#goldfaced

“Goldface? The Goldface? He’s got personal hands on the field generator?”

“I told you you wouldn’t like it.”

Barry sighed and dragged his hand down his mouth. “Okay. Okay, let’s just get this over with. Do we have an in?”

“I sweet-talked our way. C’mon.”

He followed Ralph though the booths and crates of weapons, trying not to look too long. He was still thinking about the cop-killer weapons, thinking about Joe being too-often on the front lines. At least it made the scowl on his face real enough; no one was glancing his way too long.

Ralph led him through to a room where music was playing. The lighting and decor shifted, warmer tones, and people were lounging. The market turned social here. It was obvious it was where the ‘real’ business was done. 

He didn’t look too long. He couldn’t wait to get out of here.

“Welcome welcome.”

Goldface was charming, well-spoken. He knew what he had in his possession, cutting Ralph off and looking to Barry. Barry looked away. Better to let Ralph do the talking, especially when he was still as mad as he was. His gaze shifted to the left, and he had to work fast to cover the surprise and confusion on his face that he knew was painting it.

It was Snart. 

The man was sipping a drink at the bar a few seats down from where Goldface had been, eyes on Barry, curious looking as ever. He cocked an eyebrow at Barry. Barry shook his head imperceptibly.

He barely noticed what else Ralph and Goldface were saying till the criminal’s voice raised fast and angry,

“Shut your mouth!”

Shit. Barry’s heartrate shot up, and stayed that way as Goldface threatened Ralph, more specifically threatened to blow off his arm. The metacuff on Barry’s own wrist tingled, mostly in his imagination. He didn’t dare swallow. 

“See here’s the thing... scum recognizes scum. I’m scum, and I’ve survived this long by recognizing the same.” 

Barry could already see where this was going. His eyes flitted over to Snart again, already too reminded of the last time he’d tried to pull off the criminal routine, how Lewis Snart hadn’t bought it for a second. Snart was standing now, head tilted, jaw set and alert.

Goldface finishing calling Ralph scum and cycled over to Barry, finally addressing him.

“So, the question is... who are you?”

Ralph tried to vouch for him. Barry raised his hand to shut him up, eyes on Snart. He nodded this time, just as imperceptibly. He saw Snart’s eyes narrow. There was a gun pressed to Barry’s neck and he did swallow this time.

“I’m only gonna ask once more : Who. Are. You.”

“Draycon. That’s how I got my start. You can ask Snart,” he nodded at the man, who quirked an eyebrow. 

“Sam,” Snart popped the syllable with a droll little smirk. “Always so good to see you.”

Goldface’s attention shifted between them. “What is it that you do, Sam?” 

“Khandaq diamond job. Central City Diamond Reserve. I moved up from there - hit ARGUS a year after that, alien tech. Recently? Central City Museum heist - atomized lorazepam, knocked the guards out, in and out. The Museum’s one of Snart’s favorite targets, missed having him along on that job.”

“That so?” Goldface’s eyes were narrowed now, laser focused on holding Barry’s gaze. Looking for chinks in his armour? 

“It is,” Snart cut in. “Didn’t invite me in on the Federal Reserve one last month either.”

“The Acid bomb?” Barry retorted. “Didn’t think it was your style.”

“That was you?” Goldface asked. They definitely had him now.

“It was.” Barry’s voice dropped a little lower, “and if you haven’t heard of me, it’s because I’m a ghost. I keep my name out of jobs and pick who I work with. I use chemistry to keep the pigs off my bag. Even the Heights couldn’t hold me long. Doesn’t tend to when you know a bit of science and meta or two who owes you a favor.”

"Thought you and Shawna weren’t talking to one another?” Snart took a few strolled steps over, joining their little circle finally.

“She owed me one,” Barry picked up the lie with ease. “Owes you one too, if I remember right.”

“She might,” Snart shrugged one shoulder, eyes on Barry. There was a smirk teasing at his lips. Barry could already feel himself relaxing.

“You know I didn’t bring you in on the Reserve heist because I thought you skipped down. Couldn’t track you down when I needed back-up on a transport job a while back.”

“Oh?” Snart laid his fingers casually over the cold gun strapped to his hip. “Last I heard you found yourself a replacement for me just fine.”

