It was inevitable that Oliver Queen would get wind of the new partnership, though Barry doubted even The Arrow knew of the true depth of his and Len's connection. That The Flash was seen working with the former Captain Cold, now just Cold as a nickname, had made the news, but there was no video footage. Meta confrontations rarely happened around TV cameras. That Barry would get a personal visit from The Arrow was almost expected, right down to the very judgmental scowl.

"I didn't think Team Flash was taking in criminals. Especially irredeemable ones," The Arrow remarked as The Flash met him outside Central City. "Ones that have tried to kill you, Flash. Or get you killed."

"Be nice," Felicity sighed. "We talked about this, okay? We ask questions, then go all Arrow on poor Barry later."

Barry shot her a thankful smile. He had pushed back the cowl while Oliver was still in full get-up. Felicity just gave him an encouraging twitch of her lips. The way she stood slightly between the two showed her Guide instincts working full time to keep her Sentinel from doing something stupid. While she couldn't physically restrain him, Felicity had the empathic presence to keep the lid on any and all explosions for a while. She wasn't Oliver's bonded Guide, but she was one of the strongest Universals the Sentinel used.

"Did you come all the way to criticize who I'm working with?" Barry asked, annoyance in his tone.

Those dark eyes, hidden behind the mask, were piercing and cold. "Leonard Snart, Barry? Captain Cold?"

"Yes, Leonard Snart."

"What's his agenda? Or yours?" Oliver demanded.

"There is none."

"And we didn't come here just to playl big brother either," Felicity added with a sharp look at the Sentinel glaring at The Flash. "There was a string of jewelry heists. The way it was pulled off suggests some meta involvement. And the trail leads to Central City."

Barry's frown deepened and he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I hope you're not suggesting Len's involved."

The Arrow snorted. "Len."

Barry's scowl turned rather fierce. "DO you have a problem with my allies?"

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Yes, he does. And no," she said, shooting the Star City Sentinel a warning look, "he's not going to get hung up on that."

"Felicity," Oliver growled.

She looked absolutely unimpressed. "This is Barry's choice. We did not come here to run The Flash's life. We're here for a jewelry thief."

"Which is right up Snart's alley," The Arrow rumbled darkly. "I wouldn't be surprised to discover he was pulling strings or partnered up with the potential meta."

"Depends on the challenge of a job," Barry shot back. "And you wouldn't find any trace leading to him if he really was involved."

Oliver smiled humorlessly. "Are you changing sides, Flash? Protecting the supervillain?"

"Actually, he's telling you it couldn't have been me," a mocking voice drawled and Len stepped into view, dressed in his Cold get-up, both guns resting lazily against his shoulder. "Because for the past months I haven't left Central City."

He stopped next to The Flash, a dark smirk on his lips. From Oliver's reaction, he had only found Snart lurking in the shadows a second or two prior to him speaking up. Barry almost smirked.

"Hello, Barry," Len drawled.

He grinned. "Len."

Felicity's eyes ran up and down the new suit. "New outfit on behalf of S.T.A.R. Labs? Because that's Cisco's design, if I'm any judge. And it looks really smooth. Nice!"

Barry chuckled. Snart just cocked an eyebrow.

"Team spirit and all," he remarked lazily. "I'm just missing the badge."

"Care to explain?" Oliver demanded.

Felicity rolled her eyes again.

"We have… an arrangement," Barry said carefully, really willing to dig all too deeply into the true depth of the relationship.

"One I'm not being paid for," Len added. "Still no reason to run jobs in Star City and be that sloppy that it leads The Arrow to me." He tilted his head. "I'm the best in my field of expertise, Arrow. I know how to pull off a heist and not have a vigilante on my tail."

"You only played with Barry," Felicity teased, not even blushing.

Len's grin was unholy. "Exactly."

Her eyes danced as she looked between the two. "Ohhhh." There was a glint in them that spoke volumes. A dangerous, knowing glint.

Barry wanted to groan and bury his face in his hands, but he valiantly didn't do that. He knew that Felicity was very good at being a Guide, picked up in cues like a pro, and her empathy wasn't to be trifled with. It was one of the main reasons why she handled Oliver's spikes and why he primarily turned to her when he needed help to balance his senses.

Now The Arrow shot her a look. Felicity's smile matched Len's and Barry knew she had drawn lightning quick conclusions. Correct conclusions. Very damning ones, too.

"I knew it was all just flirting and foreplay," she added, a triumphant smile on her lips.

Oliver's expression shifted through confusion, then realization, to surprise and then some shock sprinkled on top.

"Come on," Felicity prompted as she took in his clear air of denial, shaking her head. "Do you know how often Captain Cold went up against The Flash? They had a little row, and either he ended up in prison or got away. From a speedster! Not to mention all the life-saving they did for each other." Her smile was threatening to get even bigger, if that was humanly possible. "Lots of flirting, right?"

