It was the closest Len had felt to having a panic attack since Barry got shot with the Shocker bullet and almost died in his arms. His hands shook as he reached up to adjust his ice blue tie, staring in the full length mirror of what was basically his wedding trailer. They'd rented several for the occasion, one each for Len and Barry, and a couple for the wedding party, that they'd driven out to the woods where the ceremony would take place.
The woods. Their woods. The first place Len had seen Barry's face. When he first started to want him, which in too short a time had become so much more than mere yearning for the lithe figure of his nemesis. No other location seemed fitting or secluded enough for such an odd pair to tie the knot.
Len scowled at the knot in the mirror. He couldn't get it straight. His hands wouldn't stay still.
The rest of his all blue ensemble looked nice enough. Navy slacks, vest, and coat, the coat left open to show off the slanted button closure of the vest, silver buttons, the vest trimmed in silver too, with a royal blue shirt to offset the navy and silvery blue tie. It complimented his eyes, Lisa and Iris had both said. Barry still hadn't seen it. They'd agreed on colors but decided to keep their outfits secret from each other to achieve something like the tradition of not seeing the 'bride' before the ceremony.
Len had joked that he was the old, Barry the new, and Len also covered the blue portion. All they needed was something borrowed. So Len lent Barry his grandfather's pocket watch, which had started his obsession with time so long ago, and was one of very few possessions he had to remember the man. It was gold, so it didn't suit Len's usual style, but it would complement Barry today perfectly, and make sure that he was actually on time for once.
"Fuck," Len growled as he pulled his tie loose again. His frustration just made his hands shake harder.
"Calm down, Romeo," Mick called from the entrance to the trailer, startling Len because he hadn't heard the door open. Mick was the only one allowed to walk in without announcing himself. Even Lisa had to grant Len that much if she didn't want to catch him half dressed.
Len turned with an exasperated sag of his shoulders, brow knit, hands clenching into fists. "I can't…" He tried to think of how to explain, but the right words wouldn't come.
Mick stalked over to him with heavy footfalls. He looked mildly out of place in a suit. It echoed Len's but in black, with a white shirt, and a dark red vest and tie. Mick's meaty hands reached up to fix Len's tie for him, which Len would have been skeptical about, but Mick's tie had a flawless knot. He let his friend manhandle him, looking grumpy and irritated to anyone else, but Len could see the faint curve of a smile on his partner's face.
As Mick worked on his tie, something gnawed at Len's gut, trying to finish the sentence he'd started, and he found himself saying it again, "I can't…"
Mick paused to look him in the eyes.
"I don't think I can do this."
Another pause, the silence between them static and buzzing with tension. Then Mick scoffed as if Len hadn't said the absolutely worst thing someone could be thinking on their wedding day. He tugged Len none too gently closer to finish doing up his tie. "Bullshit. You'll be fine."
"I'm twice his age, Mick."
"No one cares."
"I'll never be good enough for him."
"Nope. Good thing he don't care 'bout that either."
"Mick…"
"Stuff it, Snart," Mick said, and whirled Len bodily around to face the mirror again. The tie looked perfect. "Look at you cleaned up all pretty. You really gonna cut and run?"
Len fiddled with his hands as he took himself in, rubbing in particular the spot where the ring had been, where it would be again in less than an hour's time, that snowflake cutout in white gold made just for him. Right now it was in Cisco's pocket, while Barry's lightning bolt was in Mick's.
"What's the big deal, huh?" Mick said, shaking him slightly as he peered at him over his shoulder. "You love that ring. Love the kid."
Len looked down his body at the perfectly tailored suit, feeling not like an almost forty-five-year-old man, but like a timid teenager. "I do. But this…"
"It's a nice suit, a few words, and a party. The rest, business as usual. And hey," he smacked Len's shoulder with enough force to nearly topple him forward into his reflection. "You even get a better name outta the deal."
Len huffed a laugh. Allen. Leonard Allen. They'd done all the paperwork already. The last step was signatures from him, Barry, and their witnesses when everything was official.
Leave it to Mick to squash his concerns so succinctly.
"Flash is gonna make an honest man outta you, Snart—Len," he added for emphasis. "More or less." And when he laughed, Len couldn't help laughing with him, and feeling like an idiot for getting—he laughed harder at the thought—cold feet.
"Barry loves me," Len told himself in the mirror. "And I love him."
"You better," Mick smacked him on the back again. "Now come on, buddy. Let's get this party started."
"I look ridiculous. I look ridiculous. Why did I ever think I could pull off wearing a suit like this?"
"Barry, chill," Cisco tried for the hundredth time.
"Barry Allen, if you fiddle with that jacket one more time…" Iris threatened in her no-nonsense sister tone, which was arguably more authoritative than her normal no-nonsense tone. It had love backing it which was definitely more dangerous than straight up conviction.
Cisco had given up hope on corralling Barry's nonstop ranting and fidgeting and occasional zipping around the trailer at Flash speed. After the tail of Barry's long burgundy suit coat almost started smoking, Cisco had called in the big guns and pulled in Iris.
"You look amazing, Barr," Iris said with sincerity, looping her arms around him from behind and holding firm to his upper arms as she peeked around his body at the reflection.
Barry could admit that he looked at home in shades of red. His suit coat was thigh length, longer than a normal tux, the vest simple beneath it with the jacket closed over top in matching shades of burgundy, with a dark red shirt and tie that made Barry look mostly monochrome, as if someone had turned his Flash suit into formalwear.
Cisco's suit matched Barry's but in black, with a white shirt, and a blue vest and tie. Only Lisa and Iris knew what the entire wedding party was wearing, but apparently everyone complemented each other. Iris definitely looked beautiful with her hair in curls twisted to one side loosely over her shoulder, wearing a floor length red gown, with an empire waist and sweetheart neckline beneath a sheer covering that draped over the opposing shoulder from where her hair fell.
It had been Lisa's idea for the one-shoulder detail, in part to hide the scar on her collarbone, something Iris had embraced easily to find something they both loved that fit that requirement. Lisa's dress, of course, was in blue.
Barry's hair was doing that messy floofy thing it always did without effort, which Cisco kept insisting had something to do with the Speed Force and not only high speed winds.
Iris swatted at his hand when he reached up to run his fingers through his locks again. "Stop that. Breathe, Barry. Len is going to trip over his own feet when he sees you. Trust me."
"Really? You think so?" Barry brightened. Then his eyes went wide with panic. "Oh god, what if I trip when I see him?!"
"Barry." Iris hugged him from behind, mostly to keep him from vibrating or zipping around the room again. "If you trip, which you won't, Len will just think you're adorable, like he always does. We'll laugh, have a good story to tell about the wedding, and the ceremony will go on anyway. Calm down."
