A/N: This chapter ended up being a lot longer than I expected it to be. I knew that it would probably be longer than the others, because I tend to write more when it concerns my favorite character, but I didn't expect there to be this much of a difference.


Leonard Snart was not normally the type of person to sleep in. He preferred to wake up early, before anybody else did. Of course he also enjoyed staying up fairly late. He enjoyed feeling like he was the only person in the world, because everybody else was asleep. With Len staying up late and waking up early he only got a handle of hours of sleep every night.

Len was alright with this though. Yes, he felt exhausted all the time, and Len knew that getting so few hours of sleep was not good for anybody, let alone somebody who was technically still a child, like he was. Len hated to think of himself as a kid, because he certainly never felt like one, but at only twelve years of age even he in all his stubbornness had to admit that he was in fact still a kid, and he still had some growing up to do.

Still, Len didn't change his sleeping habits. He acknowledged that they weren't the best, and then did it like that anyways. That was just the type of person that he was. It was his life, so Len believed that he could do what he wanted with it. Sometimes though Len did take things a little too far.

Len always woke up at the same time every morning, but the time he went to bed every night varied on his mood, what was on his mind and whether or not his father was forcing him to help out on a heist or something. Sometimes Len would stay up hours longer than he normally would and more often than not the days where this happened occurred one right after the other.

Len was usually fine for the first couple of days with less sleep before the exhaustion would become too much and he would just conk out. When this happened Len probably could have slept until evening the next day and still been tired, and yet for the past two years he could never sleep any later than noon. He would have liked to, but couldn't because of one simple reason.

"Lenny, wake up already." A young girl's voice whined as small hands shook at his shoulders. Len groaned and rolled over, pulling his blanket over his head. This did not please the little girl one bit. "Get up!" The girl cried out. She climbed onto the bed and, without warning jumped onto Len's stomach, knocking the air right out of him.

Len groaned once again, from pain this time rather from irritation and fatigue. His chest was already sore because he was currently healing from bruised ribs, and having somebody jump on him like that was doing nothing for the pain. Still Len forced himself to not become angry because the little girl didn't know that he was hurt, so it wasn't fair to get mad at her for it.

Len opened his eyes and glared at the small dark skinned girl who was still sitting on his stomach. "What do you want, Iris?"

"I'm hungry." She said simply, as if it should have been obvious. Len rolled his eyes and pushed the six year old off his stomach.

"Then go find yourself some food." Len said indignantly. "You're old enough to do that yourself.

"I don't know what to eat." Iris whined. She started shaking his shoulders again and Len knew that if he didn't get up soon she would just jump onto his stomach again, and he really didn't want that. Thanks to his father Len already had bruised ribs, he didn't need Iris to make them any worse.

"Alright, I'm coming." Len shoved Iris off of his bed, causing her to give a small squeak when she landed on the floor. She glared up at Len, he returned her look with a smirk.

"Jerk." Iris muttered to herself.

"Brat." Len said, though not unkindly. He stood up and held out a hand to help Iris get to her feet. Len still felt tired and wanted nothing more at that moment than to crawl back into his bed and sleep for another few hours, but he didn't. Len was the type of person who couldn't fall back asleep after being woken up, and it would be useless to even try. Besides, Len had things that he had to do that day. He had wasted enough time as it was, he couldn't afford any more.

First things first though, Len had to get Iris some food, partially because she needed it, and partially so she would stop whining to him about being hungry. Iris practically dragged Len downstairs to the kitchen where she sat at the table while he began the daily challenge of trying to find something edible in the house.

The kitchen was almost always practically devoid of food. The only thing that they constantly had in supply was Lewis' alcohol. If that didn't say something about Len's father's character, than nothing did.

Len checked in cupboard after cupboard, hoping that he would find something, anything that was edible. He knew that they were low on food, because they always were, but today was not a good day to run out of it. Lewis and some of his pals were getting together to plan a heist and Len, for whatever reason, was being forced to be present. Lewis had been using Len for heists for years now, so that was no surprise. What Len didn't understand was why his father was wanting him to be there while they planned the heist when previously he had just been satisfied with just briefing him on the way to the actual heist itself.

Len was not happy about his father forcing him to be even more involved in this crime business than he already was. This was a new situation for Len, and he didn't know what his father expected from him. Since Len didn't know what his dad wanted it was all that much easier for him to slip up or do something wrong, and Len knew that he would be punished if he did.

Len didn't know exactly when the meeting was going on, just that it was sometime that day. Len couldn't risk going out to the store to get some food when he didn't know precisely when he had to be here. It would be best if Len just stayed home and didn't even risk being out at the wrong time.

