A/N: Thanks again for all the support, guys :) I'm feeling better now, so that's something at least. My head still hurts but nothing like it was. As it is I'm about to crash, but I'm off for two nights, so that's good, I guess ;) I have conflicting ideas for this story, about the length and everything. Ugh. Why must things be so complicated. Anyway - we'll see how it goes. If it goes on much longer I'll have to change the summary of the story xD
Keep up the reviews, they're what keeps me motivated to continue! :D
Chapter length: 2701
Onward!
CHAPTER 9 – Talking
"Leonard Snart," is what Len hears from outside his bedroom, "when the hell were you going to tell me we were engaged?"
Len's eyes widen even as he scrambles to his feet. The door to his room is already opening and in walks Barry, scowling at him. Len stops where he stands, halfway between here and there, and stares at the brunette, uncertain if he's angry or shocked or both. Probably both. Len would be both.
"I mean – that's kind of something the fiancé should know," Barry continues, waving his hands dramatically, pacing quickly like he can't stand still, and it has been a few days since his run at the labs. "I had to find out from Iris gushing at me about how adorably sweet we are together and that she and Lisa are planning the wedding! We are apparently getting married in December – because why? Because it's cold then!"
Len can't stifle the snort, and Barry glares at him. "Uh – you told her it wasn't true, right? That we're not engaged?"
Barry's face scrunches in another scowl. "And break her little heart right after she lost Eddie? After he proposed to her and she lost him? No! I didn't tell her it was a lie."
Len winces. So that's why she looked a little sad despite her enthusiasm; her boyfriend proposed, and then died, and it's only been a few weeks – nearly a month – since then. Of course she would be upset even if she was happy for her friend.
And Len can understand how Barry didn't want to rain on her parade, so to speak. But that means-
"So we're getting married in December?" Len asks dumbly, which really isn't like him, and he'll blame it on the fact he's a bit out of his element here, and Barry came over like a bat out of hell and startled him. Even though he's not easily startled.
Barry stares at him, mouth agape for a minute, before he blushes. "I didn't think of it like that," he says under his breath, before he shakes his head. "Don't worry, I'll set her straight tomorrow."
Len nods, even as a part of him wants to say, 'Don't bother.'
He's not sure where that part comes from, but it's there all the same. Gay marriage is legal now; so what's the problem? Oh, right. He didn't actually propose.
He's never thought about it before.
"Anyway, I'll just – be going," Barry says, edging toward the door somewhat awkwardly. "I didn't realize – sorry. Sorry. Bye, Len."
Len sighs and moves forward, grabbing the kid's wrist. Barry's eyes slide up to his face, calculating. Behind those Bambi-eyes is an intelligent mind, one Len finds he rather enjoys. He smiles.
"We're engaged, for today," he says simply. "I don't recall getting any celebratory drinks, do you?"
Barry smiles slowly. "You're absolutely right."
"And that's just wrong," Len continues. "And you don't even have a ring. We'll have to remedy that."
Barry laughs. "What, are you going to steal me one?"
Len remains silent.
Barry stops laughing. "What? No. Don't do that," he says quickly, even though he's redder than a tomato.
"Drinks, Scarlet," Len says with a smile, keeping his fingers tight around the speedster's wrist as he leads the way out of the room.
Barry trails behind him like a little puppy.
They enter the small kitchen and Len opens the fridge, pulling out what little stock of alcohol he has, which is fairly pathetic.
"We'll get proper drinks tonight," Len says, smirking at Barry, who shrugs with a sheepish smile.
"You know that doesn't do anything to me, right?"
"Semantics."
Barry laughs, and Len pours two glasses of red wine, since Lisa loves red wine. He'll have to buy more for her because she's going to be pissed that they drank it and she wasn't invited, but this is her fault to begin with.
They sit at the table like a normal, civilized couple, and sip their wine.
"Some steak would be nice," Barry comments.
Len smirks. "We have no proper food here."
"I can grocery shop in like five seconds," Barry offers.
Len scowls. "If we're shopping, we're doing it the right way, Scarlet. Finish your wine. We have steaks to buy."
Barry laughs again. It really is a pleasant sound.
"What – how dare you!" Lisa says from the doorway, startling them. Len certainly didn't hear her come in. He thought she was out with Iris or something. Now they both look at her, Barry a little more guiltily than Len.
"Your fault," Len says simply, taking a large sip of his wine and making a point that she sees it. He's not the biggest red wine fan, but he certain hums in appreciation so she knows what she's missing.
Lisa glares at him. "And after I planned your wedding and everything!"
Barry nearly chokes on his drink. "W-We're not having a wedding," he says quickly, staring at her.
