Okay, don't kill me! I know I should be working on my other stories, and I will, but I was watching a movie with my mom and it gave me a plot bunny. I hope you guys enjoy this story!

~x~x~x~

Barry ran his hand through his hair as he walked over to the dining room table. He picked up the newspaper that was laying there and read the front page headline. It looked like Leonard Snart had been acquitted of his father's murder. The jury had come back with the ruling because they believed his lawyer that his actions were in self-defense. The man's entire life was put on trial, along with his sister's. Barry was secretly glad that Snart was a free man. While he didn't condone the actions the man took, he understood them. Lewis Snart was a danger to both his children as long as he was alive. Leonard knew that and took actions to prevent anything like what had happened with Lisa from ever happening again. Barry was pulled from his thoughts when arms wrapped around him from behind. He flinched away slightly before calming down.

"Hey, it's just me." a voice said softly in his ear. Barry turned around to look into the brown eyes of the man behind him.

"Yeah, I know." he said. Tyler Moss was his current live-in boyfriend. They had met and dated in college, but the relationship didn't last. Tyler unexpectedly moved to Central a few months prior and tracked Barry down. Admittedly, it wasn't that difficult. They had started dating again and Tyler asked Barry to move into his apartment with him. Tyler looked at the newspaper Barry had been reading and scowled.

"I see that piece of trash got off." he sneered, picking the paper up. Barry sighed. That caught Tyler's attention and the brunette turned furious eyes on him. "What? You think differently?" he asked angrily. Barry tried to shrink back, make himself smaller, but Tyler grabbed his arm roughly. Barry winced and tried to stutter out a response.

"I-I just th-think he's not a-an evil guy. He's n-not that bad." That was obviously the wrong thing to say because Tyler backed up and back-handed Barry across the face. Barry stumbled and caught himself against the table, bringing a hand up to touch his split lip. He looked at the blood on his fingertips and looked up at Tyler fearfully.

"So, you don't think he belongs in jail?! After everything he's done?! Are you just going soft on criminals or do you want him to fuck you?!" Barry's eyes widened and he attempted to protest, but before he could, Tyler used his leg to swipe Barry's feet out from under him. Barry fell to the ground and Tyler kicked him harshly in the ribs. He kicked him several times and, in the process of trying shield himself and fend off the attack, Barry's wrist got kicked and snapped. Barry yelled, tears running down his face as he coughed and tried to plead with his boyfriend.

"Tyler! Stop! Please! I've got work today!" he yelled in a last ditch effort to get the man to stop beating him. That caused Tyler to stop and glare at him.

"So? You heal fast." Barry looked up, green eyes filled with pain.

"Not that fast. Joe will get suspicious." Tyler scowled, but backed up.

"Whatever. But, some advice, you better not let me catch you with another man. Especially one like Snart." Barry nodded frantically, just wanting the other man to leave him alone. Tyler huffed and left the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Barry wiped his eyes with the back of his uninjured hand and started to slowly stand. He ached everywhere. He could tell that at least a couple of ribs were broken and his wrist was shot. He really should go to S.T.A.R. Labs to have Caitlin look at it, but he didn't want to deal with the questions it would bring. Joe was already going to have questions if his lip didn't heal and wrist turned black by the time he got to the station. He was already running late. When Barry got to his feet, he gingerly walked into the bedroom to change for work. His wrist was already starting to discolor and he knew his torso would be, too. Once he was changed, Barry quickly looked at himself in the mirror and fixed his disheveled hair. The cut on his lip was almost healed, but the bruise was purple around it. His eyes were puffy and red-rimmed and he looked like he'd been through the wringer. Taking a deep breath, Barry grabbed his messenger bag and headed out the door, locking it behind him.

~x~x~x~

"Barry!" Joe called. Barry winced. He didn't know if his lip was fully healed yet and hadn't wanted to face Joe until at least lunch. He walked over to his foster father carefully, so as not to jar his ribs, and gave the best smile he could manage.