Fortunately after a few minutes of searching Len was able to find some food. It wasn't much, but it was enough to last until tomorrow when Len could spare the time to steal some more food, because it wasn't as if he had the money to actually buy the stuff. Len had weighed the pros and cons of stealing money from his father to buy food, or just straight out stealing the food.

On one hand, if Len stole from a store there was a chance he would get caught by the authorities. On the other hand, if his father caught him stealing money from him...Len didn't even want to think about it. Ultimately Len had decided that he feared his father's wrath more than he did that of the cops, who would likely let him off lightly because he was young.

Len had yet to be caught by the police, even though he had stolen from shops and such on a regular basis for the past two years. He still didn't want to push his chances too much though, which was why Len never actually took much. Just what they needed to get by.

Len was relieved to find at least a little food. Ignoring the grumbling of his own stomach Len made some lunch for Iris, who was less than thrilled with the sorry meal.

"Peanut butter? Again?" Iris frowned and pushed away the plate with the plain sandwich on it. Len sighed and sat down next to her at the table. He pushed the plate back in front of her.

"Come on, Iris, this is all we have." Len reminded her. "If you don't eat this then you don't eat anything." He really wasn't trying to be mean about it, but those were the facts.

"But I'm starving." Iris whined. Her face was scrunched up and Len could tell that she was just seconds away from throwing a full tantrum, and he really couldn't handle that now.

"You're not starving." Len said harshly. "You're just hungry, and you wouldn't be hungry if you stopped being a baby and just ate the stupid sandwich." Len was really fed up with how Iris didn't seem to understand that while they didn't have all that much food they were still considerably lucky. Len knew many people, adults and kids alike, who truly were starving. Some of those children were actually even younger than Iris was, so Len really didn't appreciate Iris' complaints.

Iris, being incredibly stubborn crossed her arms and refused to eat the sandwich. Len wasn't going to force her to eat it though, if she really didn't want to eat it then fine, she just wouldn't be able to eat again until tomorrow. Maybe that would teach her to appreciate what she had.

Iris pouted for a few minutes, but finally her hunger got the best of her and she began to eat the food that she had been so adamant against. Iris only ended up eating half of the sandwich. She put the rest of it back on the plate and looked at Len meaningfully.

"You need some food too, Lenny." Iris said quietly. Len gave her a small smile. He appreciated the gesture, really he did, but Len didn't think he would actually end up eating the sandwich. If Iris really didn't want it then Len knew a number of other people who needed the food more than he did.

Leaving the sandwich on the table and promising Iris that it would get eaten later Len followed the girl into the living room. Len sat down on the couch with his legs spread out on the cushions and grabbed a book. It was one that he had read many times over, but he didn't mind reading it again. It wasn't as if he had much more to do.

Iris was content to just sit on the floor and continue working on a drawing that she must have started earlier that morning. Len found himself getting distracted from his book as he watched the little girl concentrate on just a simple drawing, as if she wanted it to be just right.

"What are you working on?" Len leaned forward to get a better look at the picture. Iris wasn't really an artistic person. She usually prefered to make up stories, all of which had happily ever afters. So seeing Iris draw anything always made Len curious.

Iris grinned and proudly held up her picture for him to see better. It really looked like Iris had put a lot of effort into it. There were four figures in the drawing, a monster of sorts, some flying person (an angel, perhaps?) and two smaller figures. The smallest person in the drawing was obviously a princess, the other one though Len wasn't so sure about. Maybe it was a knight? But then again, it kind of looked like a cross between a human and a monster.

"The princess is being held prisoner by the monster." Iris explained, though she didn't have to because Len could have figured out that much on his own. She pointed at the questionable figure. "This is the monster's son. He's not really a monster though, he's a knight, he just doesn't know it." Ah, so it was a knight and a monster. Well that made sense.

"Is the knight going to save the princess from the monster?" Len asked. Iris frowned as though unsure, which confused Len. It sounded like this drawing had a whole story to go with it, and Iris always made her stories end happily, with the knight saving the princess. Was that not how this one was going to go?

"I don't think so." Iris said finally as she looked at her drawing again. "He wants to, but the knight is trapped too."

"Who will save them?" Len asked, his voice quieter. He was beginning to get an idea of where Iris got her inspiration from.

"Oh, that's the angel." Iris smiled and pointed out the flying figure which was, indeed, an angel. "She's going to save the princess and the knight someday."

It wasn't the happiest of Iris' stories, but it was more personal. The ending was vague, but filled with hope. Len himself wasn't a very optimistic person, but he was happy that Iris could find hope in a situation that didn't seem to have any. There was just one flaw in Iris' story that Len just felt that he had to point out.

"I don't think she can save the knight." Len said. Iris frowned sadly and lowered her drawing.