Holding Iris's hands that were wrapped around his chest, Barry nodded at his reflection, took in a few deep breaths, and finally turned around to face them. "You're right. I'm sorry. It's normal to be this nervous, right? I know it's just a piece of paper, and a bunch of people watching, but it feels so…I don't think I can explain it. Like public speaking jitters only ten times worse."
"Wow, that sounds awful," Cisco said. Iris shot him a glare. "I mean…that sucks, Barry, but it is totally normal. Yeah…absolutely normal." He stepped forward to take Iris's place and gripped Barry by both shoulders. "It feels big and scary, sure, but the everyday things you love about Len—living together, working together, being all annoyingly adorable with your excessive PDAs—" Barry snickered, "—none of that is going to change. Plus we'll have a bunch of really badass photos after this to plaster STAR Labs with, so suck it up, hombre. Accept that we would all give James Bond and every one of his Bond girls a run for their money right now, and make sure you eat an energy bar for the road." He smacked Barry's arm for good measure.
Barry paled.
"You packed some extras for the afternoon, right?" Cisco narrowed his eyes.
"Yes? No? I don't know. I can't remember the last time I…ate." Barry immediately swayed to stress that point, forcing Iris to jolt forward to help Cisco keep him upright. "That would explain the dizziness."
"Barry!" Iris scolded.
"I thought it was nerves!" Barry said as they helped ease him onto a chair.
"Why did you not eat this morning?" Cisco asked.
"I forgot! Oh god," Barry groaned and dropped his head between his knees. "I'm going to throw up and pass out before my own wedding…"
"Whoa, Barry, relax," Felicity's voice rang out from the entrance, followed by the clang of the door as she walked casually toward them carrying a large tote bag that matched her dress, which was a shade darker than Iris's, knee length, and without the sheer overlay since she wasn't technically in the wedding party, but acting as Barry's attendant.
Without so much as batting an eye at Barry's current state, she pulled an energy bar from the tote bag and handed it to him as he lifted his head and blinked at her.
"I also have almonds, dried cherries, a banana, more energy bars, water…"
"Felicity, you are my hero," Barry said, speeding through devouring the energy bar, and then taking the banana she offered after he perked back up from the calorie surge.
Felicity shrugged and grinned as she handed him the water bottle next to wash it all down. "Just doing my job."
Eddie peeked his head in, dressed identically to Cisco but with his accents in red as Barry's remaining groomsman. "T-minus ten minutes, team," he smiled widely, casting his dozenth appreciative glance at Iris, before taking in Barry with a nod. "Ready, Barr?"
"I figured you could use a pick me up before things got rolling," Shawna said as she continued to pour shots of Jameson for Len, Mick, Lisa, and Hartley, all primped and dressed and ready to walk. Hartley's suit mirrored Mick's but in blue like Lisa, while Shawna, as Len's attendant, was in a darker shade of blue in the same style as Felicity's.
Normally, Len didn't turn to liquid courage, but today he'd make an exception. He lifted his shot as his friends lifted theirs—all but Shawna.
"None for the barkeep?" Len questioned.
"That's for after I've performed my duties," Shawna said, tucking the bottle into her tote bag. "Bottoms up, Rogues! Time to get the rest of you over to your marks."
"To my sappy big brother!" Lisa said, raising her shot. "For finding the one person who can stomach his puns, and even beg for more."
"Among begging for other things," Hartley raised his glass with a wink.
"And who makes all our lives easier by keeping the boss laid!" Mick declared.
They clinked, tapped their shots down on the table, and drank. That was an expensive bottle of whiskey Shawna had acquired, likely from Saints and Sinners for the occasion. She was definitely the right person for the job today. The burn of the liquor almost quelled Len's nerves. Almost.
Lisa pecked him on his cheek before heading for the door. Hartley paused a moment before doing the same, which made Len laugh. Mick snorted.
"Yer not gettin' any kisses from me, pal. Not this early in the night anyway." He brought his hand down hard but companionably on Len's shoulder. "Don't fuck up," he said, and headed out after Lisa and Hartley.
Shawna hung back, to help Len all the way up until his entrance. She ran her thumb over his cheek, presumably to rid it of any lipstick from Lisa, then pulled a wide grin. "You look good enough to make anyone jealous of the Scarlet Speedster today, boss. Damn fine. Though my man don't look so bad today either."
Mark was an usher with Oliver, in simple black suits and ties, but with their respective boutonnieres to represent being on the groom or…other groom's side.
"Thanks," Len said, debating for a moment if he should ask for one more shot, before thinking better of it. He could do this. He wanted this…more than anything he'd ever wanted in his whole life—and as a matter of pride, he always got what he wanted.
"You'll do fine," Shawna said, patting his shoulder much more gently than Mick had. "And if it all goes to shit, I can bamf you right outta there and hightail it to Coast City." She giggled.
She could probably do that too, but Len knew now as he felt a calm inevitability settle in his gut that he didn't want to run. He'd chased his speedster enough, and ended up right where he should be.
Barry peered out of the trailer to watch the procession start, as a simple piano version of "You and Me" began to play. He was up front near where Martin stood, but off to the right, while Len's trailer was on the left side. The rest of the wedding party would walk down the aisle through the guests, but Len and Barry had decided that since they weren't a traditional bride and groom to warrant one of them waiting at the front while the other walked toward them, they should walk toward each other from either side and meet in the middle.
Martin was directly in front of Barry, but over the heads of his side of the crowd, he could see Hartley and Eddie starting to walk. Hartley had teased that he'd hook arms with the handsome detective, getting a blush out of Eddie when he actually did that during the rehearsal, but he behaved for the real occasion, the two of them, one red, one blue walking and then parting to either side once they reached the front.
Then Cisco and Mick, which still looked like the oddest pair, also with one in red and one blue, parted just the same at the end of the makeshift aisle, there in the clearing of the woods where Barry had first dropped his cowl for Len. The Best Men took spots closer to Martin than Eddie and Hartley, leaving Iris and Lisa to be last, where they would eventually stand closest to their respective brothers.
And oh how beautiful they looked in their dresses, red and blue—always red and blue, Barry grinned to himself, like the mantra of his life with Len—carrying their flowers, Iris with roses, Lisa with hibiscus. Lisa's hair was curled just like Iris's, cascading over one shoulder. Even though Barry couldn't see Cisco's face, he imagined him doe-eyed and grinning as he took Lisa in, especially since Barry would swear he saw Lisa wink.
