This Delicate Thing We've Made

genre: Romance

rated: M

Chapter 13: Don't Give Up

"Don't give up on our love story when you can't go on
Don't give up, always dark before the morning when you can't go on
You be a brave heart, I'll be a lion's roar
And love surrenders to win the war
And I wanna run away from this
But I never leave a sinking ship, no
Without you in it, there's no point to our story
And I can't believe it's come to this
All our secret codes and battleships, no
Without you in it, there's no point to our story
Don't ever let me go"

Barry's foot bounced against the floor of the crime lab almost in time with the butt of the pen as it tapped rapidly against the file he was studying. He was trying not to glance at his phone's black screen as if willing it to spring to life, the beginnings of grumbling in his stomach a small reminder that it was time to eat again, not quite the incessant urge that it would rise to if he didn't feed himself within the next hour, were not helping the anxiousness that sparked through his body.

It was almost his lunch break, although for Barry this would be meal four of the day, but thoughts of eating weren't what was on his mind. He had texted Len a couple of hours ago about coming with him to an open house during his break but had yet to hear back from the man. It wasn't so unusual, Len wasn't attached to his phone like most people, but Barry really wanted to scope out the open house for a bungalow in New Brighton that had never been renovated, needed a lot of TLC on the inside but appeared to be in good structural shape.

This would be the first house he would be looking at in person, having been sharing the apartment now with Len for a few weeks since he and Iris left the loft. Iris had settled nicely into her new apartment in the same building as Caitlin's, which they had said made wine night a lot more convenient. Barry on the other hand was enjoying living with Len, so much so that he was eager to start their next chapter together in their new home. But Barry just kept coming up with excuses to not look at houses; CCPD, Flash stuff, helping Iris move, just wanting to be lazy with his boyfriend, anything but go house hunting. Len had been helpful and scoped out a few places that they'd looked at online on his own while Barry was working. But Barry kept dragging his feet.

He knew this was what he wanted; a home, a place to call his own, a future to build with the man he loved. He had no second thoughts on any of it. It was just that this was it. He felt it in his bones. This was where his life was headed, this was the destination he'd been looking for, the ever-elusive happy ending. Much like beginning a relationship with Len, the fact that he was having zero doubts was what took him by surprise. Even when he began dating Iris, someone he grew up with and knew everything about him, in the beginning, he was scared that he wasn't enough. She was out of his league even though she never made him feel that way. But Barry wanted to convince her, give a hundred reasons to be with him, for no other reason than he was afraid to lose her after wanting her for so long. But then he mellowed as they settled into their life together and it was good. But it didn't last. Not after Nora; not after knowing they would never have their Nora again, even if they had another child together.

But with Len, it was different. There was no pretense, no pressure, no predetermined destiny hovering over them. They'd seen each other at their worst, were experiencing each other at their best. It was effortless even though it wasn't easy, it was as sexy as it was safe. It was a word he'd been afraid of his entire life. Contentment. He used to think that contentment meant settling, not happy enough. He'd felt the heaviest of griefs early in his life so Barry believed the opposite of that was what he sought, joy. But life in extremes nearly destroyed him too many times to count, whiplash making him dizzy from living life at the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And now in a life he never imagined, with a person he hadn't planned for, Barry found himself in a state of contentment. It allowed him the ability to feel all the emotions he'd experienced in the extremes but at smaller doses, a smaller swing between happy and sad, a more calming state of satisfaction. He could breathe without waiting for the other shoe to drop. He could just be and live in the moment, which was surprisingly difficult for a speedster.

He spared a glance at the framed photo on his desk, one of his favorites of him and Iris taken from the last family vacation they had gone on with Joe. It was right after Barry had graduated from Central City University and Joe had taken them to a cabin on the lake a few miles north outside of the city. They looked young, gleeful as they sat by side, and it made Barry smile. This photo had been in the lab since he started working at the CCPD, had been displayed in their loft, and even after some beautiful wedding photos, it still remained Barry's favorite. And though they were no longer a couple, Barry never once considered taking it off his desk. It was there before they became a couple and there it would stay, just like the place he had in his heart for Iris.

