Author's Note: Anyone who's read my other Flash fics, knows that I love this pairing, and I do like coming up with different ways to get these three together. Enjoy!
Long fingers curling inside him just right to stroke his prostate again and again, teasing expertly until he came, long before his lover's long cock sank inside him.
Large hands gripping his hips bruisingly tight as the – so large and so thick – cock to match pounded into his ass.
"Barry!"
"Yep?" he responded, blinking out of his haze. "Armoured truck being attacked on route."
"On it!"
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Of course the only member of the crew to have been unmasked was one he recognised – which was totally not the reason why he let them get away – and he was completely unable to lie to Joe – hide things from him definitely, but not lie – so when he'd asked if he'd seen anything helpful he'd had to admit to seeing one of their faces. Although…he didn't admit that he knew the guy's first name before Joe had told him when he picked him out of the mug shots.
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Evidently, he hadn't left as much of an impression as Len had left on him! Yes, he was doing his job, rather than let his association stop him, but Len had tried to kill him! Twice!
That ice hurt. He could have died. For fuck's sake, it's one thing a criminal deciding to try and kill him, but one he'd slept with? He knew that his mask partially covered his face, but he had been sure that Len was far more observant than to have not recognised him – unless…he was right and Len didn't remember him.
He barely resisted from sighing. It had been one night, one of only two times he had ever had a one-night stand. If it didn't mean that much to Len – which it obviously hadn't since he'd tried to kill him – then Barry was just going to have to put it from his mind. Even if the sex had been amazing.
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Of course Len was back, and with flame-happy back-up! Because why wouldn't he? It wasn't as if Barry had anything else to do with his time, like maybe catch an evil Speedster, rather than chase after Len and catch him.
Mick Rory? There were lots of guys called Mick…that would love to use a hand-held flame-thrower as a weapon. It didn't mean anything. It couldn't possibly be…
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The Flash arrived, announcing his presence to the City – and world at large – to save Caitlin, and was faced with Captain Cold and Mick Rory – who Cisco was bound to come up with a name for any time now.
Barry froze for a second, and flicked off his microphone. "Fuck," he swore. Because of course if the first of his one-night stands would turn out to be a criminal, then the second one would have to be too.
He didn't notice the look the pair shared as he flicked the microphone back on. Right, now he just had to make them cross beams. Somehow.
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Fuck. Fuck. Fuck that hurt. He knew he'd suffer injuries being a crime-fighting Speedster, but being burned at absolute heat while simultaneously being frozen at absolute zero was not something he had thought he would have to go through. Shit. If it hadn't been for his advanced healing he was pretty sure he'd be permanently scarred – and wouldn't that be fun to explain to a lover? If he ever had the guts to get another one – considering his proven bad taste on two occasions.
There was nothing to do but heal…and ask Cisco for some upgrades to his suit. He had the feeling that wouldn't be the last he'd seen of Captain Cold and Heatwave. And he was never going to admit to Cisco that he thought the names were awesome.
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"Hey there Scarlet," drawled a voice Barry wasn't likely to forget.
He turned with an indifferent expression to face Len. "Do I know you?" he asked bored.
"Not giving me the cold shoulder, are you?"
"No," he replied, tone still bored.
"Then why the chilly reception?"
"Because I've heard better pick-up lines," he retorted derisively. "And I'm not here trolling for a night of fun," he added with more bite than he'd intended.
"Then what are you trolling for?" a gruff voice asked from his other side.
Barry mentally cursed in six languages…and then counted to ten. Luckily, since he was a Speedster, he did so that fast that his…companions likely wouldn't have noticed the lull. "A drink," he replied tersely.
"Don't tell me running around in red leather has made you less friendly?" Len teased with a hint of a drawl.
"I think you have me confused with someone else," Barry retorted. "Leather isn't my thing, red or otherwise," he added with a hint of snark. God it was nice not to have to be nice. To be snide, sarcastic or snarky, oh my, if he wanted to.
Len snorted while Mick chuckled. And neither of those sounds did something to his libido. Nothing. At. All.
"Still trying to pretend you don't know us kid?" Len drawled before he took a swig of his beer.
"If you think of me as a kid, does that make you a paedophile trolling for jailbait?" Barry asked innocently.
Len choked on his beer while Mick guffawed. "Good one," Mick complimented lowly.
"That was uncalled for," Len remarked coldly, once he'd recovered. Barry raised his eyebrows. "Annoyed with me?" he asked with a smirk.
"Why would I be annoyed with you? Besides the fact that you're pestering me," he added. "I don't know you, either of you, and I'd like you to leave me to enjoy my drink in peace."
