Continuing from the previous chapter, Len and Oliver plan a group karaoke night to make up for their spectacular failure to work on team building and begging Barry's forgiveness.

The day was focused on planning for the next night, and going over what hadn't gone right the night before, which Len and Oliver were more than ready to admit had mostly just been them. Barry didn't get much chance to talk with them alone before it was time for their 'team building exercise' as they put it, but every passing look he got from either of them slowly chipped away at his resentment. Especially when they reached their destination.

Starling City was just as large, maybe larger than Central, so it should come as no surprise that it would have several karaoke bars. How Len and Oliver had found one that was almost—but sadly not completely—deserted for the night for their large group to take over, was still markedly impressive.

"I can't believe this was your idea, Oli," Thea remarked, bucking her brother in the shoulder.

Numbering in over a dozen people for this outing, they arrived early enough to have dinner so that once karaoke started at 8pm, they'd have the monopoly on good seating arrangements. They managed to snag two tables and two booths near the stage.

Barry appreciated that Len and Oliver chose to sit together with him and Felicity, not that Barry had completely softened yet. There hadn't been nearly enough groveling.

The guy who ran karaoke at this place Thursday nights had an app so people could look up songs early and save their spots. Felicity had been thumbing through songs on her phone since before they left.

"We finally have enough girls for 'Lady Marmalade'." Thea leaned over the back of the other booth to watch as Felicity browsed. "You in?"

"Oh, no no no no," she peeked up at Thea with an absolute 'nope' expression. "First, that is way too cliché. And second, are you volunteering to be Christina Aguilera, because I am not."

"I already grabbed first song," Thea grinned, "so choose something already, Smoak."

"For the record, I'm not being Christina either," Laurel informed them from beside Thea.

"I know someone who might take on that burden," Hartley called over from one of the tables, at which Cisco scowled, seeming way too put out that he, Lisa, and Mick were sharing the table with him.

"Please tell me you are not about to belt Lady Marmalade, Rathaway," Cisco groaned.

Hartley tisked at him grandly, waving his cell phone in the air. "Nobody minds if we get one extra party crasher, do they? Boss?" He grinned at Len.

Len looked to Oliver and shrugged.

Oliver raised an eyebrow, "Meaning…?"

"Ready, Peek-A-Boo?" Hartley said to his phone, angling it so that Barry could now clearly see Shawna Baez on video call, while Hartley surveyed the rest of the bar to make sure no one was watching too closely. "Now."

Since Shawna had a clear view of their location through the video on her end, it was apparently no effort at all for her to teleport in behind Hartley's chair in front of Barry's booth.

"Don't worry, boss," she said to Len—and Barry couldn't explain it, but every time one of the Rogues called Len that, it gave him a little thrill, which he was sure said something weird about him for liking the power play. He often dominated the bedroom even when he bottomed. He really wanted to let Len call the shots one night—like ALL the shots, like safe word needed, hands tied behind his back kind of…

Okay, Barry was still meant to be at least mildly pissed to be entertaining ideas like that this early in the evening. He shifted in his seat.

"Mark and Roy have the bar tonight squared. Mind if a join in?" Shawna asked.

"Not at all, Baez, as long as you play nice," Len nodded.

Barry waved at her with a bashful smile, and she raised an eyebrow at him. Her smirk told him that she knew exactly who he was and what was going on. Hartley was such a snitch.

She turned and sat down in Hartley's lap without missing a beat, and he accepted the invasion of his personal space only too eagerly. Barry noticed Caitlin eye Shawna with something tight and telling in her expression. He was glad there were so many of them, so it was fairly easy to avoid someone if desired.

Of course sitting with them didn't make it any easier for Barry to avoid Len and Oliver.

"Am I getting the cold shoulder all night?" Len asked from beside him.

Barry kept his eyes on his menu, refusing to smile at the pun. "I'm still waiting for a good enough reason to warm up to you," he snarked back. "Team building and forthcoming embarrassment is only step one."

"Barry," Len slipped his hand atop Barry's resting on the tabletop. Reluctantly Barry looked at him, and damn those blue eyes… "I know you can take care of yourself. You don't need a babysitter, and you don't need the burden of being one for someone else. I will always do stupid things to protect you, but last night was uncalled for. You're not something for Oliver and I to fight over. We just both hate seeing the people we love in danger, hate the idea of losing anyone. And we need to find better ways to express that."