It was a dig, but Barry let himself grin just a little in response, digging right back, copying Snart’s inflection. “Replace you? My team could never.”

"Alright enough,” Goldface cut in, and Barry shifted his attention back, standing up a bit straighter. He caught Ralph sending him a weird look. “Wha’ do I call you? Sam?”

“The Chemist.”

The gun was off his neck and Barry straightened his jacket. Ralph’s expression was still in need of schooling but the man caught himself quick and cleared his throat, addressing Goldface.

“So uh, we back in business?”

“With a twist.” Goldface moved casually over to what looked like a throne. Snart fell into step next to Barry. “Got a big job tonight. Hired Snart to plan it - I want it to go right, and well, you know how anal he can be. Could use a guy like The Chemist on our side. Cover our tracks. Since you two are such pals.”

He glanced at Snart, who titled his head. “Keith.”

“Goldface.”

Snart rolled his eyes. “Goldface. i work with a skeleton crew and a plan. The team is already bloated.”

“So you keep telling me. Drop the two you like the least and bring these ones on board. Unless you have an objection?”

Snart caught Barry’s gaze. Barry’s eyes hardened.

“What’s our target?”

[ ... ]

“Okay, so when was I going to learn that you and Captain Cold are flirting frenemies?”

“What? We’re not... no. Didn’t you know?”

“Know what?”

“He’s a - I don’t know. Ally? Sometimes. Or, well he was an enemy, but not really, well... he did betray us that one time, but then he went and died, and then the timeline changed thanks to the Legion of Doom so he didn’t really remember dying. I do, though, remember him dying, so do the Legends - “

“The Legion of what? The Legends? Why do the Legends -”

“Didn’t you know Snart was a Legend - “

“He was what?” Ralph hissed. 

“Heatwave is too. You know Mick is Heatwave?”

Ralph’s expression indicated that no, he had not known that.

“How come I never know any of this stuff? Ever?”

Barry really wished that just for one day, Ralph could experience being friends with Ralph. “I dunno, man, it was a different timeline and I can’t keep track of who remembers what anymore. There’s a file on him somewhere but there’s a lot going on. Point is - he’s kind of on our side some days, but doesn’t remember some of being on our side, I think? He knows he died being good though so he’s been on an evil kick since he came back from the dead timeline.”

Ralph’s expression was telling Barry exactly how much sense he was making. Barry clapped him on the shoulder. 

“Yeah.”

"So can we trust him?”

“Trust? Don’t push it,” that was Snart’s voice, cutting in and coming up to join them. “A new stray on your team.”

“This is Ralph. He’s... yeah, one of us.”

Snart eyed him, then turned back to Barry. “We roll out in five.”

He nodded, becoming more sombre again. Their target was a 3D printer for organs. It should be in a hospital, saving lives - and they were going to steal it before it ever got there.

“You sure you’re up for this, Barry?”

He almost flinched at his real name, at how personal the question felt. 

“Stealing from a hospital...”

He squared his jaw. “I can handle it.”

“You had better. I don’t want any surprises.”

“How can you be okay with this, Snart?” he took a step forward, and would’ve cursed his own emotions for getting the better of him except that would mean stopping to contemplate those emotions and that was the last thing he wanted to do. “This printer could save lives.”

Snart stepped in just as close. “It will save lives, Barry.”

“For the highest bidder.”

“What exactly do you think our healthcare system is? Hmm?” He paused just long enough before he went for the kill. “Insurance companies are positively criminal. Consider this some wealth equalization.”

Barry swallowed around the anger in his throat, knots along his shoulders from reigning in his anger. Snart tilted his head, voice lowering.

“Besides - you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t need that field generator for something. I could remind you of all the lives I’m sure you plan to save and whatever your bigger picture is, but let’s skip ahead to the part where we agree to play nice for the evening, hm?”

A memory swam up, unbidden. He could almost taste the blood that had accompanied it at the time, lying on the tarmac at Ferris Air with Snart leaning over him, who you’re really mad at is yourself. This is on you, Barry.

If he hadn’t let himself get distracted, if he hadn’t focused on a weapons deal instead of the field generator, he wouldn’t need to ride shot-gun on a heist with Snart that was making his stomach turn. 

“Let’s just get this over with.”