"Why not?" She asked, reminding Len just how innocent and young she was. Iris didn't understand how the world worked.

"Well, the monster put a curse on the knight." Len said simply. "He can't leave his home."

"That's not the knight's home." Iris stomped her foot. "A home is with people who love you, and the monster doesn't love the knight."

'No, he doesn't.' Len thought to himself. "He still can't leave. The curse won't let him."

"Well then the princess will have to use her magic to break the curse." Iris said stubbornly. Len snorted.

"Since when does the princess know magic?" He asked. Iris pouted.

"Well, she will learn it, and after she does she will come back and save the knight." Iris sounded so sure that that was the way that things were going to happen that Len had to smile at her naivety.

"I'm sure she will." Len said, though that wasn't entirely true. He wasn't sure that she would succeed, but he did know that Iris, sorry, the princess would do her best to save her so called knight.

Satisfied that Len agreed with her version of the story Iris sat back down on the ground and added a couple of last minute details to her drawing. She was only drawing for a few moments though before she froze suddenly.

"Hey, Lenny?" Iris asked quietly. "When will my mommy want me again?"

"She's always wanted you." Len said immediately. "It's just...things are complicated." That was an understatement. Iris didn't understand that her mother couldn't afford to take care of herself, let alone a kid. That's why she had dropped Iris off here. Francine had hoped that Lewis would take care of Iris in exchange for payment.

Not the smartest plan ever, but based on the state Francine had been in the last couple of times Len had seen her, he was willing to forgive her for it.

Len had never considered Francine a particularly healthy person in the first place, and each time he saw her, especially after Iris started living with him and his dead, just proved to him how bad her health was. Francine looked thinner and more tired as time passed, as well as sicker. Francine's condition had been so bad the last time that Len had seen her he had witnessed first hand how bad off she was and that she was unfit to take care of a child. How could she, when she could barely take care of herself?

That had been a couple of months ago, and Len doubted that she was faring much better now than she had been then. If anything Francine was probably doing worse, so much so that Len wondered just how accurate Iris' drawing of an angel really was.

As Len tried to think of a gentle way to explain things to Iris a shout from the basement stopped his thoughts right in their tracks.

"Boy! Get down here!" Len flinched and Iris cowered slightly at the all too familiar sound of Len's father being angry. Len sighed and resigned himself to his fate. He knew that if he didn't get downstairs in the next thirty seconds then there would be hell to pay.

"I gotta go." Len dragged Iris to her feet and shoved her crayons and paper in her small backpack that was lying around nearby. "You know the drill. Go to the park or something, stay out of the city, be gone for a few hours but make sure you're back before dark, okay?" Len knew that it wasn't safe for such a small child to be wandering around outside on her own, but it was more dangerous for her if she stayed here.

Len all but pushed Iris out the front door and hoped that, for once, she would follow his instructions. This wasn't an uncommon thing. Any time that it was possible, Len tried to make sure that Iris was out of the house and away from the crossfires. The last thing that he wanted was for her to be hurt when she didn't deserve it.

That was why Len sent her out, with the hope that by the time she returned Lewis' anger would have burned out and she would be safe...somewhat safe.

Unfortunately Iris wasn't very good at following Len's directions. Sometimes she would come home early, only to stumble upon Len while he was hurt and vulnerable, because he hadn't had time to collect himself yet. Or she would come home late, which made Len feel sick with worry. Sometimes she didn't even come home alone, because a cop or someone had found her wandering around the city by herself and had taken it upon themselves to bring her home.

Lewis was always furious whenever this happened, and Len had to practically bend over backwards to redirect his father's anger towards him, and not Iris.

Who knows though, maybe today was Len's lucky day. Maybe Iris will decide to trust his word and do as he said...yeah, that wasn't going to happen.

"Leo!" Although, maybe now wasn't the best time to be worrying about Iris. She was a resourceful girl and could take care of herself for a few hours. Really, at the moment it would be best if Len just focused on worrying about himself.

Len hurried down to the basement before he could incur his father's wrath any more than he already had. He got hit over the head harshly for taking too long, which Len had expected. His father then briefed him quickly over what was going to be gone over that day and what he expected from him. Basically, Len was to pay attention, remember every little detail, and keep his damn mouth shut.

Paying attention would come easily to him, just so long as his father didn't hit him in the head anymore. Len made it his business to memorize the little details in everything, so that would be simple. Keeping his mouth shut though? That was another matter entirely.

It wasn't too long after that when Lewis' crew for this particular heist arrived. They were planning on stealing an expensive diamond that was on display at the museum that week. Len memorized their plans, backup plans, and suggestions that never formed into something substantial. And, like the good little boy that he was, Len didn't say a word about the flaws in their plans.