"If you'll let us prove we can," Oliver added, reminding Barry that he and Felicity were across from them.

Barry allowed one small moment to enjoy the touch of Len's hand. Then he pulled it away to put both hands on his menu. "Get working on that then."

Felicity snickered. But Len and Oliver looked more resolved than ever.

"I know the idea for this outing was ours, but I am going to have to be significantly drunker to go through with this," Len said once dinner and small talk dwindled and Thea headed up to the stage.

Mick appeared as if on cue with a tray of shots. He passed them to everyone, including Barry, much as it would only burn for a moment, and immediately picked up the tray again to move on to the next booth. "Easily handled, pal," Mick said. His sinister grin was almost chilling.

Barry groaned internally at the thought.

"Bottoms up," Felicity said once everyone had their shots. It burned alright, and was a little too bitter, straight up smooth alcohol without any flavor for Barry's tastes, but it made Felicity give a 'woo' when she finished, and Oliver blinked wide.

Even Thea was delivered a shot to knock back before the first riffs of "Only the Good Die Young" sounded over the speakers. She actually wasn't that bad of a singer either. Nothing spectacular, but good enough to start the night right, even if Oliver made a face at her song selection. Barry didn't get the joke.

"Barry, you so need to do this one," Iris said, squeezing in beside him on his side of the booth to show him the app. He eyed the selection she had brought up and shook his head. "But you love this song."

"Iris," Barry hissed. "That is way too embarrassing."

"That's what karaoke night is for, Barry."

"She has a point," Felicity said.

Barry glowered at them, but then considered singing the selection right to Len, hamming it up as much as he could and just embarrassing the hell out of his boyfriend. If he played into his confidence, reminded himself that Caitlin had sure seemed to think his voice wasn't that bad, he could turn this to his favor.

"Okay," he caved, "sign me up, but that better mean you're getting up there too."

Iris, ever to Joe's disappointment, might as well be tone deaf for how well she could carry a tune, but she didn't even bat an eyelash at Barry's suggestion. "Already covered," she said, and slipped right back out of the booth, heading to the stage as soon as Thea finished to a round of cheers and applause.

Lisa and Shawna joined Iris. He laughed when the opening chords to "Bang Bang" started playing.

The lady Rogues absolutely killed it as Jessie J and Ariana Grande, Iris not really singing along with the chorus, but when it got to the Nicki Minaj rap verse, she took over and stole the show like a pro. Barry should know better than to ever underestimate his best friend.

Which meant he was next. Shit.

"I expect something classic and epic out of both of you," he said to Len and Oliver before slipping out of the booth. Mick was already coming around with another round of shots. Most of their group seemed to need it to get up the courage to take the stage. Barry had never wished more for alcohol to affect him.

He plastered on a grin as Iris hooted and hollered up at him, "Go, Barry!" and even though almost all of the others broke into raucous laughter when the opening notes of his song started, he focused his eyes on Len. He summoned every bit of confidence he'd pretended to feel doing Glee club in high school, which was marginal at best, but damn it, he could so slay this song.

Well I guess it would be nice
If I could touch your body
I know not everybody
Has got a body like you

Barry winked and twirled once with the—thankfully—cordless microphone.

But I've got to think twice
Before I give my heart away
And I know all the games you play
Because I play them too

Len's grin was only too amused, and Barry tried not to stumble over his own feet, playfully dancing on the stage as his boyfriend licked his lips at him and bobbed his head along to the song. So much for embarrassing Len.

I gotta have faith, faith, faith

Lisa took over Barry's spot in the booth beside her brother, holding a phone to go through songs with him, which finally tore his gaze from Barry and replaced his grin with a blank expression that Barry hadn't seen often on his boyfriend but that he took for honest, abject fear.

Karma at its best.

Barry received an even bigger round of applause for his performance than the others so far, though maybe the second round of shots helped with that. Meanwhile, Laurel made sure in Mick's wake that everyone—everyone—had a full drink to continue fueling their liquid courage, while Caitlin and Ronnie hit the stage next with a rather lopsided version of "Hot Blooded." Lopsided if only because Caitlin was in no way better at singing still mostly sober, and Ronnie wasn't half bad, though every verse had him looking to his wife with the cutest expression of genuine devotion.

