A/N: Chapter 4 provoked a pretty strong response, so I just figured I'd clarify a point for those who might be wondering about my Flash-portrayal but not asking about it. I think it's reasonably obvious I don't think of Barry Allen as a very nice human being. Since the character was killed pretty early into the modern age of comics and only resurrected recently, most of his characterization is based on the Silver Age, when shades of gray didn't really exist and it was okay to treat someone like garbage as long as they were 'bad'. The supporting cast and the Rogues mostly lived into the modern age of comics where their characters were expanded and subtleties were introduced, meaning Barry's silver-age based treatment of them looks unequal and rough. I stand by my characterization as being grounded in canon, however, I did take it intentionally far last chapter in regards to Trickster to imply Barry's under a lot of stress (Len makes a comment about Barry having problems with the reverse-Flash). Plus Barry just generally seems to enjoy torturing Trickster (like when he made him beg to go to jail after he was clearly beaten). If I have offended any Barry-fans, it was not my intention. I was actually challenged to write him not behaving like a dick. It's posted under 22 Short Stories About Central City.

James' shoes were giving off tiny yellow sparks with his steps by the time they got back to Piper's apartment. He ignored them during his trudge to the bedroom. Piper didn't say anything. James had been sullen and, well, quiet during the ride back, which was very unlike him. He decided to give his boyfriend a little space.

Besides, he really wanted a shower.

When Piper got out of the shower, dressed in comfy clothes, and found James lying on their new lime green comforter staring at the ceiling still wearing his ruined costume and ruined air walkers he decided to deal with the problem sooner as opposed to later.

Piper laid down next to James on the bed and propped himself up on an elbow. "James…what's wrong love? Do you want to talk?"

"No."

"Bullshit, you always want to talk. Do you need me to help get you started?" Piper asked. He smoothed back some of James hair, then trailed his fingertips softly down the side of his face. "What's wrong?"

James closed his eyes in a grimace. "I can think of like nine hundred different things I screwed up today, that's what. Shit Piper, with all that fucking up it's a miracle you're not in Iron Heights, or injured-or dead. We work together, we're supposed to watch each others' backs…and I let you down."

"James…you didn't let me down. Besides, I'm the one who got distracted. Did you see me jump unarmed into a whirlwind so I could attack Flash? There was no plan there, I was just angry! That's when I could have died." Piper pointed out. "It was a suck day, there's no way around it. But we'll get used to working together now that we're involved and it'll get better…James, please, can you talk a little more? You're starting to freak me out."

"Sorry Pookie." James offered him a small smile, quite the pathetic little thing compared to the radiant beaming Piper had gotten used to, but it was comforting all the same. "I get kinda broody after I fall. I'll shake it off eventually. Giuseppes are supposed to just shake off falls."

Piper twined their fingers. "Freak out if you need to though. I'll be here."

EARLIER THAT NIGHT

Kendra was putting away a fresh stock of medical supplies when she got a phone call from the city's auto dialer, informing her of the battle between the Rogues and the Flash at the museum. "Please be advised to avoid the general area until further notice. There are street closings along Broome Street, Infantino Ave-" She hung up on the mechanical voice and started shifting the new supplies from her cupboard to her purse.

"Well, at least the boys will eat through those free house calls I gave them all at once." She said to herself. Then she looked up at her new kitten, who was mewling softly from its perch on an equally new and elaborate scratching tower. "Ain't that right Muffin?"

She scooped up the kitten and cuddled it. "Who's the cutest little kitty in the world? Oh yes it's you! You're an even better snuggler than the idiot who bought you! Yes you are! Yes you are!"

"Yeah, let's talk about that."

Kendra froze. "Who's there and how the hell did you get into my house?" She whipped her head around suspiciously and started edging towards the panel with her emergency lines in them.

"Same way you got all those nifty traps I took care of." The sharp voice said. "By taking advantage of a loveable goof in a costume."