Len chuckled, a low, soft noise. Barry really wanted to headdesk right now.

"You're associating with a known criminal? You're marking yourself vulnerable!" Oliver stated coldly.

"Associating. Cute." Len's voice was all pleasant and mocking in one. "We're all adults here. So let's call it having sex."

It got him a warning scowl from The Arrow.

"Very good, actually fantastic sex," Snart continued.

Barry was close to whisking them off and be done with it all. "Not helping!" he growled.

The Arrow's expression was deadly.

"Scary," Len deadpanned, meeting that lethal stare.

Felicity beamed brightly at them, rather unconcerned with the air of danger her Sentinel exuded.

Barry looked at the archer, brows drawn down, looking far from amused. "What do you want here, Arrow? My help chasing this thief? If yes, we can continue this discussion. If no, thanks, but I don't need advice on my personal life and life choices."

Len's expression was absolutely neutral again, but Barry could feel the smugness radiating off him.

Oliver's scowl was getting worse and Barry wondered if it might just be permanently etched into his features at the end of the night.

Felicity's smile was unwavering and she whipped out her tablet, calling up the information Team Arrow had. "Here. Let me show you. And maybe Leonard's expertise can help in that matter. I mean, you are a master thief. You have a very unique way of looking at things. Breaking and entering things. Or how the meta got around the surveillance and alarm."

Len's smile was charming and business-like in one. "At your service," he purred.

Next to Felicity, Oliver radiated deadly tension. Felicity ignored him and just went through each heist with the resident expert. Len's concentration wasn't an act and Barry listened with half an ear as he asked a few very precise questions, then studied the reports on each heist again and again.

Oliver nodded at him to step aside. Barry rolled his eyes, but he did.

"Why?" the older man asked, voice low and still so very dark. Like a storm brewing on the horizon.

"There is a reason and it is very, very personal," he replied levelly.

"Barry."

He glared, refusing to be baited.

"He tried to kill you."

"And he didn't succeed. End of story. We have a history and there's a reason behind that, too."

"Why don't you trust me?" Oliver suddenly asked.

Barry almost rocked back. "What?"

The pointed look had him clam up.

As Len had pointed out not too long ago, no one outside a few select people had ever known about his Sentinel status. Only those people also knew about the meta aspect and about Len's true depth of involvement with Barry Allen. While Barry knew that Oliver Queen was a Sentinel, Queen had no idea that Barry was one, too. It was an aspect of him that was so closely, fiercely guarded, there was an automatic defense in place to deflect any and all suspicion.

Oliver sighed, sounding resigned. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"I know about very personal secrets, Barry." The Arrow gave him a brief, humorless smile. "If you ever feel comfortable sharing, you know I won't ever betray that trust."

"I…" He exhaled sharply. "Okay." He shot him a little smile. "Thanks."

Oliver briefly clapped him on one shoulder, then turned back to where Felicity and Len were quietly talking about high-tech locking mechanisms. It had Barry's head spin just listening in on it. For a man who hadn't even finished high school, Leonard Snart was a master of his craft that involved advanced mathematics and computer engineering.

"I want to use S.T.A.R. Labs' computers to run this," Felicity decided. "Len has a very much unique approach to how our meta might have passed by all that state-of-the-art security without leaving a trace," she told Oliver. "Unless it's his power to get in and out of locked rooms, invisible, no prints, no traces at all. I'll just swing by the guys and have a go at the computer." She smiled brightly at Oliver. "Unless you want to come along?"

"Go," The Arrow only said.

"Oh, and we might just do a little virtual visit to the crime sites."

Oliver's frown was clear, even with the mask and the hood.

Felicity waved him off. "Research. Later." She turned to Snart. "You've got a car?"

"Bike."

"Ohhh." She grinned. "Ciscoed bike?"

"One hundred percent."

"So cool! Can I drive?"

Barry could almost hear the groan from The Arrow as those two walked off. He just gave the other man a quick salute, then raced off.

"There's a reason I kept my distance from Star City."

Barry raised his eyebrows. "Scared?" he teased.

"Reasonable. Sensible. Weighing my options," the other man replied calmly. "Frivolous heists will only get you killed. Getting on the hit list of The Arrow is a very bad decision."

"So you waited for the good stuff to come to Central City and steal it then?"

It got Barry a low, soft chuckle. "Exactly. You are so much more fun to work with, Flash."

"Sweet talker."

Barry leaned over and kissed him, the Speed Force energy between them almost purring. It had been a little bit on the more unsettled side ever since the confrontation with The Arrow.

Now, with the thieving meta in custody, Barry was a lot more relaxed, though The Arrow was still in Central City, Oliver citing business matters.

"If it gets me laid," Len drawled.

He laughed. "Really?"

"Hm. Three days of having The Arrow breathing down my neck is a real cock-block."

Barry burst out laughing. "Please don't tell him that!"

"Why? He's going to stay even longer?"

"Might be."