"Can't do that," Mick rumbled.
Len leant closer, so no one could overhear. "Imagine mine and Mick's surprise when it turns out that a certain Scarlet Speedster is a guy we've both slept with." Barry flinched and cursed himself. "So you do remember, thought you were a bit too pissed to have forgotten."
Barry sighed internally. "Why would I be pissed with you? You only tried to kill me twice. No, wait," he made a deliberate pause and counted on his fingers. "It's three times isn't it? That is if you only count locations, rather than actual shots fired," he bit out and had another swig of beer. It might not do a thing for him now, but he had the memories of what it was like to take the edge off at least. He downed the remainder of the bottle and signalled for another.
"You might want to slow down Red," Mick remarked. "Unless you've gained a new ability to hold your liquor."
Barry took a large swallow. "Maybe I have. Now, will the two of you piss off."
They both chuckled. "You've developed quite the mouth on you Scarlet," Len teased.
"Working with police will do that to you," he retorted, knowing he was shooting down any chance with either of them. But did he care? They'd both tried to kill him. Even worse that they knew it was him!
"You're not going to get rid of us that easily Red," Mick stated gruffly.
Barry mentally cursed in seven other languages – such a pity that some languages all the of his knowledge was curse words. Though it did come in handy in situations like this. "You do realise I could get the two of you arrested with one phone call? Or I could dump your asses in Iron Heights. I doubt they'd care that the Flash broke in, considering the two of you escaped in transit."
"Keeping tabs on us Scarlet?"
"Hardly. I'm the CSI that had to process the scene," he retorted rolling his eyes. "Why am I even talking to you?"
"Because you know the patrons in here aren't drunk enough to not take notice of your sudden disappearance, and nothing short of that will let you get away from us. No one in here is likely to come to your…rescue."
"They know better," Mick added.
"Though the question remains, if you insist that you didn't come here for us-"
"Which I most certainly did not," Barry interrupted fiercely.
"Then what are you doing in such a seedy establishment?"
Barry rolled his eyes. "It's somewhere to unwind where I won't bump into anyone from work."
"Which work?" Mick asked.
"Both," he replied with another eyeroll.
"It was a valid question," Len pointed out, and got a look when the Speedster. "Gotta ask Scarlet, who was your favourite?"
"I am not having this conversation," Barry stated, and moved back to slide off his stool, finding himself firmly seated back on it moments later. He almost hadn't caught that, and he was a Speedster!
"We did warn you," Len chided.
Barry growled. "What is it going to take to get the two of you to leave me the fuck alone?"
"Answer our questions," Len drawled.
Barry chugged down the rest of his beer, wishing that it would actually have an effect upon him. "Fine," he groused.
"No need to sound so put out Scarlet," he drawled with a smirk.
"So which of us was your favourite?" Mick asked curiously.
"Neither," Barry replied.
"You're not trying to tell us someone else was better?" Len asked lowly.
Barry rolled his eyes again. "No, and I'm not saying that because I know any person I mention would become target practise."
"You know us so well," Len teased.
The Speedster sighed. "Neither of you was my favourite, because neither of you was better than the other. You have completely different styles, and techniques, trying to compare you would be like trying to compare the effects of-"
"Fire and ice?" Len suggested. Barry sighed again, this time aloud. Len chuckled, echoed by Mick. "So you enjoyed us both equally then?" he asked, more to make the Speedster admit it. Barry nodded. "Sorry, didn't hear you."
"Yes," he hissed.
"Best sex you'd ever had?"
"Yes," he hissed, and didn't he hate admitting that! Why couldn't the sex he'd had in relationships have been better? Then he wouldn't be in this mess – or at least, not emotionally tangled in this mess.
"Want to do it again?"
"As if I would let either of you touch me," he retorted hotly.
"Wanting and letting are two different things," Len drawled.
"That's it, this conversation is over." He turned to glare at Len. "Unless you want me to dump you in Iron Heights the first opportunity I get, I am going to get off this stool and neither of you are going to stop me," he stated fiercely before he stomped off.
He got two blocks before he thought to check his jacket for a tracking device. "Shit,"he cursed as he crushed it, then changed his course to a hotel, just in case.
He hung his jacket on the back of a chair and sprawled on the bed with a sigh. He closed his eyes, concentrating on breathing deep and even.
"We never finished our conversation Scarlet," Len drawled.
"Get. Out," Barry ordered, not bothering to open his eyes.
"Don't be like that Scarlet," he purred from beside the bed.