Kendra's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

The woman finally stepped into sight. She had an absolute zero gun trained on Kendra, along with a look of loathing completely visible behind her orange mask. "You can call me Golden Glider. And just as soon as I figure out what to do to you, you are so dead for what you did to Lenny!"

PRESENT

"Holy crap!" Mick turned angrily towards Len. "Just what the effing hell'd you do to the place?"

"Me? This ain't my work!" Len yelled. "I just helped pay to get the work done! There weren't any cold traps put in!"

"Then what the frig happened?" Mick demanded, waving an angry hand at Kendra's house, most of which was iced over.

Len scowled. "Mr. Freeze or Killer Frost maybe? We know the lady got around before she settled with us. Call Piper. None of the traps were sprung and I God damn want to know why."

The two men walked into the house, Mick fumbling in a pocket for his cell phone. "Muffin?" He passed his phone off to Len and went to scoop up the shivering kitten.

"Oh for fuck's-Mick what the hell is that?"

"I just got him for her the other night."

"Son of a fucking-"

"What the hell is your problem anyway?" Mick shouted.

"My problem? You fucking Kendra-that's my problem!"

"You know?"

"Yeah. She told me." Len's anger quickly dissipated. He kicked a block of ice down the hall, and when he looked up his expressionless leader mask was back in place.

"Len, I didn't mean to-"

"Shut it. If it's not about finding her and killing the idiot who did this, I don't want to hear it."

"'Kay. Len, there's blood on the kitten and the cat ain't bleeding."

Len handed Mick back his phone. "Right, call Hartley. I need a drink."

"I'm not working." Piper hung up the phone without listening for a response and re-draped himself over James. He was just starting to drift off again when the phone started ringing. "Fucking no!" He hung it up again.

James hugged the arm that was flung over him, letting out a little squeak. "You're not going to cave, right?"

"Course not." Piper breathed. "You said you needed me, and those falling nightmares sound terrible."

"They are. Papa laughing at me, and then the whole stupid circus pointing and laughing at me while I hyperventilated. It fucking sucked." He kept his tone light, but James was shaking.

"James, I'm so-" The phone started ringing again. "That's it, I'm unplugging the damn thing. James, c'mon, leggo. I'll be right back, I promise."

"Just let it ring. Please?"

"…fine. James…are you always like this after a fall?"

"Um…yeah, pretty much. I-I'm sorry. I'll work on it again so you don't have to-"

"No, it's okay. I don't mind. I want you to tell me when you need me, okay?" Piper ran his hand through James' hair, since the petting was calming him down, all the while entertaining cheery fantasies of killing Flash as he cuddled his anxiety ridden boyfriend. And eventually the phone did stop ringing.

Unfortunately Heatwave broke down the front door about four seconds afterwards. Piper shot right up in bed, James clinging to his back. He reached under the mattress and extracted a flute.

"Hartley!" Mick yelled.

"Oh." Piper breathed a small sigh of relief and lowered the flute. "Will you guys take a hint! Whatever it is, no! Now go away!"

"Didja think that if we're being this persistent it might be-whoa, did not need to see that!" Mick backed right out of the bedroom again with a hand thrown over his eyes.

Piper scowled. "It's not like we're naked." They had boxers on. Piper was even wearing a t-shirt.

James poked Piper's side. "You should see what's going on."

"You sure?"

"I'm just being a baby. I'm okay really."

"James, I'll stay with you."

"I know." James leaned in for a quick peck. "And that's good enough."

"Well if you're sure."

"Are you guys wearing clothes?" Mick yelled from the living room.

"We were wearing clothes when you barged in!" Piper yelled back. "Fucking asshole." He climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of pants, then stormed over to the door. "So what the hell is it?"

"Kendra. Someone got past all the traps and grabbed her. Cold wants you to check the place out."

Piper nodded. "Kay. I'm on it. I'll be over in ten minutes, I just need to pack some-"

"I'm driving you back. Snart says you drive like an old woman."