"Barry…that's you," Felicity whispered from behind him. The music had shifted to the actual wedding march, something Barry had insisted on, as cheesy as it might be, because damn it, this was his wedding, and the music signaling for everyone to stand was for him and Len together.
He took a breath, focused on Iris so he wouldn't see Len exit his trailer and trip the second he stepped from his own, and started to walk. All the nerves that had built up in him seemed to drop down to his feet and get left behind in the footprints he made in the grass just from the simple act of moving forward. He kept his eyes on Iris for as long as he could, but at the first real flicker of blue, he had to shift his gaze, had to see Len, and…
"Wow…" Barry whispered, which caused Caitlin to giggle lightly from her place in the front row as part of Barry's family.
Len looked breathtaking. He always did, always looked so sharp, so stunning in a suit, but this was different. This suit Len had chosen specifically with the help of Lisa and Iris just for today, same as Barry had chosen his. Len's flawless style hadn't wavered. The shades of blue brought out his eyes even from several dozen feet apart, walking toward each other, closer by the beat of the music, until finally they met in the middle, and all Barry could think about was grasping Len's hands.
Len smiled at him, a slanted expression, sweet but still a bit teasing, that combination of Len and Cold that only Barry ever saw. Barry was certain he had to be smiling like a dope back at him, but at least he hadn't tripped.
"Who here gives these men today," Martin's voice rang out, startling Barry somewhat as he'd nearly forgotten they were actually doing the ceremony right now.
With Martin at Barry's left, Henry and Joe stood up from the front row and stepped forward, both in simple black suits, while Lisa and Mick stepped out of line from the wedding party to mirror Barry's fathers to stand in front of Len.
"We do," all four of them said.
"And are you all willing to sustain and strengthen this marriage by giving Bartholomew and Leonard the public commitment of your love and support through all the ups and downs ahead of them?"
"We are."
"You may be seated," he nodded to Joe and Henry, who both smiled at Barry before they reclaimed their seats, while those in attendance sat as well, and Mick and Lisa stepped back into line.
Barry's hands flinched forward to touch Len, but not yet, he reminded himself, much as he would be happy just holding Len's hands in his own and staring into his eyes for the next fifty years. They turned instead, standing side by side, shoulder to shoulder, to face Martin.
Martin too, wore a simple black suit, the hibiscus pinned to his lapel, as he smiled proudly at both of them and spoke openly to those gathered with them on this impossible day—impossible for so many reasons, but never with any doubt that Len was the one Barry wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
"Love is the reason we are here. In marriage we not only say, 'I love you today', but also, 'I promise to love you for all of our tomorrows.' I speak from experience when I tell you all that for a successful marriage, each morning should start with that in mind." He smiled wider as he no doubt sought out his wife in the crowd.
"Barry and Len, in the days ahead of you, there will be stormy times—"
A crack of thunder erupted overhead, like the signal of rain to come, which made Barry flinch, but which also should be impossible because—
"Real funny, Mardon!" Mick called back across the clearing, to which several snickers arose.
Barry and Len both glanced behind the rows of chairs where Mark and Oliver stood, Mark shrugging not at all innocently, as he remained on duty to make sure they had a beautiful day.
"…and good times!" Martin called louder to regain everyone's attention.
Barry chuckled and caught Len's eye as they turned back, lingering on each other's faces. Somehow, it felt like starting over again, like those first few days in STAR Labs when Len didn't even remember his own name. All the nerves, and anxiety mixed with the fresh butterflies of possibility, flirting and getting to know each other and falling in love, even before they'd found the strength to discover who they really were to each other.
"There will be times of conflict," Martin continued, "and times of joy. I ask you to remember this advice:
"Never go to bed angry.
Let your love be stronger than your anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break.
Believe the best of your beloved rather than the worst.
Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.
Say 'I love you' every day.
"I think this reading that the couple asked me to speak for the occasion sums up the strength of their love for each other quite astonishingly. From Song of Songs.
"'My lover belongs to me and I to him. He says to me: 'Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; For stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire. Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away'."
Barry felt the hot sting of tears in his eyes. There was a promise in that reading fiercer than anything he could put into words himself, which was why Len had so readily agreed to have it spoken, but there were still Barry's own words to speak, because now it was time for the vows. He was so happy Len went first.
"Barry and Len, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift, a lifelong commitment, and a challenge to love one another more completely each and every day. Please face one another and join hands. The grooms each have something they would like to say before the traditional vows."
Barry's stomach jumped up into his throat, reminding him of his analogy about this being like public speaking, because now it was public speaking, in front of everyone they knew. He tried to focus on just Len, standing in front of him, finally, finally able to hold hands as Len's cool, long, expressive fingers coiled with his.
His eyes were so blue, but also damp, Barry realized as he looked in them, lost himself in them, and took note of the shuddery breath that escaped Len before he opened his mouth to speak.
"I doubt any of our fellows in attendance today would deny that I enjoy a good speech," he said with a crooked smirk, followed by a wave of chittering laughter from the crowd, which only made Len smile wider, and Barry grin more fondly back at him. "I also doubt we could catalog the many speeches I've delivered to you since we met. Both bombastic…and remorseful. And even, occasionally, sappy, as my sister would say." Another pause for laughter, before Len's expression fell more serious.
"You met a different man in the beginning. Maybe you saw some good in me then, but I didn't give you much to work with. You met a broken man later, and somehow wanted him anyway. When I tried to suppress that part of me, tried to hide in the familiar, you fought until I pushed you away. Even when I didn't deserve it, you believed in me, let me earn my way back in, still wanted me when I was more broken the second time around. You accepted every crack. Every part of my two halves. But you didn't try to fix me. You continued to believe that I was never broken in the first place. Made me start to believe it too. So I might be sappy, on occasion, but no words could ever say it enough.
"I love you, Barry. We can't know what awaits us after this moment, after today, or this year. It's terrifying and miraculous. Just like you. So if you truly believe you can make a home with an old thief like me, as long as we face the unknown together, I will be there every step of the way to trip you up or pick you up, whichever you need in the moment, and I will honor every day I get to share your name."
Barry squeezed Len's hands tighter. Shit, that was good. Of course Len's vows were good. He always had a way with words, with his speeches.
"Leonard," Martin took over, "with this understanding, do you take Bartholomew to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others and to be faithful only to him, so long as you both shall live?"
Len stared straight ahead at Barry. "I do."
Oh god, it was Barry's turn. He searched his brain for what he'd planned to say; he knew he should have kept cue cards in his jacket pocket.