"Big brother?"

"It's probably a vigilante thing." Barry shrugged.

"It's a Sentinel thing," Len replied, nipping at Barry's lips. "Especially one with just a prelim Guide. Smoak is a Universal Guide. He's not the kind to want a bond."

Barry was impressed, his expression reflecting those thoughts. Len smirked.

"I know Sentinels, Scarlet. In my line of work you need to know them to keep a step or two ahead when doing a job. He's intense, driven, won't bond, and he'll keep his prelim at arm's length and push rather than pull. His loss. Miss Smoak is an excellent Guide and empath."

"Work closely, hm?" he teased.

"Very. She's also very comfortable to work with. Not to mention sharp."

Barry hummed, pushing a hand underneath Len's shirt, finding warm, soft skin. The kisses never went past languid, gentle and reassuring contact. Neither man wanted to arouse or take it to the next level.

Even if Barry left a little mark against Len's skin at the juncture of his neck and shoulder.

"For a Sentinel who doesn't conventionally bond you're still quite territorial and possessive, Scarlet," Len remarked, almost like reviewing a paper, though his eyes were filled with humor.

"Sue me."

"That would be a frivolous lawsuit."

The Speed Force curled around them, Barry comfortable and relaxed, enjoying the physical closeness to the fullest. While Oliver hadn't demanded all his time, he had been quite intense and as driven as Len had noted.

"He asked about us," the speedster murmured after a while.

Snart's eyes cracked open and Barry pushed himself up, looking into the cool blue. "He wants to know. It's a Sentinel thing."

"Yeah. And more. I do trust him, Len."

"But you haven't told him."

"No."

"He doesn't know about the Sentinel?"

"No."

"You revealed that you're The Flash," he stated. "He knows your identity. You know his." At Barry's expression he rolled his eyes. "Oh please, Scarlet. It's obvious. You know each other, he's highly protective of you, and it's also not the first time The Arrow has been sighted with The Flash, either in Central or in Star."

He sighed and gave a half-hearted shrug. Len sat up.

"Why did you never tell him about being a Sentinel?"

"It wasn't important. I never really used my senses in his presence, before or after becoming The Flash, and since I'm self-contained, needing a Guide didn't give me away."

"Now you use your senses." Len sounded just a little bit on the smug side. "He might have noticed. You did so when finding our elusive meta with the hunger for precious stones."

A real hunger, because the young woman hadn't stolen the very pure and valuable items to turn them into money. She had actually eaten them. Right now A.R.G.U.S. was working on helping her find a substitute because just a day without ingesting gems left her in serious metabolic failure. Caitlin was working with them on determining what exactly it was that made these precious stones so nourishing and if it could be artificially made. Beth Walter's organism had been altered that she couldn't eat anything else, had no finger prints, gave off no body heat, and her skin was slick like glass. Conventional scanning equipment didn't see her and so far there had been no success in drawing blood or getting her x-rayed.

"Uh, yeah, but he can't detect it."

Snart studied him. "You knew our hooded archer before lightning struck?"

Count on Leonard Snart to hear that and pounce on it later. "Yeah. I went to Star City, well Starling City at the time, for a case. As a forensic tech. Fudged some things to get where I wanted."

Len's brows shot up. "Why Barry, I'm shocked."

He shrugged. "I was hunting for anything extraordinary, trying to prove my dad hadn't killed my mom."

The other man's features shifted from mocking to serious.

"I might have… twisted the truth a little to get to the crime scene, work it, get the info. That's where we met. We didn't really start out on the best of terms. It got better after that." Barry gave him a tiny smile. "He kind of… helped me with my powers, too."

"I see." He tilted his head a little. "Do you want to tell him?" Len asked calmly, evenly.

"I really trust him. He's a friend. Kind of a mentor? He… helped me a lot in the past and I did the same for him. I know he wouldn't tell anyone, even under threat of death. But it's also a secret I've kept since I was eleven. I wish it was as easy as just claiming you as a Guide the conventional way."

"But as a fellow Sentinel he would be able to sense another Sentinel and a Guide."

Barry nodded.

Len cupped his face, making him meet his eyes. Eyes that were without mockery or pretense. Eyes that were open and without walls.

"It's an alliance you value. Second thoughts on his part could get you killed. I'm not going to let that happen." His voice was harder now. "I don't care what he thinks about me, whether he would have my back or not."

"I do!" Barry snapped.

"Scarlet," he soothed, running a caressing thumb over the smooth cheek. Then he leaned in an brushed their lips together. "Tell him."

The tension returned, that automatic, very much instinctual reaction to anyone finding out about him. It was a knee-jerk response, really, and it made no sense. Oliver Queen was trustworthy and The Arrow could and would keep his secrets.

Len kept kissing him, running his hands along Barry's sides, the contact soft, gentle, calming, and very, very grounding. The shield was wrapped tightly around him, the anchor deep and firmly in place.