But with that, he wished he could put a photo up of him and Len. They didn't take a lot of photos but Barry had a couple he'd managed to convince his boyfriend to smile for. Well, a smile might be an overstatement but at least he got him to look at the camera with that damn smirk on his face that Barry alternated between wanting to smack off or kiss off.

Barry dropped the pen and reached for his phone. Opening his images folder, he selected the photo that was his current favorite. It was a lame mirror selfie, Barry holding the phone up and Len pressed up behind him, arms wrapped around his waist, chin resting on Barry's shoulder with a smug look on his face and Barry beaming. It had been taken in the lounge area of some super exclusive nightclub that Len had convinced him to go to, wanting to give Barry a taste of the nightlife out of his red costume. There was something so simple about the photo, so basic and normal in its image considering the fantastical nature of their lives, their alter-egos outside of being a couple.

It was their alter-egos though that were why he couldn't display the photo on his desk, not sure his co-workers would be too keen on a photo of Leonard Snart on display at the police department that wasn't a mugshot. But even more than that because honestly, Barry didn't give a damn what anyone else thought, it was the fact that he hadn't told Joe yet. Everyone else in his life knew about him and Len except for Joe and Cecile and they had been gracious enough not to spill to the patriarch of Team Flash. He wanted to tell him, had tried more than once, but something kept stopping him. It wasn't exactly conversation he was looking forward to but Barry hated feeling like he was lying to Joe. He was so unsure about how Joe would react to him dating a reformed criminal, thinking it would probably go just about as well if not worse than when Joe found out Iris was dating his partner all those years ago. To make matters worse, he couldn't imagine how he was going to take being the last to know and six months later.

It hadn't been by design keeping Joe in the dark. He had wanted to see where it went before revealing to everyone that he was seeing Len. Then he wanted to explore how deep this was going to go when they started spending more and more time together. By the time they were calling each other their boyfriend or partner, Barry had honestly gotten so wrapped up in his new normal that sharing it with everyone had become a low priority.

And if he was being completely honest with himself, Barry knew he wasn't keeping his relationship a secret because he was ashamed or afraid. He'd spent his whole life chasing tall tales of the impossible, telling stories of a man in lightning, he'd learned to stop caring about what people thought long ago. He had kept Len a secret because he wanted something to himself. So much of his life was shared, his family and friends and the Flash, it all overlapped. He loved it, loved his life and his world, but just for a bit, he wanted to have something that was just his, something he didn't have to explain or justify or try to make fit. What took him by surprise was just how effortless Len became such a big part of his life. It made it clear to him that he knew that one day soon he wanted Len to overlap and welcome him into that world. But for a little while, it was nice keeping him all to himself.

"Hey, Allen, we need help processing a perp," a voice interrupted his musings. Barry looked up and saw a uniformed rookie by the name of Carter standing in the doorway to the lab. Clicking out of the image of him and Len on his phone, Barry put the device on the table and stood from the bench.

"O'Neill and Jackson are both busy and Detective Rowell said you could help out," she added as he followed her out into the hall.

"Of course he did," Barry sighed. Didn't matter how busy he was, how many other CSI techs there were in the CCPD, or even that Joe was now the Captain of the precinct, Barry was still their gofer. On the flip side, it was flattering, knowing they trusted him and his work to do stuff that wasn't normally inside his realm of tasks, to be considered the go-to resource. More than the flattery, the biggest perk was the privacy of the old lab while the rest of the CSI's used the state of the art crime lab on the lower level. However, it also lead to the rest of the CCPD treating him as if he was Google, always willing to answer their questions or provide resources despite his own responsibilities.

"The kit's all ready for you and he's cuffed," Carter said, stopping outside the door to the holding room. "I'll be out here if you need me."

Barry nodded his thanks and headed into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks though as he entered the threshold and caught sight of just who it was he was supposed to be processing.

"Scarlet," Len smiled. The fucking bastard smiled up at him, the smallest of waves from where his hands were cuffed to the bar on the metal table. Barry quickly closed the door behind him.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Barry whisper-yelled, moving toward the table.