"I…umm…" He laughed helplessly, and felt Len's thumbs brush his fingers. He melted into the comforting contact, and told himself that it didn't matter who else was listening, only that Len was here, Len wanted to be here, wanted him more than anybody else. "I'm…less good at speeches. Though Cisco and several others of our friends would probably argue I try a lot anyway."
A fresh rustle of laughter sounded, and Barry felt a gentle nudge at his back that he knew was Iris's supportive presence.
"I'm not good on my own. I've never been good on my own. I've been blessed that even at my lowest, when I lost the two most important people in my life, one I didn't get back until recently, somehow good people found their way into my life anyway. And that meant having two dads, and a best friend who put up with me even when I'm pretty sure very few people wanted to be around the skinny conspiracy nerd.
"It wasn't finding my calling to help people that taught me who I am. It was those people. My dad, my other dad," he laughed, and heard Joe's distinctive chuckle, "my best friend and sometimes sister, and the most amazing friends I could ever imagine having in more recent years. It was seeing the best of me reflected back in them that showed me who I could be, who I wanted to be. And the most I've ever felt that way is when I'm with you. You make me want to be a better me. And there is significant evidence to suggest that I might just make you feel the same way."
Finally, Len chuckled, a surprised escape of air as he sucked in a breath and his eyes shimmered, raw earnestness in his expression with no guile or holding back.
"I love you, Len. So if you can put up with my spastic rambling, which on a good day I fully accept can be more than a little annoying, then I can't imagine any future brighter than one where we share it together."
"Bartholomew," Martin said, repeating the vows to Barry, as they gripped each other's hands tighter. Barry's eyes felt so hot looking at Len, who was also close to tears, that he knew he'd be crying in moments; he couldn't handle Len looking at him like that. "…to be faithful only to him, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Mr. Rory, Mr. Ramon, if we may have the rings please."
It took a moment before Barry found the nerve to actually unlink their hands, but he felt Iris's gentle nudge again, and sniffed back the moisture in his eyes. He turned, to find Iris with the widest grin and adoration on her face, as Cisco reached around her holding out the ring he had been keeping safe in his pocket. Cisco and Eddie looked on just as adoringly as Iris, blinding wide smiles supporting Barry. He took the ring and turned back, waiting for his cue.
"The ring, an unbroken, never-ending circle, is a symbol of committed, unending love," Martin said. "Leonard, as you place this ring on Bartholomew 's finger, repeat these words after me," which Len then echoed as Martin spoke, "This ring, a gift for you, symbolizes my desire that you be my husband from this day forward. As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you."
The lightning bolt cutout in gold slid onto Barry's left ring finger as he held onto Len's ring in his right hand. He'd had Len put it on him that first day when it was finished, and Barry got his chance to wear around his engagement ring just as Len had for weeks prior. Barry had gotten a little choked up then, even though he'd been the one doing the ring-giving the first time around. This…this was so different.
"Bartholomew, as you place this ring on Leonard's finger, repeat these words after me." Martin spoke the same words again, and after each phrase, Barry echoed him, as he took Len's hand and fit on the ring that he had first slipped on his finger all those nights ago when he proposed on a rooftop after a heist in Central City.
When they both had their rings, they held each other's hands again, and continued to look into each other's eyes. Barry felt a tear slip free finally and chuckled beneath his breath at his inability to keep his composure. But then he took note of how Len was no different, and his wet eyes, filled with emotion, looked bluer than ever.
"Barry and Len, in your journey of life, remind yourselves often of the love that brought you together. When challenges come, remember to focus on what is right between you. In this way, you can ride out any…storms," Martin put stress on the word this time, and raised an expectant eyebrow in challenge back toward Mark, but no thunder came this time. "And," he smiled in satisfaction, "when clouds hide the sun in your lives, remember, even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is always there.
"You have consented together in holy matrimony, pledged your vows to each other, and have exchanged rings as tokens of your love and commitment. In accordance with the laws of the state of Missouri, and with great joy as your friend and compatriot, I now pronounce you husband and…husband!" Martina grinned and held out his hands, before leaning conspiratorially closer. "You may seal your vows with a kiss."
Barry and Len both reached for each other at the same time, the same way, grasping for each other's necks and pulling in desperately. Barry wanted nothing more than to feel Len's thumb along his cheekbone, his lips pressed to his own, the gentle but insistent slide of his tongue as they met mouths.
Barry felt Len's other hand reach for his lower back and cling, and he couldn't control himself after that; he grasped Len more fully and dipped him back as he kissed deeper in return. Several hoots and hollers sounded, but Lisa's was definitely the loudest.
"I present to you for the first time…Mr. Bartholomew and Leonard Allen!" Martin called out loudly to those gathered, and began a round of applause that filled the entire clearing.
A fresh crack of thunder rolled overheard, and Barry pulled away from Len laughing, only to look up and see lightning above, and then the gentle falling of snow. As soon as it started to come down, like a personalized shower of rice, or birdseed, or bubbles, but so much better, the sun shined again, and Barry watched a snowflake land and quickly melt on Len's nose. Mark could be pretty thoughtful sometimes.
Barry felt Iris and then Cisco pat his shoulder, but before Eddie could reach forward to do the same, he suddenly found himself seized by a large hand and pulled into Mick's chest, where his burly friend smacked his back heartily as he hugged him.
"Good job, Flash," Mick said in a gruff whisper.
The rest of the ending ceremony went by in a blur as they were ushered down the aisle, hand in hand, to walk past their guests, and then waited at the end to greet everyone one by one as they processed out. Sharing hugs, and more laughs, and showing off their rings and suits. It was a beautiful whirlwind, a wonderful din, and when it was over, as the crowd headed off to make their way to STAR Labs for the reception, Barry, Len, and the wedding party stayed behind for pictures.
Barry's favorite, he'd find out weeks later when he got the photos back, was one he didn't even know was being taken, a close up of him and Len pulled in tight, facing each other. Len's eyes flicked down Barry's body, as Barry clutched Len's tie while he laughed and looked into Len's eyes. It was somehow them to a T, just candid love between them, unburdened by anything, at least for one day.
"Mr. Bartholomew and Leonard Allen!" Martin announced again when they arrived at the warehouse in STAR Labs, where they'd setup everything for the reception so impressively that if someone had been entered blindfolded, they never would have guessed where they were.
The vast room looked like a ballroom now, draped in navy and burgundy fabric, with soft lighting, and catering setup to one side ready for the meal, a DJ station in the back where Hartley could run the technical side of things—with occasional fussing from Cisco—and a large area in the center cleared for dancing.
Len never imagined, in his entire life, that he'd experience something so…normal as a rowdy wedding reception, accompanied by the man he loved.
