna keep staring?”

           Ray clearedhis throat nervously. “Sorry, didn’t mean to…I, uh…” Great, now he wasstuttering like an idiot. “I was…um…I was wondering…”

           “Spit itout, genius.”

           “Do youwanna do this again sometime, maybe?” He managed to say. He squeezed his eyesshut, too humiliated to look at Mick.

           When hisbodyguard laughed, he wanted to die.

           “Did youthink I intended to take this shower by myself?” Ray’s eyes snapped open toMick’s smirking face. Oh. Oh.

           Mick rolled his eyes. “You’vegot five minutes, or I’m starting without ya.” With that, he walked into thebathroom. Ray stayed frozen in place until he heard the shower kick on,practically throwing himself out of the bed to run into the bathroom. He wasn’tmissing out on an offer like that.

Breakfast in Bed

     If there was one thing Barry nevergot tired of, it was watching his husband sleep. He rested his chin on Mick’sbare chest, his fingers tracing spirals across the warm skin.

“Is this going to be a regularthing?” Mick muttered, opening one eye. “You staring at me while I sleep?”

Barry grinned and pressed a kiss tohis chest. “I’d apologize, but it’s your fault. You’re too handsome.”

A small smile tugged on Mick’slips. His eye drifted closed. “I’d offer to make you breakfast, but I think I’mtoo sore to move.”

Barry laughed, leaning up to kisshis husband on the lips. “I’ll make you some eggs and bacon.” He moved to standup, but Mick’s hand shot out to grab his arm. Both of his eyes were open now,and he quickly smacked a wide grin on his face.

“Why don’t we both just stay inbed?” He suggested, pulling Barry back beside him. “Curl up together, maybesneak in a round two…?”

“Are you trying to keep me frommaking me breakfast?” Barry frowned, raising his head up to glare at Mick.

Mick shook his head, an innocentexpression on his face—like Barry believed he was innocent of anything in hislife. Barry raised an eyebrow.

“Are you saying that I’m a badcook?”

“…no.” Barry almost laughed at the wide-eyedlook of terror Mick was giving him. He was probably remembering the time Barrytried to make hot dogs, and almost gave Mick food poisoning. He cringed.

“Alright…maybe just some toast andcereal? Maybe some coffee?” Mick pursed his lips, considering the offer. Hereleased Barry’s arm.

“No cooking.” He warned, narrowinghis eyes playfully.

“No cooking.” Barry agreed, kissinghis husband again. He moved to get up, but Mick pulled him down for a deeper,filthier kiss that made Barry’s toes curl. He threw a leg over to straddle Mick,getting a better angle.

He’d get to breakfast in a fewminutes.