"Well, I thought I'd drop by and surprise you but I got detained," Len cocked his head, the smile turning sarcastic at Barry's question.

"For real? You're making smart ass jokes?" Barry threw his hands up to interlock behind his head, turning away from where Len sat.

"Fine. I'm being accused of robbery and murder," Len said, the smile dropping, sincerity taking over his expression. Barry dropped his hands and turned to look at his boyfriend across the table, studying him for a brief moment before standing up just a little straighter.

"You didn't rob or murder anyone," Barry responded.

"That didn't sound like a question," Len squinted at him, confusion evident.

"It wasn't. I know it wasn't you," Barry said, moving closer to the table, not close enough to touch him like he wanted to. If he touched him he could compromise the integrity of the processing of Len due to them being involved and Barry was not taking the risk.

"How are you so sure?" Len asked finally.

"Because I know you. And that's not you anymore," Barry replied, voice strong in its resolve but soft in its care of the sentiment.

Barry could see the impact his statement had on Len immediately. Len's posture sunk and face relaxed as if his body was holding in the tension, unsure of how Barry would respond. Barry couldn't blame him, based on how he jumped to the conclusion when he saw the blueprints at the apartment a couple of months ago. But that was based on Barry's mistrust of things going right, not his mistrust in Len. And for Len, he was so rarely offered unqualified trust.

"I couldn't have done it anyway. It happened two nights ago around 8'o clock," Len said in response after a few moments.

"That was Sunday. We were at dinner together," Barry nodded, following along with Len's timeline. "Why didn't you tell them you had an alibi?"

Len looked at him wholly for a moment, genuine shock at Barry's question before answering in a lowered voice.

"I won't be the one that outs you to your colleagues. To your dad."

It was Barry's turn to sink into Len's response, gratitude radiating at the consideration. Len was willing to risk leaving it up to the cops, the evidence, the system to absolve him rather than reveal his connection to Barry without permission.

"Stay here," Barry smirked, holding a hand up, doing his best not to smile as Len looked at him with exasperation, rattling the cuffs against the bar in response as Barry went to open the door to leave.

"Scarlet," Len called after him.

"Len, when they come to talk to you, tell them the truth," Barry turned back to face him.

"Barry, you could lose your job," Len tried to reason with him. His unspoken words telling Barry that it wasn't worth it. Barry gave him an earnest look, needing Len to understand that he meant his next words.

"There are more important things," He said before turning back to leave the room. Closing the door behind him, he took a deep breath, allowing himself a moment before heading towards the bullpen, certain of the steps he was taking to where he needed to go but the outcome of where his next steps were going to lead him was unclear.

"I didn't touch him or process him. I need to speak with the Captain," Barry informed as he walked past, leaving a perplexed Carter behind to keep an eye on the suspect.

Barry resisted the urge to super speed to Joe's office, the urgency of wanting to get his lover out of here as soon as possible being pushed down by the need to keep the anonymity of the Flash's involvement. His long legs and large stride would have to suffice as he made his way through the precinct.

"Joe," Barry called out as he entered the office, seeing Joe leaning up against his desk with an open file and Detective Rowell standing in front of him. "Can I have a minute?"

"Did you process my suspect, Allen?" Rowell questioned.

"No, you're going to have to have someone else take care of it. I need to talk to Joe," Barry replied, trying to keep his face blank, void of the emotions raging inside of him at the moment. Rowell eyed him up and down suspiciously while Joe gave him an appraising look.

"Go ahead, Detective. I'll be with you in a few minutes," Joe said finally. Detective Rowell nodded his head before walking past Barry, closing the office door behind him.

"Why did they arrest Snart?" Barry barely waited for the door to close completely.

"Two nights ago there was a murder at a jewelry store. Snart is a person of interest. I know the Flash has a deal with him..."

"This isn't about that. He's innocent, Joe," Barry interrupted.

"Look I know you wanna see the good in everybody, but the victim was frozen solid," Joe handed the file to Barry. "We know it wasn't Frost so name one other person who could have done that."