At the entrance, Caitlin, as hostess, was making sure everyone signed the guestbook, and directing people to place their gifts—which Len had tried to insist they didn't need, but then he'd had some insistence right back that if they didn't need essentials, fun non-essentials were still called for—as well as keeping an eye on how much everyone was drinking, and basically running the entire affair like a clockwork general. Caitlin even occasionally sent her husband, ever close at her side, to handle an errand or two. Len and Barry couldn't have chosen a better person for the task.
"Oh my god, I am starving," Barry said as they traipsed their way, hand in hand still—Len could hardly remember a time they hadn't been touching since the ceremony ended—toward the wedding party table, where he and Barry sat in the center with the others around them in the same order as they'd stood during the wedding.
"That's why the grooms eat first, Barry," Len said. Only they didn't quite make it to the buffet table before someone—it was Felicity, definitely Felicity—started in on the traditional clinking of glasses, that got everyone else doing the same. Len and Barry had no choice but to kiss.
Len owed Barry a dip after his semi-dip during the wedding. Stopped where they'd risen from their seats to head to the buffet table, he grabbed Barry firmly, dipped him back low, for all his slender limbs and extra height, and kissed him thoroughly to cheers and applause. Barry giggled when Len let him back up again.
They ate. They chatted. They were accosted by more clinking glasses several times during the meal, but once all of the guests had their food, several digging in immediately, and Barry already on his third plate, Champaign was added beside the glasses of wine for the toasts.
Joe and Henry started things off, after Caitlin got everyone's attention and handed off the mic to the glowing fathers. They'd agreed not tell any embarrassing stories about Barry, and kept their joint speech short and sweet with the toast that all either of them would ever ask for was that Barry be happy, and Len was clearly the man for the job.
Henry's eyes were sincere, but it surprised Len just how sincere Joe also looked as he raised his glass to toast them.
When Joe held the mic up for the Best Man/Maid of Honor speeches, Mick rose swiftly to snatch it from him first. Shit.
"I didn't make any promises 'bout no embarrassing stories."
"Mick…"
"Cool your shorts, buddy." Mick looked down at Len with Lisa seated between them, but then he gestured to her and looked over at Iris and Cisco, and the other three stood as well. "Figured we didn't wanna bore the crowd by each sayin' somethin' long-winded, so we're gonna share the spotlight so everyone can get back to drinkin' and cake. West there gets the credit on this one—when was the moment I knew these two idiots were total lost causes on each other? Well that's just easy."
He'd already loosened his tie and draped his jacket over the back of his chair. He looked more like Mick now, a little rough and wild, not usually in his element in front of a crowd unless causing destruction, but he held them all captive in a way that was nothing like his old tricks.
"If I'd a walked in the door any earlier, I'd have caught them goin' at it likes rabbits—"
"Mick." This time it was Lisa, who nudged him non-too gently.
"Lucky me, they both had their clothes on," he continued undeterred, over the pittering of laughter. "Made it real clear to Len that night that if he ever screwed around on the kid or hurt him, he'd have more to worry about than just West's right hook, or the other West's gun. My pal didn't even flinch. He was all in long before that, and so was Red.
"You keep him straight, Barry," Mick said, raising his glass and fixing Barry with a grin and a wink, "and maybe he'll steer you a little crooked."
More laughter flitted through, interrupted only by the clink of glasses and the brief silence as everyone drank. Len took a moment to sip from his glass, since he honestly couldn't remember a time before when Mick had ever called Barry by his first name.
Then Mick passed the mic to Lisa.
"I knew Lenny was in love with Barry before they'd even started liking each other," she said. Immediate laughter again—cute. "Trust me, that's the order it went in. But I didn't realize it could be a good thing until Barry helped us save Lenny's life. Barry didn't even have to play hero, just had to promise he'd try, and I saw what he really wanted, even if he didn't think he'd get it. Selfless hasn't often been part of Lenny's MO, certainly isn't usually part of mine, but Barry's got that trait in spades, and he's been rubbing off on Lenny for a long time now—in more ways than I like to imagine."
Len shook his head at her, and fought down his smile as everyone laughed again—including Barry.
Lisa raised her glass. "You may be sappy, big brother, but you found the one man who thinks it's adorable, so you better hang on as tight as you can. You two deserve each other."
Another drink. Len considered grabbing the mic to end this as Lisa reached behind Len and Barry to pass the mic to Iris, but then, Len's side was done—how bad could the other two be?
"As Barry's best—" Iris was immediately interrupted by Cisco clearing his throat, "—oldest friend," she corrected with an appeasing side-eye, "I reserved judgment on Len after I first heard the story of how they got together. I'd never really approved of anyone Barry dated, which he used to tease me was because I didn't think anyone was good enough for my adopted brother. And that's just it. No one ever was," she smiled fondly at Barry. "But then I caught sight of Leonard Snart wearing workout clothes in Jitters as he picked up a full tray of coffee for the team at STAR Labs, just to be nice and neighborly, and I realized how much he wanted to be more than what so many people said about him—myself included. I never had a single doubt from that moment on. And the fact that later that same day, he was suddenly wearing Barry's clothes proved I didn't get a say anyway."
Damn it.
Lisa laughed so hard, she smacked Len on the shoulder as Iris waited for the crowd to still again. Dangerous, these women, especially in close proximity.
"To the one who finally earned my approval," Iris raised her glass, "even if it took Dad a little longer."
Yet another pull from their drinks. Shawna zipped around at Caitlin's insistence to fill up the glasses that had run dry from so many speeches. Even Len could admit that his mind was mildly clouded with the beginnings of being buzzed.
"We planned it this way, so I'd be tipsier by the time it was my turn," Cisco said, which made everyone chuckle again. "As Barry's best man," he said with a finger pointed at Iris, as if daring her to contradict him, "I knew the truth about these two before anybody else. I knew before they did. Because the moment I knew they were goners, was the same moment I realized I was doomed to actually like Captain Cold as my friend. And it should not have been so easy," he shifted his still outstretched finger to point at Len, "but the guy is pretty charming sometimes." Another laugh.
"It was the most sugar-coated, rom-com moment, I'm almost embarrassed for you guys, and all it was, was a look. Barry leaving a room and glancing over his shoulder at the last second, with Len looking over at him at the same time, and—that was it, I knew they were doomed. And as much as I have, in the past, seriously wanted to punch that man in the face," he somehow pointed even more forcefully at Len, but then his arm finally dropped, and he looked at Len and Barry with his usual wide smile, "I love you guys. And we are all extremely lucky to get to bask in just how cheesy you are together on a regular basis."