Lisa sticks out her lower lip in her version of a pout, which is really quite effective. "You're engaged, of course you are."
"We're not," Barry says weakly, looking toward Len for help.
Len shrugs.
Lisa laughs. "Alright, boys, it's time for you two to talk."
Len scowls.
"Talk?" Barry repeats slowly, like it's a foreign word. Len can feel the kid's eyes on him but he keeps his own gaze focused on glaring at his sister, who really does look a little too smug.
"Lenny isn't the best with words, so I decided to help him," Lisa says. "He was a bit of a stick in the mud while you were in your time-traveling vortex of doom." Len sends her a warning look; she ignores it, as always. "He missed you. And you're getting married in December. Buy decent tuxes, would you? Unless Barry wants to wear a dress, which I'm totally okay with."
Barry stammers something incoherent, and Lisa laughs as she leaves the room.
xXx
Neither of them talk.
Instead they go to the grocery store, because Barry still wants steaks, and Len did promise to grill for him at some point. Len knows Lisa is only trying to help, but really she just made things a bit awkward between him and Barry, and things have never been awkward between them. Even on opposite sides of the law, they still got along well and didn't really have awkward moments.
They're in the pizza aisle when Barry finally decides to talk.
"So… you missed me?" he asks quietly.
Len sighs, shoving a few pizzas into the cart. "Yeah, kid, I missed you."
There's no point in lying about it, or denying it.
He missed him.
"But I was only gone for-" Barry stops. "Oh. Right. Yeah, two weeks."
"Two weeks is a long time," Len says.
Two weeks is even longer when you're not sure if the person is alive.
Barry rubs at the back of his neck as they continue down the aisle. "It's still hard to get used to… even after a week."
Len nods. He can only imagine how Barry must feel.
"But you don't have that problem," Barry sighs, scrubbing a hand across his face, a move Len's all too familiar with after the kid was missing for weeks.
"It's still hard to get used to," Len says quietly, and the kid looks at him, green eyes wide and open and inquisitive. Len bites his lower lip to keep from saying what's on his mind; now isn't the time, not in the middle of the store. "I'll explain later. Right now, we need to pick out our steaks."
Barry nods slowly, and the two keep walking through the store.
About five minutes later, the kid's phone rings.
He hangs up after a moment and looks at Len, and Len knows what he's going to say. The knot in his stomach tightens anyway as he looks at their half-full cart of groceries, like a normal couple.
But they're not normal, because he's Captain Cold and Barry's the Flash.
"Duty calls," Barry sighs.
"Flash business?" Len asks.
Barry nods glumly. "I'll pay you back for the food," he says.
Len shakes his head. "I've got it."
He's a criminal, after all; he can afford groceries.
Barry nods again. "Thanks, Len. I'll just… I'll…"
Len sighs heavily. Barry's bolted out on him before because of Flash business, but right it just seems wrong. "Go," he says anyway, because Barry's a hero and that's what heroes do – they put others before themselves, and if they're calling for Barry's help then they must need him. "I'll finish shopping and we can have dinner tonight, if you want."
Barry has a nice, soft smile which reminds Len of summer. "Yeah, that sounds nice. Bye, Len."
Len opens his mouth to say something, though he's not sure what, but before he can do anything, Barry's kissed his cheek goodbye and then he's gone in a flash. The grocery store is mostly empty, especially the aisle they're in, so it's not like he'll be caught.
Len stares at where the kid previously stood, and remembers the quick touch of warm lips to his cheek.
xXx
Len waits for Barry to call or something, to let him know when to fix dinner, but the kid never does. As the hours pass he becomes more uneasy, and he hates that. He hates feeling this way, but he's not sure how to make it stop.
Lisa and Mick have left him alone for the night, for which he's grateful. When Barry gets back they're going to have a nice meal and discuss things, because that's what needs to happen. They need to talk, even if Len's not very good with words, like Lisa said.
But he'll do it, because it seems like Barry needs to hear the words. The kid's on edge, too.
He needs to run, which brings him to another worry – what if he runs too fast and vanishes into time again? He watched the kid run on the treadmill, but right now Barry's out there in full Flash mode, which he hasn't been in since his return, since the Singularity. And Len's not there, and that is what's bothering him.
He's not there, and Barry hasn't called.
It's been hours.
When the clock hits eight at night, he dials Barry's number.
Cisco answers.
"Barry's not here right now," Cisco explains.
"Where is he?" Len asks before he can stop himself.
"Uh – fighting a meta-human?"
"Is he okay?" he asks a little more calmly.
"He's doing fine so far," Cisco tells him. "Wait – he just captured the meta. He'll be back any – oh, hey, Barry. Len wants to talk to you."