Like most of his father's heists, the theft seemed to rely too much on luck. His timing was off, his backup plans were hasty and in Len's mind his father was just begging for this whole thing to go downhill.

Still, Len didn't say anything. He didn't mention that it would be much easier to steal the diamond while it was being transported rather than when it was already on display. The plan as it was would likely end with them failing at the very least, and getting caught or killed at the worst.

Not that Len cared. If these idiots couldn't carry out a proper heist then they deserved to get caught. Spending the rest of his sorry life in prison was the least that he deserved. And if he died instead of got caught...well, that would be too perfect, and Len didn't want to get his hopes up.

Len could see this planning going on for hours, not because they wanted to be sure of all of the small details, but because his father and his pals couldn't seem to agree on anything. They spent more time threatening each other and fighting than they did actually planning. Len just tucked himself in the corner and tried to wait it out.

It was during one of these fights that Len faintly heard the sound of the doorbell ringing. Grateful for the excuse to get away from the pointless violence Len went upstairs to answer the door. The Snarts didn't get guests very often, and Len just hoped that whoever was on the other side of the door wasn't there for any reason that involved Iris.

He should have known better than to get his hopes up like that.

Len opened the door and was surprised to see a man holding Iris, who seemed to be asleep in his arms. More shocking than just that though was that Len recognized the man.

"Doc?" Len was taken aback. What was the doctor from the clinic doing here? And why did he have Iris? Judging by the expression on Doc's face, he was just as surprised to see Len as Len was to see him.

"Leo?" Doc stared at him in shock. Obviously he hadn't expected to fine Len there. The question was, what was Doc doing there in the first place? Len opened his mouth to ask but felt a harsh grip on his shoulder that made him freeze in fear.

"Who the hell are you?" Lewis growled as he tightened his grip on Len's shoulder, making the boy flinch ever so slightly. It was a small reaction, but Doc still noticed it. His eyes flashed in recognition and concern, a bit of anger too. He didn't do anything though, and Len wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that.

"I'm a doctor at a nearby clinic." Doc answered. Lewis frowned and glared at Len, who fidgeted slightly under his gaze.

"And how, exactly, do you know my son?" Lewis asked darkly.

"Oh, Iris told me about him." Doc lied easily, and Lewis seemed to believe his words. It didn't even register to him that Doc had called him Leo, and Iris only ever called him Len or Lenny, but never Leo.

Len internally breathed a sigh of relief. His father would be furious with him if he found out that Len visited Doc's clinic regularly. Lewis claimed that he hurt Len to teach him a lesson, and what kind of lesson was Len learning if he tried to get rid of the lingering pain.

"Well, how do you know Iris?" Lewis was growing angrier, and Len was not happy about that.

"I'm a friend of Francine's." Doc said, which made both Len and Lewis pause. Len was almost positive that Doc was lying, or at least wasn't telling the whole truth. If he knew Francine, he would have only met her recently. If that was true though, and Doc worked at a clinic, then did that mean…

"Is she okay?" Len asked quietly. His father sent him a sharp look for speaking out of line, but Len didn't care. He had to know. Doc looked at Len and his eyes were sad, which caused a feeling of fear to well up within him.

"Francine is alive." Doc said slowly. "But she won't be for long. I came here to get Iris, to bring her to her mother. I just happened to bump into her on my way over."

"What will happen to Iris?" Len asked. His father squeezed his shoulder so hard that it would surely leave a bruise. Len knew that he should stop talking now while he was ahead, but he couldn't. If Francine died then she would no longer be able to pay Lewis to take care of Iris, and Len's father never did anything if money wasn't involved.

"I will be leaving town soon." Doc said. "And Francine entrusted Iris into my care after she's gone." Another lie, this one bolder than the previous one, but still believable. Len could tell that he was lying, but Lewis could not. Len decided to keep this specific observation to himself.

"You're not taking that girl." Lewis stepped forward threateningly and Doc took a step back, his protective grip around Iris grew tighter.

"Actually, he is." Len stepped between the two of them before things could escalate. Len was acting boldly, and he knew that he would pay for it later, but he was going to be damned if Iris stayed here any longer. "If her mother put Doc in charge of Iris, then he's her new legal guardian. If you try to stop him from taking her, it will be kidnapping."

Lewis, who had heard more than enough out of his son's mouth that day backhanded him across the face, which sent Len staggering back. Len was knocked violently into the wall, his head slamming against it with an ugly 'crack'.

Len's world goes dark after that and he must have blacked out for a minute there because the next thing he knew Len was lying on the floor, with Doc kneeling at his side and his father nowhere in sight.

"What happened?" Len asked weakly as he tried to sit up and winced at the throbbing of his head. "Where's my dad?"