"Didn't know you were such a George Michael fan," Len said as Barry squeezed in beside Lisa.

"Shut up," Barry grinned, "and pick your song. I expect to be blown away."

Len actually looked nervous scrolling through the app, but after Lisa insisted he just suck it up and do her first suggestion—whatever that was, since Barry hadn't heard—Len finally gave in. Barry couldn't wait to be surprised.

Diggle declared he would only get on stage once for the evening, and for that, Thea and Laurel chose a song for him. Several of the ladies in attendance seemed to lament that he was a married man after his rendition of "Let's Get It On."

"Oli, woo!" Thea clapped and shouted, followed be a round of cheers from the others, as Oliver finally excused himself from the booth for his turn.

"What are you singing?" Felicity grabbed his arm.

He just smiled and inclined his head at her.

Oliver proved to be the typical mediocre karaoke singer, much like his sister, not star material and not too shabby either, but it was the full heart and energy he put into the song that got everyone on their feet singing along, while Felicity tried to hide her face with how much she was blushing.

She was a fast machine she kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman that I ever seen
She had the sightless eyes telling me no lies
Knocking me out with those American thighs

Barry burst out laughing. This was too perfect. He could not keep scowling at them with a performance like that.

And you
Shook me all night long

"If I jump his bones in full view of everyone, you have no one to blame but yourselves," Felicity said, as she took the straw to her Tequila Sunrise and sucked down half of it before Oliver finished. The foggy, lovesick look in her eyes afterward made Barry wonder if she'd follow through with that threat. And he loved every minute of it, because Oliver never let loose like this, and then…well.

Then it was Len's turn.

Barry melted the second his boyfriend opened his mouth on stage, couldn't fight it. He had demanded classic, and this was one of his favorites—Len knew that of course, Lisa too—but most of the gathered group had never had the pleasure of hearing Captain Cold sing, certainly not in the shower as Barry had on more than one occasion.

A brief stunned silence blanketed them as he sang through the first verse perfectly, and finally, when his eyes landed on Barry with a flirty, heartfelt stare, everyone got over their shock and cheered him on to the chorus of "Livin' on a Prayer."

We've got to hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot for love
We'll give it a shot

Woah, we're half way there
Woah, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
Woah, livin' on a prayer

"Okay, that is the hottest thing I have ever heard," Felicity spoke around her straw, sucking down the second half of her drink with equal gusto. She grinned cutely at Oliver when he raised an eyebrow at her. "You were sexy too, honey."

Mick brought another round of shots, and Oliver started to protest.

"I'm pretty sure we need 'em, Queen, if I'm gettin' up there later," Mick said gruffly.

Mick was right too—about needing more booze. Finally, after that next round of shots, and everyone onto their second or third main drinks, the fixed tables started to intermingle. A few of the bar patrons who weren't with their group had their turn at the mic, and Felicity quickly transitioned into Honest Drunk territory, which was insane considering how boldly honest she was usually.

"And then he told me: He can individually or all at once vibrate every part of his body," Felicity mimicked Len's voice effectively enough that Barry turned beat red. Eddie had joined them moments before—also red in the face now—and Hartley at that exact moment breezed by the booth only to instantly stop.

He slid in beside Felicity with a gleaming grin. "I'm sorry, Barry can do what with his speed?"

Eddie downed most of his drink and quietly excused himself.

Eventually, Barry was saved from Felicity and Hartley getting better acquainted by being pulled over to one of the tables with Iris and Lisa, made to sit with Len while their sisters plotted a song for them to sing together. He groaned at the list they we making so far and glanced aside to notice that Caitlin and Shawna had excused themselves to a slightly farther away table alone. They were both marginally tipsy, and looked to be in heated discussion.

Just to be safe, Barry rose to check on them, saying, "Yeah, guys, whatever you want, I'm sure Len and I can handle it."

"Barry…" Len said warningly, because that was just asking for trouble, but the girls giggled, and Barry tried to tell himself he hadn't just signed his death warrant for the night.

