AN: whelp here's another one. This chapter is definitely thanks to Sagitarscorpion1 . Sorry it took me so long to update, but I had a surprisingly difficult time writing this chapter. Mostly because life got in the way. I already have an idea for the next chapter and was halfway through planning it when I got another prompt from guests which I liked, so I have to go work that in!

This chapter does not have much fluff, but the next one will.

IMPORTANT

This is set at the end of the first chapter. Sorry for any confusion.

-TA-TF-

Oliver was about to bid Felicity goodnight when his phone rang. When he answered it, it was Diggle. The man explained that they needed his help. Kenneth, a jewel thief they were chasing down, had knocked both Diggle and Roy out with some type of gas and ran. Luckily the gas only knocked them out for while, but it was long enough that the man had a fairly good head start. Felicity ,using Oliver's laptop, had tracked the man down. Kenneth was literally heading to the alleyway next to Oliver's apartment. Oliver quickly donned the Arrow suit (it was at the apartment ,because once Barry was knocked unconscious Oliver immediately went to his apartment, not wanting the kid to wake up under Verdant) and grabbed his bow. He was just about ready to head out when a soft voice stopped him; "Oliver?"

Oliver turned to find a very sleepy Barry looking at him from the doorway of his bedroom. The kid's hair stood out at various angles and he brought a hand up to rub at his eye.

"Where 're you going?" Barry asked with childlike curiosity. He seemed to be fighting to keep his eyes open. Oliver cursed silently. The man was getting closer and he did not want to miss him. If he did then they might end up chasing after Kenneth all night.

"I'm just heading out for a minute. Stay here with Felicity, okay?" Oliver said already heading for the door. He was out the apartment, before Barry even had a chance respond.

"I lost sight of him, but he should be rounding the corner into your alley now," Felicity's voice informed from the earpiece in his ear. Oliver shifted slightly from his spot on the fire escape. Finally he heard footsteps approaching. Kenneth rounded the corner and seemed to be stumbling slightly. Oliver jumped, silently landing a few paces in front of the man. Kenneth started, stumbling back a few steps.

"Great. You're like-like that other guy! Get away from me, man!" Kenneth said, his voice came out hoarse and he let out a cough at the end of the sentence. Arrow knocked an arrow and brought it level with the guy.

"Make it easier for both of us and don't move." Oliver demanded. The guy looked like he wanted to gasp, but he ended up hacking instead. Spittle and mucus flew out the guy's mouth, dribbling down his chin slightly. Arrow moved closer to apprehend the man, but Kenneth clearly didn't want to be taken down so easily and pulled out a rusty looking knife. This caused Oliver to roll his eyes. Really? Clearly the man knew he was out matched if the look on his face was anything to go by. The man fidgeted, licking his lips in a nervous manner. A clatter came from the trashcan a few paces behind Kenneth. They both glanced to see what it was and Oliver felt his stomach drop when he caught glimpse of a red sweater. Kenneth smirked and before Oliver could react the man had grabbed Barry by the arm, pulling him closer. Barry let out a startled cry and tried ripping his arm away from Kenneth. The man growled, tightening his grip on Barry. He pulled so the kid was in front of him, placing the knife close to Barry's throat. Arrow growled stepping closer, but stopped when the man tightened his grip.

"That hurts." Barry whined, tears gathering in his eyes. Anger flared in Oliver.

"What kind of dick uses a little kid as a shield?" Arrow growled. He knew it was stupid, but right now he just felt anger towards the man. A passing car shed a little light in the alley for a few moments, exposing the tears threating to fall down Barry's cheeks. The kid looked confused, but mostly scared.

"Ha. Now you're gonna let me leave, otherwise the sweater won't be the only thing that's red in this alley." Kenneth said with a sick grin. His condescending tone made Arrow grit his teeth. Oliver surveyed the situation trying to find a plan that will ensure Barry gets out unharmed. With every whimper the kid made, Oliver felt his anger grow towards the man, making it harder to think. Shit. This would be a lot easier if the kid wasn't an actual kid. Suddenly he got an idea. He tensed with renewed determination. Kenneth was eyeing him suspiciously now. Hoping this will work, Oliver focused his attention on Kenneth entirely. He slowly slipped his fingers in place around the arrow that was still knocked in the bow.

"Hey, kid." Arrow began still looking at Kenneth, but addressing Barry, "You remember that thing you're not supposed to do?" A timid nod "Do it."

"Hey wait! What's going on?" Kenneth asked. The man sent a suspicious glance between him and Barry.

"But...you said I shouldn't do it.." Barry mumbled. Oliver felt his panic start to grow. Usually he could keep his cool, but four-year old Barry in this situation was making him anxious. Any moment Kenneth could decide to end it.

"Do it, kid." Arrow said with more of a command in his voice. This time the kid only hesitated half a second, before doing what Oliver told him to do. Kenneth could only snarl out a "Hey wai-" before the kid in front of him blurred in a streak of red and yellow. Arrow waited till he knew the kid was safely out of the line of fire, before bringing his arrow back up and releasing it. The sound of something hitting flesh resounded and Oliver knew he hit his mark. A gasp came from behind him and Arrow turned to find Barry staring at the man, who fell with a hard 'thud' on the concrete. Something clicked and Oliver rushed to the kid, picking him up.

"Don't look." Oliver said softly, realizing a dead body is not something a little kid needs to see. Barry buried his face in Oliver's neck. The action caused the hood to slip back slightly. He could feel something wet rub against his neck. Another car passed and Arrow moved, not wanting to be seen.

Back at the apartment Felicity was in tears. She apologised furiously, stating she just looked away for a couple of minutes to track down the man and didn't notice Barry slipping out the door. Now Oliver had two people crying in his apartment. He felt a headache coming on. Barry cried, either out of fear or because Felicity was crying, and Felicity was crying out of guilt. He tried calming down both of them, but only succeeded in consoling Felicity. He tried handing the crying kid to her, so he could go change, but Barry clung to him. Oliver tried again, but the kid only tightened his grip.

"Barry. You're okay now. You need to let go." Oliver said once again trying, and failing, to let the kid loosen his grip. Barry shook his head, which was still buried in Oliver's neck. "Barry. Please? Just for a moment."

Reluctantly Barry let go and Oliver quickly passed him over to Felicity.

Later, after bidding Felicity goodbye, Oliver found himself with a four-year old who refused to sleep. Barry was tucked in the billionaire's bed and said billionaire was seated next to him. Even the pillows seemed big compared to Barry.

"Why did the man want to hurt me?" Barry mumbled, quietly.

"Because he was a bad man." Oliver replied. He looked down at the kid's face. It was a close call with Kenneth. They were lucky enough Barry got out unscathed, this time. They needed to figure out a way to get Barry back to normal, before their luck runs out.

"Why are there bad people in the world?" The kid asked. The lamp on the bedside table next to Barry was the only source of light in the room. The low, orange glow cast shadows over half of Barry's face, but Oliver could still see his slightly puffy eyes. Grabbing the covers, Oliver pulled it tighter over Barry. A few more moments of silence passed before he gave the kid a response.

"I don't know, kid."