"You hit your head." Doc said unhelpfully. Len was already aware that he had hit his head. Why else would it be hurting so much? "You father went back downstairs, said we have five minutes for me to get Iris' things and get out of here, and for you to get back to the basement."

"He must be feeling generous today." Len muttered as Doc helped him sit up. Len only then noticed that Doc wasn't holding Iris in his arms anymore. "Where's Iris?"

"Still sleeping. I put her on the couch." Doc answered. He handed Len a water bottle and painkillers that he carried around with him for an occasion like this one. Though Len didn't normally like it when people tried to help or take care of him he gratefully accepted the pills. He wasn't so prideful that he would rather be in pain than accept help.

"Is your dad always like this?" Doc asked.

"Only on his good days." Len said. Usually his father was much worse.

"I'm so sorry." Doc said sincerely. "I would help you if I could, but…"

"But you have to take care of Iris now." Len said. "I'm not your responsibility, but she is." Len didn't begrudge Doc for this. The man couldn't save everybody. He knew that Doc wouldn't hesitate to just take Len with him, like he was taking Iris, if it weren't for the fact that Lewis would call the authorities on him for kidnapping. Then they would all be just right back where they had started.

No, Len had to stay here. He tried to tell himself that he was fine with it, but he couldn't stop bitterness from creeping into his heart. Len wanted to escape from his father, but he couldn't. Just like he had told Iris just earlier that day; he was cursed.

There were other reasons why Len couldn't leave though, more than just his father's influence. Len had friends, people who relied on him. He couldn't just leave them. As much as he cared about them though, if one of them got an opportunity like Iris was getting Len would push for them to take it. They all deserved a better life than they had been given.

The minutes were passing and Len knew that the longer he was up here the angrier his father would be. He couldn't stall for much longer. With Doc's help Len struggled to his feet and went upstairs to help pack what little possessions Iris owned. It didn't take long and only a few minutes later Doc was ready to go, though Len couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something important.

"I'm sorry I have to go like this." Doc said as the two of them slowly returned back downstairs, neither of them quite ready to part ways. "But my past has caught up to me here. I need to leave."

"It's fine." Len closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. "I have a friend who is trying to become a doctor herself. I'm sure she'll be thrilled with the practice." Len's joke fell flat, neither of them really finding humor in it or the situation.

"Just keep an eye on yourself, Leo." Doc said. He gently picked up Iris without waking her up and took her bags in his available hand. Len laid eyes on Iris and suddenly remembered what he had nearly forgotten.

"Doc, wait, you can't leave yet." Len said urgently. Doc looked at him in confusion and concern.

"I don't have long, Leo." Doc said. "Do you have any injuries that you need-"

"No, it's not that." Len said. "But Iris isn't...Francine didn't-" Before Len could figure out the right words to say the wailing of police sirens came through. The sirens sounded far off, a block at the very least, yet still Len was nervous. When one is a thief they do not exactly have a good relationship with policemen.

What Len didn't understand though was that Doc seemed even more nervous about the sirens than he was.

"I'm sorry, Leo, but I have to go now." Without another word Doc went out the front door.

"Doc, wait!" Len tried to go after him but his headache, which was quite possibly a concussion, was making it impossible for him. Len couldn't move quickly without his head erupting in pain. By the time Len got outside it looked as though Doc had already left, with Iris tight in his arms.

Len cursed under his breath and felt a chill come over him as he realized that Doc had actually gone, and he wasn't likely to be coming back. He had left without knowing...Doc had no idea that…

Len shook his head and forced the thought to the back of his mind. He would worry about that problem later tonight, when he could afford to think about it. For now though his father was expecting him, and if Len took any longer than he already had then he wouldn't be moving for a week. Lewis would definitely see to that.

Len hurried back down to the basement, but he was still nearly ten minutes later than his dad had wanted him to be. His father was either in a merciful mood that day or was too focused on the plans in front of him because Lewis barely looked twice when his son finally returned. Len knew that Lewis would probably just saving the punishment for later that night when he wasn't so busy, but at the moment Len didn't care. He was just glad to be given a break for a bit.

Len spent the next few hours just standing in his corner silently, watching as the others argued. He wasn't paying attention as closely as he had been before, but that was fine. Later, when his head stopped feeling like it was about to be split open, Len would come back down here and memorize the plans until he knew them better than his father did. Until then though all Len had to do was try not to do anything to make his father any angrier than he already was.

Len bit his tongue and avoided eye contact, unless his father directly asked something of him. After what felt like forever, and yet, at the same time, no time at all, Len's father and his pals finished up their plans for the night. Lewis, who had long since gotten tired of their company, kicked them out of the house as quickly as he could.