As he snuck closer to eavesdrop, he caught a few words of heartfelt apology from Shawn to Caitlin for attacking her, Caitlin's own apology for the Pipeline, and listened in a little longer until the conversation turned to Shawna needing an internship as part of her medical schooling. She had decided to pursue it again, which prompted Caitlin to offer, "We can always use extra help at the Labs." Barry would have to thank Hartley later for letting Shawna crash the party.

"You really shouldn't give them free reign so easily, Barry," Len smiled at him when he returned, Iris and Lisa snickering to themselves over their phones.

A few songs later Barry learned why when he and Len were called up for "Baby, It's Cold Outside." It wasn't nearly close enough to Christmas for this!

Barry took the female part to better play into the lyrics, but he was not expecting for Len to be quite as buzzed as he was—had Barry missed more shots from Mick? Something sure seemed to be affecting the Rogue compared to his first time on stage, because he dove right into the playfulness of the song, and proceeded to act it out quite effectively, even taking Barry's hand on occasion and twirling him across the stage. Barry had no idea Len was such a good dancer.

A quick step, a grab of Barry's hand, a twirl in toward him, swaying when they got close with Barry leaning back against Len's chest, wrapped in his arms, blushing in front of all their friends, but loving the warmth and the smooth sound of Len's voice accompanying his own. He completely forgot he was supposed to be harboring some lingering resentment before he let his boyfriend sweep him off his feet again.

When the song ended to the usual din from their group, hooting in approval, Len twirled Barry one more time and tugged him in tight, licking into his mouth for a rather obscene kiss on stage in front of more than just people who knew them. His boyfriend had definitely tipped over the edge from buzzed to drunk in short order.

"Len," Barry gasped out of the kiss, feeling the heat in his face, especially with how certain people—Lisa, Iris, and he was pretty sure Hartley was a third louder voice amidst the throng—egged them on.

Barry yanked Len off stage quickly, but he didn't miss the sultry look in his boyfriend's eyes now. He'd never actually seen Len drunk before, he realized.

"You need to earn that kind of behavior," Barry scolded him, much as he couldn't stop grinning.

"Is that a challenge, Scarlet?"

Barry was in so much trouble. Especially when he looked around the room and saw that everyone was drunker than he'd realized, so he didn't have any real backup. Diggle seemed to be the only one who'd switched to something tamer, nursing his second or third beer and avoiding the shots. At least someone would be able to help Barry lug all these people into cabs later.

Barry shoved Len into a booth, and sat down opposite him to avoid roaming hands. He looked to Eddie apologetically beside him when Len's first attempt at footsie found the detective's leg instead.

"My mistake, Eddie," Len said, taking a sip from a fresh drink. "I forget we have more of a…look don't touch policy." He winked.

"Len."

"Uhh…" Eddie looked around as if seriously wishing he wasn't boxed into the booth beside Barry.

"Cat got your tongue, detective, or fixated a little too much on where Barry's tongue—ow!" Len winced when Barry kicked him hard under the table.

Iris and Lisa's joint scheming finally dragged Cisco up on stage, who it seemed had needed a significant amount of drinks to get to this point, but was finally drunk enough to comply. His cheeks were rosy, his grin impossibly wide as he looked back down into the crowd at Lisa with the dopiest expression of affection possible while crooning "Moondance" like an expert lounge singer.

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies

Shawna and Caitlin both looked up from their solo table, finally pulled back into the group by the sheer amazingness of Cisco's voice. All of the girls cheered him on loudly, and Barry even caught Mick nod in appreciation and mutter, "Nice," from behind him.

Hartley pouted from one of the tables. Apparently, this was one thing he couldn't even begin to challenge as being better at than Cisco. Lisa nudged him, saying it was high time he got up on that stage himself. He started to refuse, but Mick passed him another drink.

"Don't rain on our parade, Hart. You're gettin' up there too."

"You haven't yet."

"I got somethin' planned, don't you worry."

"Hey, you haven't sang anything either, Mister," Iris walked up to Barry's booth and leaned over the table to poke Eddie's arm. "Eddie has a lovely voice," she said dreamily.

"I really don't," Eddie shook his head.