"First off, there could be other metas out there with ice powers we don't know about. And second, it's not his MO anymore," Barry shook his head, reading the file. He knew without a second thought it wasn't Len, even before seeing any evidence to support that. Reading the file just confirmed it couldn't be, the store wasn't anywhere near the restaurant they were at that night, clear on the other side of the city. But the file read that they picked up Snart by the scene this morning, claiming that it appeared he was scoping the neighborhood two blocks away when the cops were canvassing the area for witnesses. Thinking he'd returned to the scene, the cops on duty jumped to a conclusion with little evidence on a person of potential interest based on nothing other than the frozen store clerk. But Barry saw the address, recognized it as the area of the open house he was hoping to go to today. Len had been scoping out the neighborhood, but not for the reason the cops assumed.

"Barr," Joe sighed.

"Captain Cold just helped the Flash at the museum," Barry interrupted again, throwing the file onto the desk behind Joe. "He saved my life at the bank. Hell, he saved time itself, Joe! Why would he take ten steps backward and murder someone for no reason other than to rob a jewelry store?"

Joe eyed Barry up and down. The tone, the urgency, Joe knew this was more than just Barry's optimism and belief in second and third chances despite the undeserving object of his faith.

"What aren't you telling me?" Joe asked, crossing his arms over his chest. The whole thing brought Barry back to confessing his relationship with Len to Iris, a similar stance, a similar feeling of anxiety. Although he didn't see this conversation going quite as well as that one did.

"He couldn't have done it. He wasn't anywhere near there that night," Barry said, standing a little taller when Joe gave him a questioning look that urged him to continue. "He was with me the night of the murder."

Joe raised a hand to rub at his eyes, disbelief evident. This brought Barry back as well, but not to the conversation with Iris. No, this brought him back to the days right after his mother was murdered, the looks on everyone's faces when they thought he was just trying to cover for his father when he told him about the man in the lightning. At this point in time, he wondered if him declaring he was dating Leonard Snart was a more bizarre truth than that had been.

"We were at The Tap Room in Petersburg from seven p.m. to ten p.m. and then went straight back to our apartment a few blocks away. The robbery happened downtown around eight," Barry said, clear and concise and tried not to let the widening of Joe's eyes at the implication of the words derail him. "There's no way Len could have done this. You can check the security tapes at the restaurant if you need proof."

Joe said nothing at first, just stood there with wide eyes as he digested Barry's words. Barry stood his ground trying to convey confidence when in reality he felt like a ball of nerves standing in front of a man he considered a father after confessing that he was the alibi for a man that his father considered a criminal.

"Len. Our apartment," Joe finally spoke, repeating a select few of Barry's words. After everything Barry just said it was the nickname, the status of their living together was what Joe required clarification on. At Barry's nod, he questioned, "How long?"

"About six months," Barry replied with a gulp.

"You've been dating Leonard Snart for six months," Joe remarked, arms still crossed but pushing himself from where he had been casually leaning against the desk to stand toe to toe with his son. "Why am I just hearing this now?"

"It never seemed like the right time," Barry hesitated.

"Could that be because there's never a right time for something that ain't right?" The voice got louder now, that perfect blend of fury and worry that was Joe's patented dad-voice when his kids did something reckless.

"You don't understand-"

"No, I don't understand!" Joe shook his head, voice booming. "How you could be living with that man?"

"I'm not just living with him, Joe. I love him," Barry responded without hesitation, his voice quiet compared to Joe's volume but not lacking in strength.

"You can't be serious!" Joe shouted back. "How did you get yourself into this, Barry? How you could fall for his shit again?!"

"I'm not falling for anything, Joe," Barry's voice rose, his turn to get angry but cut off by Joe before he could say anything else.

"He's using you. This is a long con, he's manipulating your trust just like Zolomon. Just like Thawne."

"No!" Barry shouted, taking a step towards Joe. "No, don't say that. Don't compare him to Thawne!"