There's a breath, and then Barry's speaking to him. "Hey, Len, sorry I'm so late."
All the tense muscles in Len's body relax. "It's fine, Scarlet. I was just wondering if you still wanted steak."
"Yeah, sounds great, I'll be there in a flash," Barry says, grin evident in his voice.
Len smiles, that tightness in his chest unclenching.
xXx
Barry arrives ten minutes later; Len's warming up the grill and has the steaks ready to go when the kid breezes onto the patio. The place is lit with soft lighting, not Len's idea but Lisa likes it out here at night so she made the place look nice, and he can't say he's complaining right now. It's adequate lighting for grilling, but not too much to draw attention to them. If it seems a little romantic, he won't argue.
He did once get called 'captain of romantic gestures' by Barry, after all.
He smiles faintly, remembering.
"Hey, kid," he says, turning to face Barry, who's looking around with a grin.
"Romantic, again?" the kid asks, looking at him. He's changed out of his Flash outfit and is instead in a STAR Labs sweatshirt and blue jeans. "Keep this up and I'm going to start thinking you're a nice guy."
"I can be nice," Len says with a smirk. "I can be very nice."
"Can you?" Barry challenges, and ah, there's that spark Len loves in his eyes.
Len steps toward the kid. Barry stands his ground. "Of course I can. I can be downright pleasant."
Barry laughs. "Prove it."
And Len pushes the kid against the wall, claiming his mouth with his own. Barry's fingers are on the front of his shirt, holding them together, but Len has no plans on leaving. He places his hands on either side of the kid's head, palms flat against the wall, trapping him there. He can't disappear if he's trapped.
The kiss breaks only when oxygen becomes an issue, but screw oxygen. Len's prepared to keep going until Barry clears his throat and looks over his shoulder. Len sighs and glances back at the grill, which is ready to go now. He looks back at the kid.
"Don't move," he says.
Barry smiles, and Len heads toward the grill. He puts the steaks on and then returns to standing in front of the speedster.
"Where were we, Scarlet?"
Barry grins.
"Oh, right, I remember," Len says as he leans back in for another kiss.
He wants more. He wants everything. Everything Barry is willing to give him, but tonight is for talking, not strenuous activity. So he reluctantly pulls away after another minute of kissing, and the two sit at the small table on the patio, lit by candles.
Barry's watching him with this goofy look on his face. Len likes that look.
A lot.
"I missed you, Scarlet," Len says.
Barry blinks at him, and then nods. "Oh. Right. You said you'd explain, or whatever. Okay, yeah, talking. I talk all the time, this should be easy, right? So, um…"
He's cute when he rambles.
"You were gone for two weeks," Len says, and Lisa would be so proud of him for talking things out, but she's not here and she will never hear a word of this conversation. "I was a mess, kid."
"A… A mess?" Barry repeats, disbelieving.
"I watched my boyfriend disappear into a black hole," Len tells him, and a shiver crawls through him as he remembers that particular image. "I wasn't prepared to miss you so much, Scarlet. You ruined me."
Barry stares at him, but stays silent.
Len takes in a breath, trying to find the words, but talking has never been his strong suit. That's more Lisa's thing.
"I know I've been acting a little odd lately."
Barry nods. "You've been kind of… attached, which is great, but, I mean, it's not really like you."
Len nods, sighing again. "I know you won't disappear the minute you leave my sight – I do know that." I think. "But the mind can be irrational when it comes to someone you love."
Barry sucks in a sharp breath, stiffening, and Len watches him, wondering if he said the right thing. Barry did say he loved him, once; it was in a message, but he said it nevertheless.
He also immediately said goodbye.
Len gets to his feet, turning away from Barry to focus on the steaks momentarily. He flips them, checking them over, but they're grilling nicely. After a moment he returns to his seat, and Barry is watching him carefully.
"Speak, kid," Len says, because the silence is getting to him.
"You love me?" Barry asks quietly, like he can't believe it.
Len scowls. "You don't have to sound so shocked, Scarlet. I know I'm lousy with words, but I like to think I can be romantic at least sometimes. Yes, Barry – I love you."
I love you.
It's the first time he's said the words aloud, and it's oddly freeing. A weight is lifted off his chest, especially when he sees the way Barry's eyes brighten and the that smile slides across the kid's face, threatening to break it. Which would be sad, really, because he has such a pretty face. Len's quite fond of it.
"I love you, too, Len," Barry says quickly, happily, and he's thrumming with energy again.
Len sits back in his chair, satisfied.
Maybe he's okay at this whole 'talking' thing after all.