Barry sped to the other side of the room. "Don't touch me," he hissed. "No cameras in here, I won't have any qualms about dumping your asses in Iron Heights." Both of them smirked and advanced toward him. "I didn't come here for a screw, so don't even think about it."
"Too late," they both replied, sighing when Barry zipped to the other side of the room.
Barry snorted. "You're that hard up you want to repeat a fuck with someone you can't even remember the name of?"
"Just because we didn't use your name, Barry, doesn't mean we don't remember it," Len retorted.
"Didn't want no one in there overhearing," Mick muttered.
Barry carefully kept his expression neutrally angry. He did not react to their being protective, nor would he.
"You didn't play this hard to get before," Len teased.
"I was young and stupid. I'm more experienced now," he retorted snidely, deliberately emphasising the double entendre.
"That ain't going to turn us off either," Mick rumbled, reaching a hand toward the Speedster who shot back to the wall like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Don't. Touch. Me," he hissed.
"That was a little extreme," Len remarked slowly. "Not going to tell us it was a phase, and you've gone homophobic?" Barry rolled his eyes. "Then what is it Scarlet?"
"Third degree," he bit out.
"What?"
"I got third degree frostbite the first time you iced me, and that was just a short burst. Want to imagine what happened the second time? Or the third? Now get the fuck out, before I decide to shove you in solitary at Iron Heights and wait to see how long it takes them to figure out you're in there," he hissed.
They both raised their hands in surrender and retreated out the room. The moment the door was shut, Barry flicked the bolt and shot a text to Felicity. He sprawled face first on the bed and began to shake. Clutching a pillow close, he continued to shake, biting his bottom lip hard enough to bleed to stop himself from crying.
There he stayed, until there was a knock on the door. He stood, and after a brief check through the peephole, he opened it. "That was fast," he greeted Felicity.
"Says you," she retorted making him snort. She dropped her bag and quickly locked the door behind her as he settled back on the bed. "What's wrong?"
"This is so fucked up," he groaned, covering his face with his hands as he fell backward.
"I have never understood the male mentality about not crying. I am aware that women have a greater amount of chemicals in our tear ducts, which is why we cry more. But crying doesn't make you weak, it can have a cathartic effect…" she trailed off as she settled on the bed beside him.
"Which translates to?" he asked with a soft smile.
"Come here," she urged, holding her arms out welcomingly. He went into her embrace willingly, giving in to the sobs, vaguely aware that she held him close and rubbed circles into his back.
Once done, he pulled back sheepish. "Sorr-"
"Don't you dare apologise," she interrupted firmly. "I've gotten far worse things on my shirts than tears, and that sounded all kinds of wrong." He huffed a small laugh. "Spill," she commanded. He opened his mouth and closed it again. "Would it help if I gave you food?" she asked curiously.
"Probably."
"Big Belly Burger?" she asked fishing her phone out of her pocket.
"Sure," he replied with a smile.
"Great," she replied, tapping away. "We both know that they are open this time of day, and they deliver!" she stated perkily. Barry laughed. "That's better. Even in a coma, you didn't look that bad," she teased.
"Oh yeah, I forgot you visited me," he murmured, more to himself.
"I never asked," she realised. "What was it like? Is it like they say? Are you aware, stuck there listening to people?"
"Not at all," he replied. "Have you ever had a fever, where even if you were conscious you weren't really aware?"
"Uh huh."
"And when you get better, you feel kinda out of sorts, like you've been asleep for a really long time?"
"Mmhmm."
"It was akin to that," he finished. "I had no idea I'd been out for nine months until I woke up and was told. I figured it was longer than days, that it was weeks, possibly a month, but I definitely didn't think it was nine!"
She laughed. There was a knock on the door.
"That was quick."
"Well, we're not that far away, and you know they're always as fast as they can get away with," she remarked as she bounced from the bed. He started to rise. "My treat," she stated firmly, as she checked, then opened the door. "Thanks," she said brightly as she took the bag and deftly closed and locked the door once more. "I'd already paid, and included tip, via the App."
"They really do have an App for everything," he murmured as she settled back beside him.
"Pretty much," she agreed. "Many of which I have no clue what you would need them for – or why anyone would even create them."
He laughed again, happily accepting his order. "Perfect," he grinned.
"Well I do know you," she pointed out. "And you're not likely to turn down free food."
"True," he conceded.
"Go ahead," she encouraged with a grin. He devoured it, not slowing himself down. "Better?" she asked she helped herself to another fry. He nodded. "Nice not to make yourself appear normal?"
"So nice," he said with feeling.