"How can I not? That man has only ever had his own interests in mind. He's killed, broke his word, hurt countless people-"

"Saved the Legends lives, saved my life, helped me get the Dominator tech to save Iris with nothing in it for him."

They both paused then, each having more to say, more to shout but not knowing where or if they should start. Joe wanted desperately to show Barry how insane this was, but Barry couldn't hear it, wouldn't. Before Joe could try, Barry took a deep breath and let loose with everything he had been holding inside, waiting to let out, as if telling Joe now meant he was revealing his truth, that the last part of his world would now know and that meant he was truly living in and loving out in the open.

"Look, I know this sounds cliche but you don't know him, not like I do. I don't know what you want me to say, Joe. You want me to tell you he's different because he's not. You want me to tell you he's changed because he hasn't. What I can tell you is the good person I always knew he was is what he's embracing now, has been embracing since he first went off with the Legends. I don't know how to make you understand what I see, what I've always seen. Even after he betrayed me at Ferris air, I was disappointed because I expected more from him, even though he never proved to me that I should. But I'm glad he did because with the way the rest of the year went, I don't know how long those metas would have been in isolation. And helping him with his father, I saw a man who would do anything to save someone he loves, how much he was capable of caring. When he warned me about Mardon and Jesse when he could have just walked away. And then he goes off and joins the Legends, works to save time itself and dies to save his friends. Code, loyalty, determination, honor, empathy, that's what I see when I look at him, what I've always seen."

"And his criminal record before that, that suddenly doesn't matter?" Joe shrugged, anger and disbelief making his tone feel almost mocking. But Barry knew what it was, a surge in desire to keep Barry safe.

"We all have pasts, Joe. I haven't been through what he did growing up, not knowing unconditional love like I did but I've felt that anger, felt that desire to make someone hurt as much as I did, to feel like your entire life has been dictated by one person and you had no control. For Len it was his father, for me it was Thawne. But I had support and love to show me a better way, a safer life. He didn't. And it's not an excuse but it is the facts. It doesn't change what he's done in the past, I know he's killed and hurt and robbed people but people evolve. It doesn't erase the sins but at what point does a person stop paying for them when they've served their time and tried to make amends? I'm sorry if it disappoints you that I'm with him, but it won't change the fact that I love him."

"Barry, think about what this means," Joe fumed, anger dropping from his voice to be replaced with disappointment. "What this does to your life, your reputation. After everything he's done. What disappoints me is that you've stumbled into something that won't be good for you, that could hurt you."

"He risked his life for me, Joe, was there for me when I needed comfort. I feel safe with him." Barry could feel his eyes welling up as they locked on to Joe's, pleading with him to see things how he did, desperate for him to understand just how much Len meant to him. "For the first time in my life, I feel like I can love without fear, that even though I want to protect him he doesn't need my protection. I can't explain it, Joe. When I'm with him, when we're together, it's not about Captain Cold and the Flash or Leonard Snart and Barry Allen. We're none of it and all of it at the same time, just Len and Scarlet and its so damn freeing. He knows how broken I am and doesn't want to put me back together because he lives with his own brokenness. I can just be me, no pressure to be the hero or the cop, and no judgment for any of my anger or the grief. We're not perfect. We disagree on most things but we accept each other for exactly who we are and its good, Joe. I love him."

"Barry. Son," Joe reached out his hands, laying them to rest on Barry's shoulders. "I just want what's best for you, I always have. I'm afraid you're just looking for something different after being with Iris, after everything that happened. That this isn't what you really want, you just think you do."

Barry took a step back, hurt and shock propelling him away like a small push. Joe's hands dropped from his shoulders as he did. Barry would be lying if he hadn't thought the same thing in the beginning but time proved to him it was more than that, time with Len proved to him that he was with him because it was where he wanted to be.