Piper scowled. "Alright, alright! Just…gah, get out of my way." He started tossing things into a duffel. Before Heatwave herded him out of the apartment Piper poked in on James. "I'll be back as soon as I'm able. I love you."

"Love you too Pookie. Be careful."

"C'mon, let's go, let's go!"

James winced as the door slammed shut. He pouted, glancing with disdain at the empty (and lonely) bed. Then an idea struck him.

A few minutes later James was contentedly slumbering, hugging a Kelly green body pillow with a stocking cap draped over the top and Piper's cologne spritzed on it.

"Mew."

"Cut it out."

"Mew."

"I don't know where she is yet. I can't bring her back."

"Mew."

"You're not cute enough to keep getting away with that." Len trained a cold gun on Muffin, who immediately started nuzzling it. "Get off of that!" He shook the gun and the kitten jumped away, frightened. "Can't believe he bought her a freaking…heh. Of course the roses look like shit compared to a kitten."

He tentatively reached out a hand to skritch the kitten's ears (not that he'd ever admit it later), when one of Kendra's emergency lines started buzzing. Len looked at it uncomprehendingly for a few seconds, then dove to pick it up.

"Yeah?"

"Len?" It was Kendra, sounding breathless and terrified.

"Kendra. Oh, thank God you're alive! You're okay, right? Are you okay? Where do we need to go? Who do I need to kill?"

"Len, please, she's still after me! I, I'm bleeding and it's your fault! It's your fucking sister, she-she's coming back. Please don't let me die! I think I'm at Roscoe's house." Then she hung up.

Len stared in shock at the emergency phone. It had been Roscoe's color that lit up. "Huh." Feeling a bit dazed, he stowed his cold gun and went out to his car.

"Mew."

"Hi Muffin. Didn't happen to see where Len went, didja?" Mick asked, skritching the kitty's ears.

"…who bought the cat?" Piper asked. He'd upended a sack of supplies and was in the process of removing a panel in the wall of Kendra's entryway.

"Me. Uh, it was just a thank you-"

"I know you're involved with Kendra."

"Oh."

"And yes, I am judging you for it." Piper continued.

"Judging me? What the hell are you judging me for?" Mick asked. "I didn't even know Snart was sweet on her till a few days ago."

"Mick? Kidding. James won't be though. He's friends with Len and Len's not taking it well at all." Piper reached out blindly for a screwdriver. Mick kicked it into his hand.

"Yeah, got that. It's not my fault though. Kendra didn't want to tell anyone we were seeing each other."

"Mm. She's definitely not as sweet as she lets on. I think she's realized that the other guys do more for her if they think they have a shot with her. Can you hand me those pliers?"

"Sure. You think that's it? Well, I guess we did fix her house for her."

"And Len always pays about double what she asks, and she asks a good amount already." Piper added.

Mick frowned. "I think she thinks I'm dumb too. She keeps calling me sweet and changing the subject when we talk. I might dump her when this is over. I think it's too much trouble. Y'think that'll make Len happy, or just make it worse?"

"Dunno. I'm not an expert at heterosexual relationships or anything."

"No, I suppose you wouldn't be. So…you and Trickster? Really?"

"Yep. Me and Trickster."

Mick shook his head. "Didn't expect that. I mean, I noticed the guy's been spending a lot of time with you, but…man. Well good for you guys, I guess. I'll make sure I respect your privacy in the future. Definitely don't need to see that again."

"Much obliged." Piper pulled himself into a sitting position and wiped off his hands with a rag. "Someone disarmed the traps."

"Yeah, go figure. None of them went off."

"I know. Mick, someone who knew what they were doing disarmed them. Someone with a schematic or something."

"Oh." Mick frowned, puzzled. "One of the contractors?"

"No, I don't think that's likely. James and I installed them ourselves, so unless the contractors were looking over our shoulders while we did so...I think it's much more likely that someone broke into Len's house and took the schematics. He asked us all to leave him copies of our traps in case they were ever needed, and we both know he doesn't keep his house very secure."