With the two of them being the only ones in the house the punishment that Len had been expecting all day finally happened. Len had known that it had been coming, but that didn't mean that he had been looking forward to this.

Len wasn't entirely sure what his father was angry about. All Len knew was that he didn't want to make things worse for himself. Usually when Lewis tried to beat him like this Len would at least try to fight back, especially if Iris wasn't around. Tonight though Len didn't even bother fighting back. He wasn't strong enough to stand up to his father, and all he ever got from trying was more pain. So when Len got knocked down to the ground he didn't bother getting up. He just laid there.

His father sneered at him, said something about him being pathetic, and, just for good measure, kicked Len in the chest hard. Len cried out in pain. It barely registered to him that there had been another cracking sound and his ribs were more likely than not completely broken. He barely noticed, and he didn't care. At the moment it didn't matter to him just what was wrong with them, just that they hurt like hell.

On the bright side, Lewis seemed to have decided that Len had had enough. Still shouting angry insults Lewis stomped into the kitchen, probably to get a beer, and Len was grateful for that. Lewis would end up drinking himself into a stupor, and would soon pass out on the couch, like he always did. Len just had to wait a little longer and he would be free.

Thirty seven minutes and forty two seconds later Lewis had gotten himself truly drunk and became dead to the world. Len knew from experience that nothing short of an explosion would wake his father, which was fortunate because Len had the feeling that he would be making quite a bit of noise when he finally got himself up from the ground.

Len waited another fifteen minutes, just to be sure that his father was well and truly asleep, before even attempting to get up. Len pushed himself slowly into a sitting position, holding his breath as he did so. His ribs flared painfully at the slightest movement that he made, which did not make the experience fun or easy. Len had gotten bruised and cracked ribs before, multiple times in fact, but had never actually broken any. Now he knew for a fact that it hurt much worse.

Len was grateful that he was near a wall and could use it to help pull himself up to his feet. It made the process a lot easier, though still painful. Len had to force himself to not cry out in pain every few seconds, though he couldn't stop the constant whimpers and hisses. Len may have a high pain tolerance, but that didn't mean he still didn't feel pain.

Len wrapped an arm around his chest and for a few minutes just practiced breathing in and out until he found a way to do so that didn't hurt so much. With that under control Len made his way into the kitchen and grabbed the sandwich that had been left there that afternoon. Len wasn't going to be the one to eat it, he didn't think he could stomach anything at the moment, but he knew a couple of kids who would like it.

Iris hadn't been the only kid that Len had kept an eye on. There was actually a half a dozen others that Len helped take care of as well. Some of them were orphans, some of them had been thrown out by their family, and others technically still had a home but prefered being a part of the little gang.

They called themselves The Rogues, and even though Len wasn't the oldest, or the one who was at their hideout most often, he was considered their leader. The kids counted on him to take care of them, and Len took that responsibility very seriously.

Because of his dad Len wasn't able to get to their hideout every single night, but he was determined to be there tonight. He hadn't seen the others in a few days, and Len missed them. Besides, Len had something very important to talk to his partner about.

Len's partner was a teenager named Mick Rory. He was a few years older than Len, and they were best friends. Mick watched over the kids whenever Len couldn't. They made a pretty good team. And some decisions, like the one that had been running through Len's mind since Doc had left with Iris, had to be made together.

The Rogue's stayed in an old, abandoned warehouse at the edge of town. It was drafty, cold, and falling apart, but it was theirs. It took Len longer to get there than it usually did, but that was to be expected. Len eventually arrived at the warehouse, which appeared locked up to somebody who didn't know any better. There was a hidden hole that the kids normally used as an entrance, but Len really didn't think it would be a good idea to be crawling around in his state.

Len went to the large metal door and pounded on it with his fist. "Mick, open up!" Len shouted. A minute later the large door was opened by Mick who, at first glance looked annoyed, but Len knew Mick well, and he recognized the look of concern on his face.

"What the hell happened to you?" Mick asked. The larger boy automatically stepped forward to support Len, who probably looked dead on his feet. Mick's attempt to help caused Len to move in the wrong way, causing his ribs to flare up. Len hissed in pain and Mick took a step back, the concern on his face even more obvious than before.

"What did your old man do to you?" Mick all but growled.

"It doesn't matter." Len shook his head. He couldn't deal with an overprotective Mick right now. He would gets his injuries taken care of just as soon as he knew how everybody else was doing. "I'll take care of it later." He assured Mick, just to get him to calm down. Mick glared at him, not believing a word he said, but ultimately shrugged and decided not to push it, which Len was grateful for.

Mick and Len walked from what used to be the loading dock to the large main room where most of the others were. Len could see Clyde and Mark Mardon playing a videogame that they had stolen a few months before. On the floor Len could see little Axel, one of their youngest, talking his mouth off to Hartley, who looked about ready to kill the five year old. And with good reason, Len believed.