"He so does. You three need to do something together," she twirled her finger at Eddie, Barry and—just as Eddie's eyes widened at the prospect of him, Barry, and Len doing anything 'together'—whirled to point behind her at Cisco as he hopped off stage. "Ooo, I know!"

Barry kicked Len again beneath the table, though more gently this time, as he got out of the booth, happy for a distraction, because as much fun as he was having, that look in Len's eyes was downright dangerous. He yanked Eddie out of the booth after him.

And holy shit, he hadn't known about Cisco's smooth falsetto, sure, but he definitely didn't know Eddie could do such a nice bass until the three of them broke into perfectly harmonized parts on "For the Longest Time."

Now things were getting rowdy because far more of their group could sing than anyone had speculated, and Eddie seemed rejuvenated with a boost of confidence after several of their friends fawned over him coming off stage.

Felicity, Laurel, Thea, and Shawna finally did "Lady Marmalade." Convincing anyone of anything was far too easy at this point. Laurel did Pink, Felicity was Mya—both not half bad with some drunken courage—and Thea rocked the Lil' Kim part, but Shawna once again blew everyone away by taking on Christina.

Eddie and Cisco eventually cornered Hartley, who had been trying to hide. "Not happening," Eddie said. "We got forced up there, so you're next, Piper."

Hartley agreed only if Cisco sang with him and he got to choose the song. Barry snickered as he overheard, because Cisco was definitely too drunk to defend himself right now.

The two tech geeks singing "Easy Lover" might have been the highlight of the night.

Easy lover
She'll get a hold on you believe it
Like no other
Before you know it you'll be on your knees

Cisco sang directly to Lisa, and while Hartley initially sang to Cisco with some purposely close dancing to throw him off balance, he soon fell in line to sing to Lisa along with him with fairly nice harmony. Lisa sure as hell enjoyed the show, and at least Cisco and Hartley weren't glaring at each other for once. They even reconvened at a table together afterward.

"You are so unfair, Hart. You can sing too."

"Not as good as you, Ramon."

Somewhere between Barry getting really distracted with Len and Mick singing "Fire and Ice"—and okay, Mick wasn't anything special, but the two of them together singing Pat Benatar was glorious, and totally worth the wait to see Mick up there—and Caitlin and Iris butchering "Firework," practically falling over themselves laughing, Cisco and Hartley switched topics and he overheard them discussing ways to improve on Hartley's Silencers.

"I have these Meta Malfunction bombs—still need a better name. What if we combined the idea with the Silencers!"

"Tapping into the nervous system, but targeting specific DNA!"

"But we still want people awake in case we need to interrogate someone."

"We could have more than one setting. One for immediately dropping someone, one where they're paralyzed but still conscious."

Barry tried to pretend he wasn't terrified at the prospect of what these two geniuses actually getting along could accomplish. Their session of 'Mad Scientists, Unite!' shouldn't be alarming; it was a good thing—he hoped.

He couldn't even be that bothered by how drunk everyone was considering the successful mixing of the groups, especially when he caught Oliver and Len talking hushed at one of the tables—way better than Len embarrassing Eddie any further.

"Oliver, it was accidental we found out about the ring, I swear. That was low, even by my standards."

"No, I…I heard about the Zapper. You saved Barry's life. Wasn't my place to bring it up."

"So why haven't you proposed to Felicity yet?"

Oliver downed the rest of his drink. For the sluggishness to their movements and slow blinking, their words barely even seemed slurred.

"Don't wait for some 'right time', kid," Len said, leaning conspiratorially closer, but not really hushed enough considering Felicity could stumble over at any moment. "There isn't one. All those weeks I made Barry wait on me…a waste. Right time never comes. It all erupts instead, and you risk losing things you never had."

"And what about that body count you're so fond of bringing up?" Oliver scowled.

Len frowned with him. "Does Felicity care? No. Just loves the man you are. That should be enough." He caught sight of Barry hovering and held out his hand to him. Barry didn't really think too hard before grasping it, and then before he knew it, he was being tugged to sit on Len's lap. Barry couldn't dissent though, not over this, not when Len was so right and finally able to admit it.

Oliver rubbed a hand down his face but smiled at them, almost envious, Barry thought, and that was silly, because Felicity loved him just as fiercely, the only difference was Oliver needed to believe a bit more that he deserved it.