He thrust his glass into the air, and this time Iris, Lisa, and Mick all raised theirs too, and the four of them said in unison, "To Len and Barry!"
"To Len and Barry," everyone chorused.
Len downed the last of his Champaign. Barry had gotten out of his seat to hug Iris, and then yanked Cisco in to join the glomp, which eventually included Eddie too.
Len felt Lisa's arms wrap around his shoulders as he stared at the show of affection from Barry to his friends. He knew he couldn't avoid the same, so he let Lisa haul him out of his seat and hugged her properly. Then Mick. Then grabbed Hartley by the collar of his shirt and let the kid kiss his cheek again. There was a reason these were the people they'd asked to stand with them on their wedding day.
Len almost wanted to complain that Eddie and Hartley had been left out, even though they were technically outranked by the others being Best Men and Maids of Honor, but then Hartley whispered as if he knew what Len was thinking, "Eddie and I got you covered later."
Interesting…
"Cake!" Barry cheered as he spun around before Len could even consider attempting to thank Barry's side of the wedding party. The speedster had Len's hand the next moment, and getting from the raised platform of their table to the small table where the cake waited to be cut, may or may not have included the Speed Force.
Len snickered again at the sight of their wedding cake toppers. He should have known from the start when Iris and Lisa said they'd already chosen something.
It was their action figures.
They cut into the cake to rounds of pictures, and an exchange of bite sized pieces that they fed to each other—no threat of cake being smashed into their faces, Len had made Barry promise; he did not think that tradition was necessary or cute. Then it was time for the first dance.
Barry had insisted on the song, even though it wasn't really fitting for a first dance at a wedding. Len had hoped they could skip the public slow dance portion of the evening entirely. Maybe, if he got drunk enough, he'd consider other forms of dancing amidst the throng of their friends, but this display made him tense.
Barry's loving gaze helped banish that, however, the moment the kid grasped his hand again and dragged him out onto the dance floor, only to pull him close and just…look at him. That must have been the look Cisco had mentioned in his speech. Doom indeed.
What also helped ease Len's tension over the whole thing was that when the song started, it wasn't the recorded version—but Hartley and Eddie singing.
Wish I could explain what you have made
Thoughts cannot help
When I cannot trust myself
That dream of the gun
Caught, I can't run
Allow me to stand
Until you take my hand
It was a faster paced song, not exactly meant to be two-stepped to, so they started off fast, just twirling around, enjoying themselves, but eventually, basking in the glow of each other and remembering how that song had first brought them together, they held each other close and swayed.
You got away, you got away with me
The first dance after the first dance was with their sisters—their new sisters. Len with Iris, Barry with Lisa. Before they passed the ladies off to their significant others, and were soon passed around the dance floor themselves. Even Mick was on the floor eventually, with some insistence from the Lance sisters.
It was as Len was attempting to escape the dance floor finally that Captain Singh and his husband stopped him. Singh had known Barry was The Flash a lot longer than he ever let on. When Len had questioned Barry's decision to invite the man, Barry had said he'd make sure Singh promised no police business while surrounded by so many criminals for the night. Len was an upright vigilante who worked with the police most nights now, after all.
"Captain," Len said, then nodded greetings to the man's husband Rob.
"Captain," Singh nodded right back. He had one of those unreadable faces, the kind that always looked neutral or borderline pissed off. But he held out a hand for Len to shake. This was the first time they'd actually met face to face.
Len accepted the gesture, shook firmly, but wasn't all that surprised that words of warning accompanied the act.
"Keep cleaning up this city instead of stealing from it, Snart, we won't have a problem."
Len smirked. "It's Allen now, actually."
Miracle of miracles—Singh smiled back at him. "That it is."
"Congratulations," Rob added.
"Thank you."
The dance floor was cleared before long for another silly tradition that Len had initially been against, but Barry had had a delicious idea to make it their own, and Len hadn't been able to refuse him.
"Okay!" Barry called out, sans his jacket now, as he held up both Iris and Lisa's flowers that had been tied together for a combined bouquet. "Since this is a non-traditional wedding in…several ways, I'm throwing the bouquet for the men, and Len has something else for the ladies. But if anyone wants to swap groups, that's totally your call."
A few women decided they'd prefer to go for the bouquet toss and mixed in with the men as the group gathered behind Barry. He prepared a leisure throw, but Len had a sneaky suspicion as he watched his…husband—wow, husband—that Barry aimed purposely for Eddie, who caught the flowers only too easily, and grinned like the hopeless romantic he was.
Hartley pouted in disappointment, but called out, "So what's the other groom tossing?"
Len really didn't know how he let Barry talk him into these things. "My sister gave us the idea," he said as he pulled a chair out onto the dance floor and sat down in it.
"But as comfortable as I'm sure it is," Barry said with a grin, and crouched down in front of Len rather suggestively, "I think it's time for the garter to come off."
There was a flurry of movement as people laughed, and hooted, and some groaned, before every woman they knew scrambled to take up the place the men had vacated when waiting for the bouquet. Hartley, however, stood agape, and didn't budge.
"You already tried for the bouquet, Rathaway," Thea scolded him.
"I didn't know they were planning this!"
"He can stay," Len called out, and while some of the women, most notably Felicity, seemed put out at the added competition, Hartley glowed at him and vied for the best spot in the front. "Now don't go thinking there's going to be any showmanship with this. More like a Band-Aid—quick and painless. My legs—"
"While gorgeous," Barry said unabashedly. Len had to wonder if he'd been snuck a little of that Flash-proof liquor again.
"—are not for public viewing. So get it over with, kid." Len tuned out the crowd, and focused on the glowing hazel eyes before him.
Barry slid his hands up beneath Len's left pant leg, lifting it up slowing to get at what he sought, while boxing in the view from most of the onlookers, something that garnered a few protests, though Lisa seemed fine with it, since she stood off to the side, having opted out of catching anything that had been intimately worn by her brother.
When Barry reached the garter, his fingers teased around the full circumference of Len's thigh, too high up to be decent, making Len shiver and shake his head at the naughty, naughty boy.
Then the moment ended in a flash as Barry zipped the garter down, replacing the pant leg, and held up the prize. Cheers. More laughter. Barry eventually handed the garter to Len to throw. And just to be sportsmanlike, Len tried to aim for Hartley, but Felicity was a force to be reckoned with, and what nearly landed in Hartley's hand got equally snatched by his sometimes counterpart from Team Arrow.
"Come on, Smoak, it's mine!"
"I don't see your name on it!"
"What does that even mean!?"
Len wasn't sure how that one ended, but they might have agreed to a timeshare eventually.
