(A/N: The verses of this song reminds me a lot of Barney, and the chorus of Robin, and that's all you really need to know. Set AU from Season 7, but my timelines are all messed up in this fic anyway. Enjoy, and I apologise for taking so long to update!)
He glances across the room in the dim lighting, just barely making out the light that they've both put on their sensor jackets. Ted was supposed to be his partner for the laser tag tournament, but of course he'd pulled out for a girl. "She could be the one, Barney! What if she's the one and I miss this chance and end up single all my life? You'd have to catsit for me when I go back to Cleveland for the holidays! Do you want that, Barney?"
It wasn't very bro of him, but Barney relented, knowing how desperate Ted was getting. Too desperate, he thinks to himself, and the look he exchanged with Lily as he argued with Ted confirmed his thoughts.
He'd registered Ted's name in the form, but of course, that was merely a formality, he was the defending champion in the singles game. He thought, hey, it'll be nice to give the other people a chance in the singles competition, I'll let Ted have a shot at winning at laser tag. It was a brilliant idea, even Ted had to admit so at the time.
"Oh, I'll step in for Ted, I'm a better player anyway, aren't I, Stinson?" Robin had been awfully quiet for a bit, and she kept her expression neutral as she downed the rest of her scotch. "Bros help each other when bros need help, no?"
Barney pauses for a moment, and remembers the first time they kissed, when all the awkwardness started, although most of what he remembers is how soft her hair felt on his shoulder, how cold her arm felt as he soothed her with his warm hand, how her lips mashed up against his so easily, and how their bodies moved in tandem. It's his third-best memory of Robin Scherbatsky, although she probably doesn't know that it's beaten by the first time he saw her.
"Yeah. I'm glad you're on board, Scherbatsky."
Robin's the most independent woman he's ever known. She's the only woman who has been non-clingy, and hasn't asked for any hint of commitment. Perhaps because she's the only one who has really understood him, and even though they've been going through an awkward patch, they're still, you know, bros.
She still doesn't know why she volunteered to partner Barney in this competition. It's not that she doesn't like laser tag, she does, she really does, probably only slightly less than Barney. It's something about games with guns that interest her more than others, and she's being humble, but she's good at laser tag. Really good. The two of them, they're a shoo-in for the championship trophy, no doubt about it.
Part of her still feels like an idiot for being afraid to take the steps she knew she had to take, and this feels like, to a certain extent, redemption. She knows how much this means to Barney, and she hopes that she means more, really, she knows she means more, but she knows she needs to do this for him. The time they spend together, as friends, nothing more, are getting less and less. It's half down to her avoiding him, and half down to them both not wanting to confront their feelings and find out what things really mean.
It was always Barney that was there for her, up till now, she's unable to decide if it's a matter of coincidence, or whether he's always made sure that he'd be there when she needed someone.
She puts on the blinking light that he passes to her without any questions, it's useful, she has to admit, even if it does make them more conspicuous in the dark. He doesn't even bother briefing her on what she needs to do, he knows, he just knows, he's picked the best partner he could ask for. They're practically telepathic at times, aren't they? "Anyway, I'm the light blinking at the end of the room, if I give you two flashes, just blink back to let me know."
She knows that Barney may well be what Ted describes to be "the one" for her, and it's not just because he's there, or because he's the best kisser she's dated, or because he's the only one who's been able to keep up with her pace. It's mainly because he's been through a lot, and he empathises with her in a way that no one else can. It's not like they haven't tried, but Barney just gets her. Effortlessly. The sign that she puts up, the one outside, the one that says "leave me alone!", he has one too.
She loses focus for a moment, but Barney's skill has easily taken out a couple of pairs. There are five left, and he gives her two flashes, and she lets her light blink back, twice, smiling, but maybe he doesn't see it, she doesn't know.
In that instance, it doesn't matter to him whether they win or lose, all he sees is her smile, and he knows, that she knows, it was always you.