Barney's blood ran cold, when he saw the man going straight for Robin. He looked at her. She had her face turned to him and her eyes were tightly closed, as if she hoped, the man couldn't see her if she couldn't see him.
"Ssshhhh... Everything's going to be okay", he said, while stepping closer. It didn't sound soothing, but frightening. Barney could see the goosebumps on Robin's arms, which were wrapped around her body.
"You're a really pretty, little thing", the guy said, now that he stood right in front of her.
No! , Barney thought, when he lifted his hand and stroked Robin's cheek with his knuckles.
Even thought her eyes were tightly pressed together, a tear ran down her face, when his hand touched her.
Wild rage flared in Barney. This man had no right to touch Robin against her will.
An armed robbery with taking of hostages was one thing - maybe he needed the money and was desperate - but Barney wouldn't stand idly by and watch the woman he loved getting molested.
"Don't touch her", he hissed through gritted teeth. The stranger let his hand fall from Robin's cheek and turned to him.
Just now, Barney realized how tall he was. At least one head taller than himself. Even visibly taller than Marshall.
"Did you say something?", he asked intimidating.
Barney looked at Robin. She looked at him shocked and shook her head slightly, silently telling him not to provoke the other man. But Barney wouldn't cave in now. He had to appear resolute and confident.
He looked up at the man and said with a steady voice: "I told you not to lay your dirty hands on her!"
The man sneered.
"Or what?", he asked. "What's a little runt like you going to do, when I do this?"
With this words, he turned to Robin, grabbed her forearm and squeezed it.
Robin was too shocked to react. She cried out and sank to her knees, but he didn't let go of her.
Robin's scream sent adrenaline through Barney's body. Without thinking, he struck his fist against the man's jaw.
He let go of Robin, turned to Barney while rubbing his jaw and said: "That was a mistake."
He slammed his fist into Barney's face and Barney fell to the ground, while Robin gasped for air. The masked man hit Barney a few more times, injuring nose and eyes as well.
Robin was kneeling on the floor and sobbed heavily, but she couldn't look away. There just had to be something, she could do. And then she had an idea. She slipped out of her shoe and threw it into one of the show cases.
The glass shattered and, just like she hoped, the alarm system went off.
The robber paused, looked up and cursed. "Fucking hell!"
He looked down at Barney again and said: "But I'm not done with you, yet."
He pulled out a pocketknife and let the blade jump up. Barney didn't even get that anymore. But Robin had to watch, how the man drove the knife into Barney's gut and pulled the bloody blade out. She shrieked and felt a pain, as if SHE was the one, who got to feel the knife. She clapped her hands over her face and cried bitterly, while the abuser grabbed the sports bag and left the store.