"Does that mean there'll come a day you make Barry Mr. Allen-Snart?" Oliver asked, only mildly teasing.

"Oh no," Len shook his head, making Barry's stomach sink before he could stop it. "But I can only hope to be lucky enough to become the next Mr. Allen."

"What?" Barry turned and gaped at him, not having expected that, or the sweet, completely honest smile Len bestowed upon him, even if his eyes were glassy.

"We are not having a joint wedding," Felicity suddenly appeared to claim Oliver's lap, mirroring Len and Barry. Oliver looked mildly startled, but Felicity immediately said, "Not that I'm expecting…because I'm not. Totally no pressure. Just a pressure-less, easy-going gall over here. But you know, if that were to happen," she turned to look at Barry, leaving Oliver relieved and laughing that the cat was not out of the bag, "I am not sharing my day with anyone, Barry Allen. The bride gets to be the prettiest on her wedding day, so that cute little face of yours is going to be expected to dress down."

"I don't think you have to worry about Barry being prettier than you on any day, honey," Oliver hugged her.

"Oh I don't know about that," Len squeezed Barry in tandem. "Felicity is lovely, but Barry is the prettiest thing in here."

"Len."

"That is simply not true," Oliver said, and then contemplated seriously as his gaze went distant, "As pretty maybe…"

"Oh god…" Barry would have dropped his face to the table if he wasn't in Len's lap. Len and Oliver were both still smiling, not arguing, but this was not better.

"You are as pretty as me," Felicity lamented, but then giggled and nearly fell out of Oliver's lap.

"Dig, save me!" Barry called as the man breezed past him with Laurel, Thea, Shawna, and Hartley in tow. Len refused to let go of his waist.

"One cab at a time, Barry. Save yourself," he said with a smile, ushering the first group out of the bar, which he seemed to have a handle on up until Hartley grabbed Cisco's hand and yanked him up away from the table with Lisa.

"But we have more dastardly science to plan!"

"He can come too," Diggle said.

Lisa just laughed and waved as her boyfriend was carted off.

"Traitor!"

Barry did his best to organize the rest of the group before Diggle came back, though it wasn't easy to disentangle from Len. In the end, they had an uneven number of people to get into cabs, so Barry told Diggle not to worry, he'd just flash Len back to Oliver's place himself.

He should have known better, because as soon as he and Len were alone in the bar, Len slammed him up against the wall beside the bathrooms.

"Len! There are people—" He tried before his boyfriend's tongue was down his throat.

"Did you have a good time tonight, Scarlet?" Len asked, kissing down his neck.

"I…I did, but—"

"Forgive me yet?"

"Ugnnn…" Damn it felt so good when he sucked on the skin just below Barry's ear.

A guy walked over to the men's bathroom, giving them an appraising eye and smirk as he noticed them.

"Len…come on," Barry tried once the guy disappeared through the door. "Stop it. I am flashing us somewhere you can sleep this off."

"Any hard surface will do…" Len said as he licked Barry's ear.

Barry's gut quivered, but while there was no one in direct view of them, he wrapped his arms more tightly around Len and zipped them out of the bar. Oliver and Felicity's apartment wasn't far, not enough for Len to burst into flames during the trip anyway.

He tossed Len back onto the sofa in the main room. A few of the people from the first couple cabs were already back and passed out on various sleeping bags and air mattresses. Barry was pretty sure that, while Lisa had Cisco snuggled in close to her, that was Hartley's arm curled around the other scientist, which would be hilarious come morning if they stayed in that position.

The last cab, which included Oliver and Felicity, wasn't back yet.

"Come here," Len said, and snagged Barry's hand while he was distracted looking over the others, pulling him down on top of him. "I still have so much to make up for, don't I?" he purred.

And oh, Barry loved that idea, and would have been mostly on board if 1) Len wasn't drunk right now, and 2) they weren't surrounded by people they knew. That one time with Eddie catching them in the kitchen was mortifying enough. Barry glanced purposely toward Iris and Eddie to make sure they at least were both asleep.

Len kissed him again, slid his hands up Barry's shirt.

"Len!" Barry hissed. "You can make the rest up to me later. When we're alone. And sober."