Len felt buzzed and blissful even with his few drink barely affecting him. There was too much adrenaline in his system for anything to stick—even an extra glass of wine and several shots Mick had insisted on. Barry was much the same, high on life and the moment, more than tipsy, even if Len swore he saw him sneak a few sips from a hidden flask.
But nothing could have quite prepared Len for how the night wound down. He was tired, and the party was showing no signs of stopping, but he just wanted to slip away with his new husband and enjoy the hotel room they'd gotten for the evening across town. They were saying quiet goodbyes and trying to sneak away without anyone—such as an extremely drunk Iris and Eddie—yanking them back onto the dance floor.
Henry stopped them first. He hugged his son then pulled Len in for a hug too. That one was expected. It wasn't the first time Len had received a hug from the Allen patriarch. He considered the man a good friend, for all the insanity that surrounded their lives. Len understood some of what Henry had gone through, knowing the ins and outs of prison life, better than Barry ever could.
But Joe was there too, and what took Len by surprise was how, after hugging Barry, the expected handshake or pat on the shoulder for him didn't come, not this time. Joe hugged Len just as tightly as Henry had. Len was floored.
"You make him happy, Snart. Len. That's all that matters," Joe whispered, though his voice rose at the end to make sure that Henry heard the rest. "Just goes to show, when that kid believes in something, or someone, you just gotta shut up and listen."
Both fathers beamed at the happy couple as they headed for the door, and with Barry's eyes looking glassy with an overabundance of joy, Len soon felt tears on his own cheeks too. Because he didn't just have a husband. A partner. Friends. Besides his sister, who would always mean the world to him, Len had a whole new family now too.
"Wow," Barry said the moment they crossed the threshold into the hotel room. He'd initially started to insist that he carry Len inside, but thankfully, Len had convinced him that such a display was meant for their home, not the suite they were spending their wedding night in.
The room wasn't anything too lavish. The important thing was the view of the city—Len's city. Barry's city. Otherwise, a king sized bed spanned the middle of the room, looking toward the large windows, and the expansive bathroom included a Jacuzzi tub which Len wasn't too thrilled about—he didn't like extreme heat in any situation—but that thrilled Barry.
The room hadn't been too heavily vandalized by their friends. An extra flask of Flash-proof liquor, some of Len's favorite whiskey, a bottle of wine, and several snacks were spread out on the table by the far wall. No shy amount of lube was set on the nightstand by the bed, of various brands. Condoms littered the bed, more for show than any needed use, and the bathroom mirror had been written on in lipstick—Lisa's shade.
Don't run too hot or too cold. Together you can steam up this mirror all night.
Len was busy grinning at the message when he felt Barry slither up behind him and wrap his arms around his waist. They both had their jackets on, which had been off at various times during the party, but much more would be coming off soon enough. Len could see Barry's reflection, a little distorted by the lipstick message. Their eyes met in the glass.
"How was your day, Mr. Allen?" Barry asked.
Len chuckled through the heat in his eyes. Normally he'd chide himself for being so emotional all day, but more than one of their friends had told him that today was the one day he could be as sappy and blubbering as he wanted. So he turned in Barry's arms, reached for that handsome, grinning face, and said, "Perfect. I wouldn't change a thing." And kissed him.
They took their time from there, tired as Len was, though Barry seemed to rejuvenate with extra energy. Barry dropped to his knees right there still wearing his suit. Len pulled him off before long, pretty as those lips looked right where they were, and dragged Barry to bed. Their custom suits came off piece by piece. Len ran his hands up and down Barry's body like he was mapping it all for the first time. Memorizing it anew as his husband—his husband.
Barry was taken apart by his hands so beautifully. Opened up for him so beautifully. When Len finally slid inside the younger man, they both shuddered, and reached for each other with the sudden desperate need to meet mouths as well as bodies. With the tension of the day gone and over with finally, a hard and fast rhythm came naturally, but Barry wrapped his legs around Len's waist, held him still, and touched a hand to his cheek.
"Slower," he said, in such a low whisper, Len shivered again and nearly came right that moment. "I want to really feel you tonight. Every inch of you inside me." He grinned impishly. "Torture me a little."
Fuck, when Barry talked like that, Len had no control at all. He slowed his pace, dragged his cock along the contours of Barry's inner walls to ensure the speedster felt every nerve heightened with the slow push in and rock back. It was torture for Len too, but when Barry gasped, folded up as he was on his back, the deliberate pace was worth it.
Through it all, Barry hands trailed over Len's body, down his chest, his arms, across the buzz of his hair, and would every so often pull Len down to kiss him, the languid twirl of their tongues just as slow as the connection of their bodies. Only when it had gone on so long that Len's arms shook, did Barry ask for more.
"Harder, Len, please…but don't…don't speed up yet."
"I'm fit to burst soon, Scarlet…"
"Me too…me too. Just a little longer."
Len thrust in so deep, he fell into Barry and held him about the waist, pulling up so that they rocked nearly sitting to give Len's arms a break. It was Barry who started to move faster—no surprise there—legs and arms twined around Len like he would never, ever let him go.
The first moment Barry shivered with vibrations, having held back all this time, Len came without warning and stifled back a cry. He rocked harder, harder into Barry to make sure the speedster followed soon after. The noises the kid made never failed to inspire Len's salacious side.
They didn't disconnect right away. Barry coiled his limbs tighter, keeping Len inside him as he said, "I love you, Mr. Allen."
Len understood the game—there were always such wonderful games between them—and smiled as he brushed the sweat-soaked hair from Barry's forward and repeated the phrase, "I love you, Mr. Allen."
They shared a drink or two. Snacked—mostly Barry snacked. Enjoyed the hot tub—mostly Barry enjoyed it, while Len had to get out and sit with only his feet in the water to cool the rest of him off several times—and eventually they fell into bed. They were too overtired to sleep, so when Barry spooned in behind Len and started trailing his hand down the curve of Len's ass, Len couldn't say no to round two.
They slept in until noon then had sex again before leaving the hotel to grab lunch.
Barry and Len's honeymoon wasn't going to be so much a honeymoon as a sort of staycation, as Barry dubbed it. They couldn't duck out to Europe or someplace exotic when the city might need them at any moment. At least that's how Barry had felt when they made the decision to stay home, take time off from work, sure, but still be on call as The Flash and Captain Cold.
Only that very night the day after their wedding, being called on by Cisco to deal with a heist in progress made Barry groan because, really, didn't the criminal element of the city understand that The Flash was supposed to be spending the next two weeks in bed?
"Want me to join you?" Len had asked.
"No, no, enjoy your time off. Hopefully, I won't be too long. Promise." Barry kissed Len goodbye, flashed into his suit, and was off.