"Axel, get over." Len called out irritably. Axel looked up and beamed when he saw Len. He got to his feet and ran over. He tried to give Len a hug, but Mick stopped him in his tracks. Len looked down at the little kid and frowned. Axel's smile went away when he saw that Len didn't look happy with him.

"Axel, how many times do I have to tell you that you can't talk to Hartley?" Len scolded. Axel frowned and looked close to tears.

"But he looks so sad all the time." Axel whined.

"I know." Len said gently. "And it's great that you want to be friends, but Hartley's different from other people, remember?"

"Uh, yeah." Axel's face scrunched up as he tried to remember. "Because he's dead." Mick snorted at Axel's words, and Len smirked in amusement.

"Not quite." Len corrected. "Hartley's actually deaf."

"Oh." Axel nodded in understanding, and then a look of confusion came over his face. "What's that?"

"It means he can't hear anything, remember?" Len reminded him patiently. He had told Axel this multiple times already, but the kid was young, and it took a while for an idea to become cemented into his brain. "If you want to talk to Hartley you have to use your hands."

"Oh, yeah." Axel nodded and grinned. He remembered the fun hand signs that Len had taught him.

"I have a new sign for you to learn." Len ripped the half sandwich in his hands in half again and gave them to Axel. With his available hands Len demonstrated the sign for 'sandwich' to Axel. The little boy nodded and ran back to Hartley, eager to show his friend what he had learned.

Axel gave one of the sandwiches to Hartley, put the other one on the floor and sloppily copied the sign that Len had shown him. It wasn't done perfectly, none of Axel's signs were, but Hartley still understood what Axel was saying. Hartley smiled, once again forgiving Axel for forgetting that he couldn't hear. The two of them were rather close, even though Hartley was nearly two years older than Axel. Hartley frequently got angry and upset with Axel whenever the younger boy tried to talk to him with words, but forgive him soon after simply because Axel was trying to learn a language that Hartley understood.

"I don't get how you always know what to do with those two." Mick huffed. "I've been trying to get them to stop fighting for hours, and then you waltz in, do some weird shit with your hands and everything is better."

"It's a gift." Len said slyly. He took another look around the room to confirm that it was indeed just the six of them in there. "Did Roy leave already?"

"Yeah." Mick grunted and Len nodded. He had suspected as much. Unlike most of the others Roy Bivolo, a small nine year old, didn't actually live in the warehouse. He had his own home, and a family that cared about him. The kid just liked to hang around with them.

"Boo's in the other room, watching the brat." Mick added. He raised an eyebrow at Len. "You know, it's been waiting for you."

"It is a he, Mick." Len said sharply. "And he has a name."

Mick tilted his head. "I thought you weren't supposed to name something you weren't going to get attached to."

"That's for pets." Len made his way to the other room with Mick at his heels. "Besides, plans change."

"Hang on." Mick grabbed Len's arm, causing him to flinch and pull away. Mick frowned and let go, holding his hands up for Len to see. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's complicated." Len crosses his arms over himself. "I told you about Francine, right?"

"Isn't that Girly's mom?" Mick frowned. Girly was his name for Iris, so he did know about Francine. "She's sick, right?"

"Yeah." Len nodded. "It's worse than I thought it was."

"How much worse." Mick narrowed his eyes.

"Doc says that she's dying." Len said. "He came by to pick up Iris, said that he promised Francine that he would take care of her."

"You mean permanently?" Mick asked and Len nodded, confirming it. "Shit." Mick hissed, showing that he was as surprised at this turn of events as Len was. A minute later Mick's face darkened in confusion. "Wait, so Doc's gone? But what about-"

"I don't know." Len admitted, which shut Mick up right away. Len rarely ever admitted that he didn't know something. "I don't think Doc even knows about him. I wouldn't be surprised if Francine forgot entirely, so how could he know?"

"Shit." Mick muttered again, this time from frustration. "What are we supposed to do?"

"We'll think of something." Len said. He continued making his way toward the back room. He heard Mick swear under his breath, saying something about how he's 'not a damn babysitter'. Still Mick followed him.

Len tentatively opened the door to the back room and quietly went inside. The room was small and practically empty. The only furniture was a chair and a makeshift crib. Shawna was curled up in the chair, half asleep. Len looked back at Mick and gestured to a stray blanket that was lying on the floor. Mick grunted but picked up the blanket which he draped over Shawna. The ten year old girl moaned slightly and turned over, snuggling herself deeper into the blanket's warmth.

Len watched Shawna rest for a moment before turning his attention to the crib and the last member of their little gang. Laying in the crib fast asleep was a small infant who was just a few months old. His name was Wally, and he was Francine's son.