She unwrapped her burger. "Okay, now spill," she commanded.
He sighed gustily. "First, I'm bi," he stated. "Which I've been aware of since…high school – ish – but I was a scrawny science nerd-"
"And you got picked on enough without being something other than 'normal'," she said, with air quotes.
He grinned. "Exactly. So it wasn't until I got to College before I decided to experiment, but you know what it's like with a scientific degree…"
"Between the classes, studying, projects and assignments," she listed.
"You don't get much free time. And – sorry – girls were easier; study date or grab food, then…"
"Unwind?" she offered waggling her eyebrows.
"Exactly, so it wasn't until second year before I was able to…experiment that way." He pulled a face. "I had to make a field trip," he stated with distaste.
She made a noise of commiseration. "Non-science person, or field-specific scientist?"
"Both," he admitted with a huff. "And not only field-specific, but project-focussed."
"Oy."
"Yeah, so what should have only taken a few hours, a day at most, turned into two days. I was that tightly coiled by that time that I needed to do something to relax. I've never been a gym-nut so that was out, any of the girls I could have called for a cheeky hook-up were elsewhere in the country-"
"Don't tell me they assigned all of you to a separate lab?"
"Yep," he said with force.
"Torture," she groaned.
Barry laughed, but didn't disagree. "So I went to a bar. I hadn't thought I'd get anything alcoholic, I'm a babyface now, but it was my best idea. So I ended up in a bit of a dive, asked for a drink…" He trailed off and smile. "A guy at the bar warned me that wasn't wise, as I could end up with anything," he shivered, just remembering that drawling voice. "I did get something alcoholic. It burned all the way down," he remembered with a shudder making Felicity laugh. "He took it off me after the first sip, and ordered the bartender to get me a coke – and watched him the entire time to ensure nothing else went in it." Barry blushed. "I have never been the fall into bed type…"
"But?" she prompted.
"We talked, then went back to my hotel room, and it was amazing."
"Not bad for your first guy experience," she teased.
He blushed. "If anything – even though it was a one-night stand – I thought I was probably better off, since Len was older than me and clearly knew what he was doing." She nodded her agreement. Barry sighed again. "Next term, I had to make another field-trip." She flinched. "And it was as frustrating as the first. I went to a bar again, not expecting to have the same outcome, and met Mick. It happened almost the same way."
"Drink, alcohol, confiscate, talk, sex?" she suggested.
Barry laughed. "Pretty much. Though Mick has a deeper voice, broader build, and is less chatty than Len. Kinda the difference between Olly and Dig build-wise."
"Okay," she murmured, nodding to show she got the comparison.
"It was on the…rougher end of the scale, but it was just as good." He laughed softly. "Both of them disappeared before I woke up, and not only paid for my hotel bill, but added breakfast before I checked out."
"There are worse ways it could have gone," she mused. "Yes, they disappeared without a note or number, but at least they made a considerate gesture, two if you count breakfast separate. And let's face it, college students-"
"Would count a free meal as a separate gesture," they finished together.
She scrunched up her wrapper, and turned her attention back to her fries, waiting patiently. She could tell this was the difficult part.
"Len is Captain Cold," he admitted.
"Oh Barry," she breathed, squeezing his arm.
"And Mick is Heatwave."
"Oh Barry."
"It hurt Fliss," he breathed. "It felt like I was being burnt from both sides, one with flame and the other with ice." He sighed. "I admit, I whimpered. The only thing that got me moving forward-" he cut off.
"Was knowing that the police behind you wouldn't be able to stop them," she finished with a smile. He nodded. "The cold gun neutralised your healing didn't it? You had third degree frostbite from the first hit, and if we hadn't thought to get you tap into your speed after the second, you would have had far worse damage."
He nodded. "Yeah, it was only small, but I had to heal it properly."
"Papercuts are just as painful as a regular cut, therefore a three-inch patch of frostbite is just as painful as a large area," she pointed out. "You still went to work, didn't you?"
"It would have been suspicious if I didn't. And before you ask, Caitlin set me up with bandages that wouldn't compromise my healing – with the promise that I would let my wounds breathe whenever I had the chance."
"Which was?"
"Whenever I was home, or at the lab."
"Point. How long did it take you to heal?"
"Three days for the burns."
"And the frostbite?"
"A week," he replied. "Well, technically it was six days, eighteen hours, and we disagreed on whether to count from when the hit took place, when it was finished, or when I came back to the lab, so it was thirty minutes give or take. So I'm counting that as a week."
"So you should," she stated.
He smiled. "And I couldn't use my powers either, in case it aggravated my healing."