Cisco gave Barry the address of the very museum where Len had first committed that diamond heist, back around when they first met, and the nostalgia of that resonated enough with Barry not to ruin his evening too much. He'd been looking forward to watching Princess Bride though. Len could give Cisco a run for his money quoting that movie verbatim.
But when Barry arrived at the museum, nothing appeared to be happening.
"Cisco, you sure the alarms were tripped?"
"That's what my readings say. Better get inside and check it out."
So Barry did, but still, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Until Barry came upon the spot where that diamond had once been displayed. It wasn't there anymore, of course, but something else stood in its place. Barry didn't really pay attention to what lay beneath the glass though; he was too distracted by the icy blue post-it note stuck to it.
Catch me if you can, Scarlet. I'm a gambling man at heart, and you made me cash in all my chips.
A riddle. A scavenger hunt, Barry realized. Only one person ever called him Scarlet. He grinned as he held the note, and called back over the comms.
"Are you in on this, Cisco?"
"Don't know what you mean, Barry. But uhh, try to be discreet. Got some uniforms on standby in case anyone freaks out about seeing the Flash zipping around town for no reason, but otherwise the coast should be clear. Comms off from here on out, man. Have fun."
Barry bounced on the balls of his feet. Gambling… The next clue had to be at the casino where Barry had stopped Len and Lisa!
He took off, not slowing down for a moment, until he got close to the casino and remembered how busy the place would be this time of night. Where exactly would a note be…?
Chips! Where people go to cash in their chips! So Barry took a breath, readied himself, and zipped in fast enough to bypass any onlookers, caught sight of the next note right where he'd expected it, and snatched it from the wall before anyone noticed he had even been there.
He stopped in the alley behind the casino to read the clue.
Heaven and Hell couldn't keep us apart, but it sure helped bring us together.
Saints and Sinners—too easy! Off Barry went again. He nearly collided with Mick behind the bar when he checked there first, but managed to maintain his speed as he pivoted back around to the pool table where they'd had that chat about making a deal so long ago. He should have guessed right away that Len would be more sentimental about that. Once he had the next note, he ducked into the alley behind Saints.
All the money in the world couldn't equal your worth, but I cracked the vault to your heart like an old pro.
Robbing banks was one of Len's specialties, but back when Len had been up to his 'old' tricks, 1st National Bank was the one he'd been about to rob when Barry swooped in to stop him. There was also the other 1st National, but Barry had his money pegged on the first one. At least the bank would be closed. It was still mighty sneaky to coerce The Flash into breaking and entering, but Barry knew he wouldn't find the next note outside. Had to be on the vault door.
He wasn't wrong, and he had to be as fast as ever to avoid getting caught by the cameras. How Len had managed to…no, best Barry didn't wonder about that.
When I fell, I fell hard, but breaking the ice tends to be my specialty.
Finally, at this one, Barry paused. What did Len mean? STAR Labs? Len had fallen in love with Barry there, and he'd also iced the place. But there had to be more of a double meaning than just that. Len was too clever. The play on words was about Len falling in love, sure, but when had he fallen physically and broken…
The warehouse. Barry hadn't been back, not since the day he rushed Len there in a fit of anger—where Len had iced the walkway above them and ultimately changed their lives forever.
Len saved Barry that day, and got hit on the head himself. The ice had indeed broken something, Len had indeed fallen, and everything had changed. There might have been something sour and sad about it all, remembering this place now that they were married, but as Barry held the last note, and recalled in his mind how to get to the warehouse, he felt nothing but a rush of love for his sentimental, sappy husband.
He rushed there and arrived with a whoosh, spinning around to find the next note, only no matter how much he checked the place over, he couldn't find a thing. Had he guessed wrong? Barry spotted the broken walkway. This place was too out of the way to have been fixed up. Condemned, left to rot, so the iced walkway, while no longer frozen, stood in bent pieces right where Barry had thrown it after he tossed it off of him and Len.
Barry walked toward it slowly and couldn't help the fond smile that touched his face.
"Gotcha now, Flash."
Barry whirled around, but was instantly met with a wave of cold.
When he awoke sometime later, he jerked up in his seat—a seat on a private plane, already miles over the water as Barry's eyes focused on the window.
"Morning, handsome. Ready for our honeymoon?"
Barry gaped at the endless expanse of water below them before mustering the strength to face Len. Len…who looked way too good in one of his three-piece suits with a cocktail in hand and a smug grin. Barry was dressed nicely too, not in his Flash suit. The plane had to be Oliver's, or maybe Ray's—someone's.
"Did you seriously ice me?"
"I was careful."
"And kidnap me."
"You were being far too self-sacrificing about having some time off. We deserve it. The city will understand. Everyone we know is aware of this little jaunt, and will be watching over the city in our absence."
Barry gaped again, flabbergasted as he watched Len sip his drink. "I should be mad."
"You're not though."
"You kidnapped me."
"Can't get over that part, huh? Let's say, seeing as how we're married now, I'll limit such activities to once a year. For our anniversary. I promise I'll always keep it interesting."
Barry was not smiling; he was annoyed, damn it! "You are the worst."
Len shrugged. "Part of why you love me."
"Where are we going anyway?"
"Several places. We'll be gone two weeks, as planned, and are on call only if the world is about to end. Our time away will include some foreign cities you need to see, maybe a beach or two, but don't think you're getting me into swim trunks in public, and otherwise we will maintain our original plan to spend most of the next fourteen days in bed. In the meantime, while we finish our flight." He gestured behind Barry.
Barry found that his seat did in fact swivel, so he swiveled around and saw a large TV dropped down from the roof of the plane, with the DVD waiting screen for The Princess Bride already displayed and waiting.
Barry couldn't be annoyed now. He tried to feign it anyway, as he got up from his seat and moved into one closer to Len—close enough that he was able to lean over and kiss his husband, then take Len's hand. "There better be popcorn."
"There's popcorn."
"And soda."
"And soda."
"And…mile high club?" Barry raised an eyebrow.
Len chuckled. "We'll see."
When a flight attendant came back to deliver their treats, Barry beamed even brighter at how she turned to Len and asked, "Will there be anything else, Mr. Allen?"
Barry didn't even listen to how Len replied. Hearing anyone call Len 'Mr. Allen' was enough to have Barry smiling the whole rest of the trip.
THE END
Yeah, that's right, I stole my own "Slower" idea. I figured alot of you probably aren't reading Lovesick, so why not spread some of the fluffier love. I also thought that those of you who are reading Lovesick deserved this fluff fest the most. :-) Thank you, truly, all of you, for this amazing ride.