The sad thing was, Len wasn't even sure if Francine knew that she had a son.

The last time Len had actually seen Francine, when he had found out about Wally's existence, the woman had not been well off at all. Len had only come looking for her because his father had sent him. Francine usually paid Lewis every six months for Iris, but she was a few months late, so Len had been sent to retrieve the money. When Len found Francine he was shocked, and honestly a little scared, at the state she was in.

Francine had been delirious. She didn't even notice Len even when he was standing right in front of her face. It had sounded like she was talking to Iris, as if she actually believed that her daughter was there even though she hadn't been for more than a year. Francine was in her own little world, completely oblivious to what was real.

She didn't notice Len, and she didn't even acknowledge the wailing of of a newborn child. Francine may not have noticed the child's crying, but Len certainly did. Confused and Curious Len quickly found the source of the crying and was surprised to see the small baby. Just by looking at it Len knew that the kid was Francine's, and he didn't seem any better off than she did.

The poor kid was young, only a few weeks old. Len didn't have much experience with babies, but he knew that this kid looked too small to be healthy. It looked as though the kid was getting sick too, from lack of attention. Francine was way too out of it to even take proper care of herself, let alone a baby. And Len got the feeling that she was only going to get worse.

Len had made a hasty decision that day. He couldn't just leave the kid to die. If Francine didn't have her act enough together to take care of a little kid, than she certainly wouldn't be able to take care of a baby. Somebody had to take care of the kid though, and Len knew that he couldn't take the baby home with him. If Lewis found out that Francine had another kid than he would force her to pay him for that kid too, and then not truly take care of it. Francine was barely making ends meet as it was. The last thing she needed was to be even more indebted to Lewis Snart.

Len said a quick but sincere apology to Francine, who still didn't acknowledge him. Len carefully picked up the crying baby and left quickly before he could change his mind. Len immediately went to the old warehouse that had become their hideout. It took some convincing but Mick agreed to help take care of the kid, but only for just as long as was needed. Once Francine was better the kid was out.

Neither boy had really considered the idea that Francine wouldn't get better.

"What are we going to do with him, Mick?" Len asked quietly. He hated how weak and vulnerable he sounded. Mick put a hand on his shoulder, and, for once, Len didn't flinch away from it.

"You'll come up with something." Mick assured him. "You always do. Until then, we'll just do what we've been doing so far."

"We're going to take care of him?" Len looked at Mick in shock.

"We're going to take care of all of them." Mick said. He gave Len's shoulder a reassuring, gentle squeeze. Len smiled slightly and leaned into the touch. It was times like these that he really appreciated having Mick around. He may be rough around the edges, but underneath that violent exterior was a surprisingly gentle person. Mick only showed that side of himself to a select few, and Len considered himself lucky to be one of them.

The two of them stayed like that for another moment before it officially began to feel awkward. Mick took his shoulder away, grunted something about the younger boys in the other room and left. Len was now alone with Wally.

Looking at the sleeping infant Len realized that maybe Wally belonged in their group more than he had originally thought. All of them were misfits and outsiders, and the only people that they had was each other.

Mick was a delinquent that nobody trusted. Len's father was abusive and controlling. Shawna's only family had been her dad, and he had died just recently. Clyde and Mark were brothers who had run away from home together. Hartley had been kicked out by his wealthy parents, just because he was deaf, thus, imperfect (and possibly also because he was gay, though Len couldn't know that for sure until the kid was a little older.) And then there was Axel, who technically still lived with his dad, but considering his father was a clinically insane lunatic Len didn't blame the kid one bit for preferring to hang out with them rather than be at home.

And then there was Wally, a kid whose own mother had honestly forgotten that he existed. The baby fit in right in with their ragtag team. The other kids had already accepted Wally as one of their own. Hartley was especially fond of the baby, though Len suspected that that was because he couldn't hear it when the baby cried his lungs out. Mick was right. Nothing had changed.

"Looks like you're officially one of us, Wally." Len said quietly. "Welcome to The Rogues."


A/N: Geeze, this thing was more of a pain in the butt to write than I thought it would be. Maybe that's because midway through writing it I decided to change the way that I was doing it, so I scrapped what I had written and started again.

Interesting fact about this chapter. For the stuff between Mick and Len I seriously had to refrain myself from making it too slashy. Because, yes, I am a shipper of Mick and Len, and it's just so easy to write them together when they're both young and vulnerable. However it's not a pairing that I'm having in this story. Starting next chapter I'm going to be having Len be head over heels interested in somebody else, and I can't do that if he has a thing for Mick. Fair warning to all readers though, the person that Len will be interested in is still a guy, so be ready for that.