Summary: Discussions and distractions

Notes: This one is a little darker than the first two fluffball chapters, but nothing major. Some hinting at bad behavior towards Barry from the other officers. Once again, it's been forever since I've seen either Arrow or Flash and I didn't make it that far into either of them, so most of what I know is from fanfic.

Chapter 3

After helping Barry pick up the dropped files, Oliver followed him up to his lab, casting a critical eye on the skylight above them. "You really don't mind working in here after what happened?"

With only Ollie in the room with him, Barry used his speed to sort all the files back out properly, not fully hearing the question with the speed distortion. "Sorry, what was that?"

Oliver pointed up at the unblocked skylight. "You're really okay working in here after the accident? Having that thing above you doesn't bother you?"

"Huh?" Barry looked up at the skylight and then realized what Ollie was talking about. Shrugging, he leaned against his desk, arms crossed over his stomach. "Not really? I mean, I could have gotten hit by the lightning bolt out in the parking lot or crossing the street or something. Plus, I like it up here, it's quiet usually and I don't have to deal with...people."

Oliver frowned, remembering some of the bits of conversation he'd overheard. Yeah, he bet Barry liked being away from those assholes. Trying to think of a good way to ask, Oliver moved closer, stepping between Barry's outstretched legs. "Why do you stay here, Barry? You could do work at any lab. Why put up with all of...that?"

"It's not that bad most days, honest. I think it just confused everyone that I know people besides my family and Cisco and Caitlyn. Especially since one of those people is kind of a big deal." Barry grinned, his arms dropping as he stood up, leaving them almost toe to toe. "Besides my family and most of my friends are here. I don't want to leave them unprotected."

Oliver understood that much too well, the idea of leaving his own city and family and friends without his protection for too long made his skin crawl.

"Barry, Joe told me he had sent Mr. Queen to find you. Oh...you did find your way up here, sir." David Singh blinked as he took in the close proximity of the two men yet again, gaze sweeping from one to the other questioningly. "I hope I'm not interrupting?"

Barry looked from Oliver to his Captain, head tilting in confusion. "No, sir?"

Oliver rubbed a hand over his mouth, hiding the smile that appeared when he realized what the Captain must have been thinking, especially after their display earlier that morning. Clearing his throat, he shook his head, tucking his hands casually in his pockets. "No, Captain, I was just asking Barry how he was handling working here after his accident."

David felt that same tug of guilt he got every time he thought about the kid's accident. He'd offered again and again to find a new space for him after he'd come back from his medical leave, but he kept refusing. "Yes, I don't think I would handle it nearly as well as Mr. Allan, here, but he keeps insisting."

Barry shrugged, blushing slightly. "It's quiet. And I like the room. Plus, I put in an automated shutter operation so nothing like that will happen again."

David blinked at that bit of news. "Of course you did. Anyway, gentlemen, if Barry's caught up, it is past time for lunch. I know you had mentioned going to get something. You'll probably manage to miss the rush by now."

"Oh! Oh, right! Sorry, I kinda completely forgot about the time." Checking the clock, Barry was trying to figure out what was in normal travel distance that he could work into his break.

David, seeing Barry's concerned look at the clock, rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about it, Allan. Take a long lunch if needed. You can talk to Mr. Queen about what your department could use."

"But he already knows what I need in the lab." Barry slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide as he tried to figure out how to explain why businessman Oliver Queen would need a diagnostics lab.

Oliver sighed and ruffled Barry's hair. "Go get your stuff, I'll head down stairs with the Captain." Gesturing toward the door, he followed the Captain downstairs. "My family's former company has a large lab that Barry and my friends Felicity and Ray are often in when he comes by to visit. I've heard many conversations over meals about stuff that involves way too much technological and scientific jargon than I care about."

"Ray? Palmer? Didn't he…"

"Buy out my family company from under me? Yeah, that's him." Oliver chuckled, gaze scanning over the room and those that were paying a little too much attention to him. "We've worked through our...issues. Plus, he's friends with Cisco and Caitlyn due to their own scientific work, so we all kind of wind up thrown together."

Barry jogged over to them, his messenger bag thumping against his leg. "Sorry, I needed to make sure a couple things had finished up before I shut down everything."

"Like I said, discuss what you might need upgraded in the labs. We'll get a complete list from every department so I still need it in writing, even if you have discussed it before. Enjoy your lunch, Mr. Queen, take your time."

"Thank you, Captain. I promise I'll have Barry back in a couple hours at most; I know he's got work to do." After shaking hands with the Captain, Oliver followed Barry over to the detectives' area, finding Joe and Eddie working at their desks. "Are you sure you guys don't want to join us?"

Joe looked up, shaking his head. "No, you boys go ahead. Eddie and I have a lead on a case we're working on. You can bring us back some decent coffee though."

Oliver laughed at the scowling face Joe was giving his coffee cup. "Sure thing. And Barry and I will work out when we can all meet for dinner and let you know."

"Sounds like a plan. You boys have fun."

Oliver had just turned around, a hand on Barry's lower back to usher him back down the walkway between all the desks when he heard a muttered, "Oh, I'm sure they will," and another whistled mockingly. Stopping, he turned to look towards the corner of the room where most of the taunting was coming from and had to fight from letting his full Arrow persona take over. "I'm sorry, but do you have a problem with me?"

Barry grabbed his arm, stopping Oliver's unintentional step forward and clenching of his fists. "Don't, Ollie. They are all so far from worth it." He gave the officers a disgusted look. "It's nothing. Let's go before I use up all my lunch break."

Joe spoke up, anger infusing his voice. "Like Barry said, you two go ahead. They're not worth it. And I have a few things to say to them anyway."

Gritting his teeth, Oliver let Barry tug him out of the building, listening to him chatter at him as he tried to distract him. "Are you sure you don't want to move out to Star City? Ray could find you work in the lab, or you could work on the force there."

"I'm sure. Besides, somebody's got to watch out for the metas here. Now, come on, I know just where to go for lunch." Grinning wickedly, he bumped his shoulder against Oliver's solid bicep, his voice low. "And if you're nice, I'll tell you which cars belong to them."

Giving Barry a surprised look, he laughed. "I think you've been hanging around me for too long."

Barry blushed but smiled brightly up at the older man. "Never."

A/N: You can find all of my fics (and current updated versions of ones on this site) over on AO3 under jujukittychick. I also now have my own website that I am in the process of creating and uploading all my stories to. You can find it at