"Joe," Barry started, voice shaking not in doubt but just in how strongly he was feeling every emotion coursing through his body like static electricity; hurt, disappointment, the need for approval, but also certainty, conviction, and love. "I never thought I could love anyone like I loved Iris, that I'd never feel whole again after Nora. But I found out how to love myself for everything I am through loving him. I've been given another chance, Joe. I was afraid at first that we'd burn out as quickly as we started but this feels like forever. And I want it to be. We balance each other. I don't need you to understand or even approve, I don't even need you to trust that I know what I am doing because honestly, I don't. But you're my dad, and I want you to accept that with him, I'm happy. With Len, I feel at peace. I love him, that's not going to change."

Whatever Joe was going to respond with died on his lips as a knock of the door proceeded Detective Rowell cracking it open to pop his head in.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Sir, but I need to know how you want to proceed with this investigation. Snart's been processed but isn't answering any questions," Rowell said. Barry rolled his eyes, not surprised that of course Len didn't listen when he told him to tell them everything.

"I actually can help with that, Detective," Barry spoke, not looking away from Joe even as he addressed the other man.

"You're really gonna do this. For him?" Joe said, voice a quiet warning, a chance for Barry to just walk away. He could leave without anyone knowing, Joe willing to leave the conversation in these four walks and they could go back to the way it was before. But Barry didn't want to deny a piece of himself, his love, his truth, his life.

"For me," Barry replied. Joe closed his eyes and gave the slightest shake of his head, the look of disappointment almost enough to make Barry want to cry but instead he squared his shoulders, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from falling apart.

"Rowell, have a Uni pull the security tapes for The Tap Room in Petersburg for the night of the robbery," Joe finally tore his gaze away from Barry to meet the quizzical eyes of his detective. "And Barry needs to give you his formal statement."

It didn't take long for Barry to give his statement in front of Joe and Detective Rowell in the privacy of Joe's office. As he put it in writing and signed off on it, he kept looking to Joe, searching for any indication of what the man was thinking. But it was a face of stone, unreadable and unmoving like when Barry had told him he wanted to work for the police, like when he had told him he wanted to dress in red and use his newfound speed to help the city, like when he had told him he'd traveled to the future and was keeping Iris' impending fate a secret. It was clear there was anger, but how deep it was, the level of disappointment, if there was hope for a conversation, Barry didn't know. Joe's face gave away nothing and wouldn't until Joe was ready to share.

An hour later he was dismissed, ordered to wait in his lab while they handled the investigation further. Barry tried to work, knee bouncing nervously as he watched the clock, watched the door, watched his phone, ignoring the incessant growling in his stomach because now he was too anxious to eat.

Another hour later brought Carter back to his lab, indicating with her head to follow her downstairs but saying nothing. He followed as closely as he could without stepping on the back of her heels, tried to maintain a normal speed as he bounded down the stairs, and resisted the urge to surge into Len's arms as he saw Detective Rowell escort him into the main entrance area.

"Your alibis check out. You're free to go," he heard Rowell say to Len, indicating with an arm to the elevator before heading back into the bullpen, but not before giving Barry an appraising look of what only could be described as disgust. Barry just followed him with his eyes, seeing Joe standing in the doorway. Joe met his eyes before nodding with his head towards the elevator and Barry could feel the flood of relief. The look on his face still read as anger, disappointment, but that nod was the closest thing he was going to get right now to absolution, Joe's permission to leave with Len, knowing well enough that a conversation was imminent.

"Well, that was fun," Len smirked at him as Barry came to stand in front of him.

"I'm starving," was all Barry said back, reaching his hand to grab Len's, threading their fingers together. He saw the shocked look on Len's face but Barry just squeezed his hand before pulling on it to follow him. He refused to look anywhere else, to see anyone's reaction. Barry didn't care who saw it, hoped they all did, hoped Joe was watching as Barry guided Len inside the elevator car hand in hand.

When the elevator doors closed behind them, Barry tugged on the hand once more, pulling Len's arm up to guide it around his waist, Len bringing his other arm up reflexively to wrap around Barry's body as Barry pushed himself against Len's front, hands coming to rest on Len's shoulders.

"That was stupid, Scarlet. You could lose your job," Len remarked, his words deprecating but his tone nothing but affectionate.