"You're sober."

"Both sober."

"I could never be too drunk or too sober to not want you, Scarlet."

Barry preened a little but shook his head. "Good to know, but when you are sober, we're going to have a long talk about you wanting to become Mr. Allen," he said pointedly.

Len nuzzled his neck, held him there atop him. "Deal," he breathed.

Barry shivered. "Thank you for trying so hard with Oliver."

"Mmm…he's not so bad. Just thinks it's his job to protect everyone he cares about without asking for help."

"And who does that remind you of?" Barry snickered.

Len brought his hands to Barry's face and lifted him up so they could look eye to eye. "You," he said and kissed him again.

"Not what I meant," Barry laughed, sputtering out of the lip lock. It would be too easy to give in, but then the rest of the group would come walking in the door at the most inopportune time. "Later," he said, relieved when Len's hands finally dropped from his waist. "But I love you."

He waited for the like response, so when nothing came, he lifted himself up again. Len's hands had fallen away because the bastard was out cold. Figured.

Barry laid there another moment more, but when he heard someone at the door, he lifted up fully, shifted Len's legs aside so he could sit on the edge of the sofa, and turned back.

Diggle had Felicity asleep in his arms, and Oliver leaning heavily against him. "A little help?"

Barry slept in Len's arms on the sofa in the end, there wasn't much room anywhere else, but since his sleep wasn't the same dead weight unconsciousness as most of the others, he was the first awake. Literally everyone—except Diggle, who had gone home—was sprawled out somewhere in the living room, Laurel and Thea sharing the extra bedroom, while Oliver and Felicity had their own.

Carefully, Barry pulled away from Len's attentive hold, and tiptoed around the others toward the kitchen. His speed wouldn't help much in a sneaking situation—too much updraft. He set about making coffee. And pancakes. Carbs would be good for everyone. He even found a stoneware pan and some good thick-cut bacon he put in the oven. In no time the kitchen was filled with various smells of breakfast.

Barry expected Iris to be the first to rise, since her nose was notorious for recognizing breakfast cooking, but instead he saw Len poke his head up from the couch, rubbing his eyes, and then Oliver came slumping slowly and quietly down the stairs.

The pair of them worked their way around the others together to join Barry in the kitchen. Oliver leaned against the counter, while Len dragged over a stool to sit in.

"I am going to admit," Oliver said, "there are a few parts of last night that are not crystal clear."

"We didn't do anything particularly embarrassing, did we?" Len asked.

Barry turned to grab up some mugs so he could hide his smirk. "Only a very impressive rendition of that Monica and Brandy song, 'The Boy is Mine'."

He glanced back to find both of them mortified.

"Kidding! Had you going for a second though." He snickered as they relaxed, and continued preparing coffee for them the way he knew they liked it—which amazingly enough was exactly the same. "Some of the songs, granted, might have been worse than that. We'll see, I guess, since I'm pretty sure Thea and Shawna bonded over taking videos to post on YouTube."

Len and Oliver shook their heads, but shared a look that said they weren't at all regretful.

"Does our embarrassment and slight hangovers at all absolve us of our crimes, Barry?" Len asked.

"Mmm…nope. But your genuine desire to be forgiven does. Just don't let it happen again." He handed Len one of the mugs, leaned over the counter, and kissed him soundly. Then he passed the other mug to Oliver. "Only coffee for you, sorry, but you're still forgiven," he grinned.

Oliver laughed, and Len shook his head as he sipped gratefully from the coffee.

"Thank you, Barry," Oliver said. "Guess I should rouse the troops. We have a sorcerer to meet today. Which we will do as a unified front." He nodded to Barry, then smiled at Len and patted him on the shoulder. He headed off with his coffee to make good on waking the others.

The oven beeped and Barry turned back to find the bacon cooked evenly. He took it out and set it on the stovetop to cool. When he looked back, Len was watching him with an expression of pure, uncensored love. Barry really couldn't stay mad at that.

He paused to lean over the counter again, stole another quick kiss, then turned back to finish making breakfast. "And what'll you have, Mr. Allen?"

Len promptly choked on his coffee.

TBC...with one more chapter. I think one final little interlude is all I have left in me, but it'll be smut and fluff galore.