"Hey Joe." he said. Joe squinted at him suspiciously, looking him up and down. Barry fidgeted nervously.

"Why are you walking so weird?" he asked. Barry sighed slightly. At least he knew his face looked alright. Joe would have zeroed in on that, if it hadn't.

"It's nothing. Just had to take care of some extra curricular business before work." he said quietly, pulling up his sleeve so Joe could see his blackened wrist. Barry hoped Joe bought the excuse. The other man hissed in sympathy when he saw Barry's wrist. "I think a couple of ribs are fractured, but it's nothing I can't handle. Just have to take it easy for a few hours."

"Barr, you need to have Caitlin take a look at those injuries."

"It's fine, Joe. I can take care of it." Barry insisted.

"What if your wrist heals wrong? She'll have to re-break it." Joe argued.

"Then, if that happens, she'll just have to re-break it. I'm fine."

"Alright, whatever you say." Joe conceded. "You better get up to your lab before Singh sees you." Barry nodded and walked to the stairs, dreading the trip up. He hated this. He hated lying to his family and friends. There was just no other way around it. He was just glad that he was a meta-human now and could heal quickly because the only thing that kept his family in the dark about the abuse he'd suffered in college was the fact that he hadn't seen them much. Whenever he would visit his family, Tyler would make sure to leave him alone leading up to the trip so he never showed up with bruises and injuries. Barry sighed, making the painful trip up the stairs. He would have to get better at not angering Tyler right before he had to interact with people.

~x~x~x~

By the time lunch came around, Barry's injuries were fully healed. He was as good as new. The only thing that hadn't healed was his heart and Barry didn't think that was going to happen any time soon. He despised the way his life had turned out. Despised Tyler for causing him so much pain and heartache. Barry stood and grabbed his messenger bag. He needed to clear his head and decided to have lunch at the Motorcar across the street from the precinct. The greasy food there wasn't the best, but it was comforting in a way. He walked out, waving to Joe on the way, and made his way to the diner. Walking in, Barry picked a booth in the far corner and set his bag down before sliding into the seat. A pretty waitress came over and smiled.

"What can I get you to drink?" she asked sweetly. Barry half smiled back.

"Just water." he said.

"Alright. Do you know what you want or do you need a few minutes?"

"I'll need a few minutes." Barry said politely, looking back down at the menu in his hand. The waitress nodded and walked off to get his water, ponytail swinging as she went. Barry was studying the menu intently and didn't notice when someone sat down directly in front of him. The person cleared their throat and Barry jumped, eyes going wide when he saw who was sitting there.

"Snart?!" Barry whisper-yelled, shocked. The other man just smirked at the speedster. "What are you doing here?!"

"What? You're not happy to see me?" Barry floundered for a moment, not quite sure what to say to that. On the one hand, he was secretly happy to see the other man, for some reason. On the other, Snart was trouble. The older man saved him from his own awkwardness by chuckling. Just then, the waitress came back with his water. She looked surprised to see someone else sitting with him.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like something to drink, too?" she asked the newcomer. Snart smiled politely, an expression Barry was surprised to see, and answered.

"Water." The waitress nodded and moved away once more. Barry, too shocked to know what to say, just sat and stared. Snart smirked at him again before taking the reigns of the conversation. "So, how have things been?" he asked lightly. Barry's brain slowly kicked back online.

"Seriously, what are you doing here?" Snart's smirk became a genuine smile. The sight of it took Barry's breath away.

"I was feeling nostalgic. My grandfather used to bring me here when I was young." he paused for a moment before continuing. "It also makes a great spot to learn police response times." Barry rolled his eyes and laughed slightly. "You think I'm joking." Snart said in response.

"No." Barry shook his head, smiling. "It's funny because I know it's true."

"By the way, you can call me Len, kid." Barry's smile grew wider and he tested the name on his tongue.

"Len." The waitress came back with Len's drink and took their orders, blinking in curiosity in the sheer amount of food Barry ordered.