The man nodded, and turned. He paused, looking back over his shoulder. “Oh and Barry? Don’t make me throw away the plan.”

[ ... ]

The job really did have more people than it should need. Snart normally worked with 2-3 others max, but Goldface had sent them in with a full weaponized crew. Barry couldn’t figure out for what, really, with the building barely secured and with codes and passcards made up for every crew member. Belatedly, slipping through guard-less halls, it occurred to him it was probably for him - the Flash.

No wonder Snart hadn’t argued harder about having him along on this job.

Ralph kept shooting him glances. Snart hadn’t left his side. The whole night was shaping up just peachy. But they made it to the printer without difficulty.

Ralph whistled from across the room, pointing down at a packaged crate. Barry and Snart hurried over.

“Like candy from a baby,” Snart murmured, glancing it over.

Barry scowled at him. “How are we getting it out of here?”

“Unwrap, repack.”

Barry squatted down to help. Ralph cleared his throat.

“What?”

He was flipping through some documentation that had been sitting on top of the crate. “Barry, I...”

Barry stood and snatched the documents. He could feel Snart’s eyes on him.

Shit.

He closed his eyes. He couldn’t see this. 

“Barry...”

“They’re kids, Snart.”

“We had a deal.”

“This baby is 4 months old and needs new lungs. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

Snart grit his teeth. Barry took a step toward him, mindful of the way his eyes flashed dangerously. 

“I know you’re not made of ice.”

“Careful.”

Barry waited. Snart did too. It didn’t last long. The man went from solid stone to graceful movement in a second, and for a fraction of it Barry thought he might shoot, but he was just turning, dramatic as he rolled his body to express his long-suffering torment at having Barry in his life.

“You’re going to ruin my reputation. I have to work with these people in the future.”

“Wouldn’t this be more like taking out the competition?”

“Because that worked so well with Amunet.”

“You scared Amunet out of town?” So that’s why she hadn’t come back yet.

“Don’t tell Goldface. Long-distance didn’t work out so well for the lovers.”

Barry laughed. “Then you can’t pretend not to be intrigued. You always did like a challenge. Or don’t you want to rule this city?”

The grin Snart flashed him was definitely a genuine reaction, smothered out into something more dangerous and threatening quickly. Barry grinned in response and put out his arm.

“Mind helping with this cuff?”

Snart sized him up with a final sigh. “You owe me. Again.”

“And you love me owing you. One of these days I might even deliver.”

[ ... ]

“Iris, you know I love you and Barry.”

She glanced at Ralph, perturbed as ever when he said something declarative like that. It always preceded the most random and bizarre conversations.

“Uh... huh.”

“Right, so what I’m about to say is in the interest of protecting your relationship.”

“Oh boy.” She closed her notebook. No way she was going to be able to focus until Ralph had finished pulling whatever thread this was.

“So - Captain Cold.”

“Okay, do we need to break out the Bailey’s for this conversation?”

“You have Bailey’s?”

She rolled her eyes and moved across the coffee area to the freezer. “What do you take me for?”

He held out his mug and she poured them both a generous amount. 

“Okay, Captain Cold. He helped you and Barry stop Goldface from getting that organ printer, right?”

“Right. The thing is... I just wanted to make sure you know - I think he’s kind of got a ... crush? On your husband? And I’m not sure if Barry knows but - “

Iris burst out laughing. This? Really? “But he flirts like a teenage girl at prom every time Snart bats his eyelashes in his direction?”

“Wait you know?”

“I’ve had to work with them too you know. Drives my dad bananas.”

Ralph laughed too at the impression she pulled of her father’s wide, angry, confused eyes whenever Snart started getting too close and insinuating with Barry.

“Okay, so you know. That’s good. I was worried.”

“I could tell. I thought you were about to drop something serious on me.”

“Well I wasn’t gonna say anything, but then the field-static...spastic - “

“Neuro-stasis field generator?”

“Yes, that! When that showed up in the cortex this morning...”

“Snart’s courtship is a strange one.”

“You’re not... threatened by it?”

“How could I be, when Snart flirts just as much with me?” She paused, then leaned forward, elbows dropping to the table, voice slipping to an appropriately conspiratorial volume. “Just between you and me? Me ‘n Barry are just waiting for the day Snart realizes all he has to do is ask us nicely.”