"Then I'll get another one," Barry responded, voice and eyes conveying how sincerely he meant it, that he wasn't just being dismissive. "Do you know why I became a CSI? I always loved science, was always getting in trouble for starting chemical fires to impress teachers or doing experiments in the garage and kitchen, causing small explosions. My dad was a doctor, always encouraged my curiosity for science. I thought about being an astronaut, a chemist, a chemical engineer, but I went into forensic science to get my dad out of jail. I wanted access to the evidence, to learn how to study everything about a crime scene so I could free my dad."

"Which you did," Len nodded.

"Actually I didn't. He was only free because of Thawne, the man that put him in there to begin with," Barry ducked his head but Len met it with his own, pressing his forehead up against his.

"Barry, you did everything you could. Your dad would be proud of you," Len spoke quietly.

"I know," Barry said back, eyes nearly crossed as he looked to Len with their foreheads pressed against each other. "My point is, I did what I needed to do. I became a CSI to help my dad but ended up loving the job because I got to help as many people as I could. But it's not worth much if it keeps me from helping those I care about. If the choice is between my job and you, I need you to know which means more to me."

Len tilted his head to kiss Barry, gently and tenderly. He did know. He also knew this wouldn't be the only time their separate lives would try to divide them, that with quiet strength they'd stick together regardless. There were few things Len could count on but without a doubt, he knew the man wrapped in his arms, the man who just put his reputation and job on the line for him, the man who smiled against his lips as they kissed in an elevator at the Central City Police Department, was definitely something he always could.

The growling stomach interrupted the intimacy and both men separated the kiss with a chuckle from Len and a groan from Barry.

"Let's get you fed, hero," Len said. The elevator opened up then and the two men unfolded from around each other. But Barry instantly moved to interlock their hands again as they left the elevator. Len didn't even let the thought to pull his hand away cross his mind. Maybe Barry was proving a point to his coworkers, the world, himself, or even Len. Maybe it was just his way of keeping Len close after the threat of jail tearing them apart. Maybe it was just Barry feeling free now after being completely open with his dad. Either way, Len gripped the hand holding his tight, letting him know he was here.

"I missed meal four and five so six has gotta make up for it," Barry smiled at him as he led them outside of the precinct.

"It's'Two Dollar Taco Tuesday' at Tito's downtown," Len offered and was met with an even brighter smile. "Ready to try to beat your record?"

"That's at least eighty bucks worth of tacos. I hope you brought your wallet because I think you owe me," Barry winked at him and chuckled when Len pulled on the hand in his, pulling him close and letting go to wrap his arm around Barry's shoulders.

"I definitely do," Len leaned in to kiss him quickly on the cheek as they continued walking down the street.

Two hours and fifty-three tacos later, only four of which had been eaten by Len, found the two men back at the apartment. Barry was in pretty good spirits considering how the day had gone. As they lounged on the couch with the news in the background, Len told him about how he was doing recon of the neighborhood after Barry seemed really enthusiastic when they'd come across the house online a few days ago. He'd gotten the text from him about going to the open house right before the cops picked him up. Barry thanked him and promised they'd set something up to check it out. Little did Barry know that Len had already checked out that same house and had a feeling that it was exactly was Barry looking for. Barry told him about the conversation with Joe, assured him that he was relieved now that it wall out there in the open. Then Len had gone over with Barry his plans to make the couple jobs he'd gotten finding the flaws in big tech companies' securities into a legit security consulting business. Barry, overjoyed, showed him just how much he loved the idea and the man, starting on the couch and ending in a long shower together.

It was such a mundane ending to the day, beautiful in its simplicity compared to the anxiety and pressure of its beginning. But it gave them both hope that together they were solid. Joe, his job, they all knew now that Barry was in a relationship with Leonard Snart. But that wasn't the biggest revelation of the day, each man having discovered something about themself. Len learned today what it really meant to be loved, to have someone put him first, to be chosen. And Barry learned today that he was ready to embrace this life wholly now. He was in love with Len, was ready to look at homes, put a picture on display, and share his life completely with him now. Their individual stories had led them to this and together it read less like a happy ending and more like a truly complete work of art.