"Wish I had a metabolism like yours." she commented. Barry huffed a laugh.

"No, you don't." he said honestly, looking Len in the eye as if they had some sort of inside joke.

Barry and Len ate their food and chatted with each other like long lost friends catching up on each other's lives. Barry couldn't remember the last time he felt this carefree. They were arguing over who was going to pay the bill, Len quickly winning the honor, when it happened. Barry happened to look up at the CCPD and saw Tyler standing on the steps, looking around. Fear seized his heart and reality came crashing down on him like a bucket of ice water. Tyler couldn't see him here with Len. If he did, it would only put the older man in danger. He didn't know what Tyler would do if he thought Barry was cheating on him with his former nemesis. Len looked at Barry after paying the check and was shocked to see the alarm and fear written across the man's face as he stared out the window. Concerned, he lightly touched Barry's shoulder only for him to flinch away like he'd been burned. That and the expression on his face as he looked up tugged at Len's heart. He always had hated to see the kid in pain. Len was about to ask what was wrong when Barry stood abruptly, grabbing his bag and standing between Len and the window.

"Listen." he whispered urgently. "I need you to wait until I leave and go out the back exit. Whatever you do, don't take the road in front of the CCPD." Len was about to protest when Barry beat him to it desperately. "Please." Len nodded, brows furrowed in confusion. Barry sighed and walked out of the Motorcar, clutching his bag nervously. He saw the moment Tyler saw him, the man's expression morphing into one of anger before smoothing out. Barry took a deep breath before climbing the steps.

~x~x~x~

Len stood out behind the diner he and Barry had just eaten at and peered around the corner. He was curious about what had gotten the kid so rattled. He saw a man standing on the steps of the CCPD, saw the flash of anger cross his face, and saw Barry's shoulders rise and fall as if he took a steadying breath. When he made it to the other man, though he couldn't see his face, Len saw the tension in his shoulders and his hand tightly clutching his bag at his side. Len had to wonder if this was some meta-human enemy of Barry's that had found out the Flash's identity and had the gall to show up at his place of work. Len tensed when the man reached out for Barry. His theory was crushed when the man's hand went around the back of Barry's neck, pulling the slighter man into a kiss. So, not a meta enemy, then. But, Len was still confused because the tension remained in Barry throughout the kiss. His hand remained clutching his bag and his shoulders stayed stiff. Something was wrong. Len turned and started walking in the opposite direction, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He liked Barry. The kid wouldn't still be alive if he didn't. He had noticed, all though out lunch, that there was a sadness and weariness behind Barry's eyes. No matter how big he smiled, it never reached his eyes. It was something Len hadn't noticed the last time he had seen the hero. Of course, he'd been a little preoccupied with saving his sister. Len made a decision then and there. He was going to find out what was wrong with Barry and he was going to try his damnedest to fix it.

~x~x~x~

Barry pulled back from Tyler's kiss and gave the best smile he could muster. He knew it was a brittle expression, but he was trying to not let on that anything was wrong.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. Tyler scowled slightly before smoothing out his expression.

"I came to take you to lunch, but your co-workers said you were already gone. Where were you?" Barry fidgeted slightly and tried to keep his voice as level as possible when he answered.

"I went to the Motorcar to grab a bite. You missed my lunch hour."

"Yeah, well. Don't do this again." he ordered firmly. Barry looked taken aback for a moment and swallowed, mouth suddenly dry.

"W-what?"

"Don't go out for lunch again without telling me first. It's the least you could do. I wasted all this time coming over here. Don't do it again." Barry winced when Tyler grabbed his arm in a painful grip before letting go and heading down the stairs. Barry let out a breath and walked into the station. He could already see that he had a long, painful night ahead of him. At least he could feel peaceful about the fact that Tyler hadn't seen him with Len. The older man was safe. For now. Barry intended to keep him that way.

~x~x~x~

What'd ya think? Reviews are love. 3