"You really think that's more likely?" Mick snorted. "I'm gonna go pay those workers a visit and get some answers."

Piper rolled his eyes. "You do that, I guess." He scooped up the kitten and zipped it up in his sweatshirt. "I'll take care of Muffin, I guess. Gimme a call if you hear from Len."

Len sat in his car and stared at Roscoe's darkened house, wondering what he should do. His mind was buzzing with different ways this situation could be a trap.

But how would anybody know to use Lisa? Anyone who wanted to get to him or Kendra wouldn't know about his sister.

He checked the setting on his gun one more time before walking up to the front door, which he had to kick open. He heard screaming coming from the basement. "Shit!" Len ran through the house and down the stairs, and aimed his gun at his sister. "Lisa, stop it! What the hell are you doing? What the hell are you wearing?" He couldn't help but ask.

Her outfit looked a little like one of her figure skating costumes, except for the stylish orange mask and the spatters of blood on the front. Kendra was on the floor in front of her, immobilized by massive blocks of ice over her hands and feet. It looked like Lisa had been kicking her with her skates. Her face, chest and stomach were covered with a healthy mix of surface lacerations and deep gouges.

Kendra whimpered softly, fixing Len with pleading brown eyes.

"Lenny?" Lisa locked eyes with him, looking momentarily lost. Then her eyes hardened over. "Get outta here Lenny. You don't need to see this."

Len cocked his cold gun. "I'm warning you Leese, get away from her."

"You're not gonna shoot me."

"I'm not gonna hurt you, but I'll sure as hell freeze you if you take one more chunk out of Kendra." He took a cautious step closer, waited to see if Lisa did anything, and then jogged the rest of the way down the stairs.

Lisa stood her ground, still between him and Kendra. "The bitch had it coming. She's just using all of you guys. She doesn't care about any of you. She's got as much emotional investment in Heatwave as she does in the big pink vibrator under her bed. But the vibrator doesn't take you out shopping. Isn't that what you said you little bitch?" Lisa asked.

Kendra let out a sob. "P-please don't kill me! I'll d-do anything you w-want!"

"It's okay Kendra, you're not gonna die." Len quickly looked away from the mangled crime doctor and turned back to his sister. "Okay, I think I get what you were going for. You saw me all depressed over this girl and you thought this would make me feel better somehow, right?"

"I, well, I couldn't just let her get away with-"

"It ain't making me feel better." He growled.

"I can see that. But Len, she made you not-cry! I can't, no one's supposed to do that to us anymore!" Lisa frowned. "And it was also practice. I'm thinking of doing this to someone Flash loves. Whaddya say Dr. Skank? Effective torture?"

"P-please let me go!"

Len shoved past Lisa, who made no move to stop him, fiddled with his gun and melted off the ice blocks that were pinning Kendra in place. He gently cradled her in his arms, lifted her up and started towards the stairs.

"Lenny…?"

"We'll talk later Lisa. I've gotta get her to a hospital. Frankly, I don't know another competent crime doctor."

Piper got a phone call from Mick just as he was getting back to his apartment, informing him Kendra was in the hospital and Len was on his way to Iron Heights. Mick hung up on him when Piper asked when he'd be around to collect the kitten.

"Shit. I don't want you." He said to the little furry head sticking out the top of his sweatshirt. Muffin looked up at him and mewed pitifully. "What? What is it?" Then the cat peed. "Great, just great."

He dumped the kitten in the kitchen sink, stripped out of the sweatshirt and ruined t-shirt and sponge bathed off the two of them. Then he found an empty pan and tore up some newspaper to make a temporary litter box. He filled a little dish with water and opened a can of tuna for the kitten. "There. Now don't get too cozy. You're going straight to the shelter in the morning."

"Mew."

"Goodnight." Piper trudged into the bedroom, saw James snuggling the body pillow, smirked, and replaced his stand-in.