"Ouch." He chuckled ruefully. "So?" she prompted.
He sighed. "They tracked me down tonight. I attempted to pretend I didn't know them, which didn't work out too well, they were insistent on a conversation, which I got out of when I could. It took me two blocks to check for a tracking device, which I found. Which is why-"
"You're in a hotel. Wait, tracking device?" She rooted through her handbag, pulled out a handheld device, and swept it over Barry from head to toe, then scrambled over to his jacket. "Aha!" she exclaimed triumphantly as she retrieved a device from his pocket and disappeared into the bathroom with it. She flushed it. "The old-fashioned methods often work best," she stated.
"Why do you have a bug detector?"
"Because you never know when you might need it. I should warn you, it was a microphone as well as tracker."
"Oh god," he groaned and fell back against the bed. "They heard all that?"
"Likely. So, hotel?"
"They tracked me here, let themselves in, and did their best to try and get me into bed. I refused to let them touch me – and threatened to put them in prison several times." A pause. "Only the threat of shoving them in solitary without telling anyone they were there got them out the room."
"Okay. So would you say, that you're pissed at them for trying to kill you, you're hurt that they would hurt you like that when they knew who you were, you still want them, and you're angry at yourself for wanting them?"
He blinked at her. "Uh…"
"Okay, let's break it down. I realise you'll be honest anyway, but you will need to tell the unaltered truth if we're going to figure it out." She paused and he nodded. "You wanted them?"
"Yes."
"Best sex you've ever had?"
"Yes."
"Pre-Flash would you have wanted a repeat?"
"Honestly, right until the truck heist I wanted a repeat," he admitted.
"Okay, if they hadn't have hurt you, would you have wanted a repeat?"
"Yes," he admitted softly.
"Are you afraid of them?"
"Mostly no, but a little yes."
"Okay, are you afraid that they will hurt you again?"
"Yes and no."
"Are you afraid that they will hurt you as Barry Allen?"
"No."
"Are you afraid that Captain Cold and Heat Wave will hurt the Flash again?"
"Yes," he stated.
"Understandable," she consoled. "They hurt you emotionally, as well as physically?"
"Yes."
"You're angry at them?"
"Yes."
"Are you as angry about the emotional pain, as the physical?"
"More physical than emotional, but it's 60-40," he admitted sheepishly.
She grinned. "Emotions can be more difficult to deal with than physical wounds," she pointed out. "If they had put on a show, and backed off without hurting you, would you have still wanted them?"
"Yes, though I would still be upset with Len."
"Understandable. Do you still want them?"
"Yes," he admitted in a whisper.
"And you're angry at yourself for still wanting them, even though they hurt you?"
"Yes."
"Were you so determined not to let them touch you, because you were worried if they did you would have a repeat of the past?"
"Yes."
"And you would have hated yourself for letting yourself be seduced."
"Was that a question?"
"Not really, but feel free to respond as if it was."
He laughed softly. "Yes."
"Okay, first, it is okay to want a guy. Two, it is okay to want two guys. Three, it is okay to want to date two guys at the same time. Anyone that can't accept that, isn't worth your time."
"Thanks."
She grinned. "It's what I'm here for – as well as hacking skills. You need to decide if you can forgive them for what they did." He blinked at her. "Since they were listening, I would predict that they will try and explain things from their side – like when they figured out it was you – and I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to make it up to you. Barry, make them work for it." He laughed again. "If you think you can get past it, make a list of demands that they will have to abide by to get you. Think about what you can accept, what you can live with, and what you can't. If the thievery is a deal breaker, then you might just want to stick with a brief repeat of the sex – though that might be a slippery slope."
"Yeah, I can't imagine the sex has gotten worse."
"If you can cope with the thievery if it's in another city, or you would be okay with it here as long as there is no collateral – and minimal property – damage, then be specific. If you want monogamy, state it. Really think about what you want, and make sure they agree to it before they get to touch you. Also, make sure they know if they renege on any of the conditions it is over. They will be lucky if you give them a second chance, they will not get a third. Are we clear?"
"Looking out for me Fliss?"
"Absolutely," she stated with a nod.
"Len did say that he didn't get a good look at me until I was on the train," Barry said softly. "This isn't like an abused spouse making excuses is it?"
"No," she stated firmly. "Your paths crossed professionally, from opposite sides, and it didn't work out too well for you. If they had raised a hand to you, Barry, as Mick and Len you would have dumped their asses straight in Iron Heights. And you did tell me, that technically-"
"The first time I got hit, was because I took the blow when knocking Joe out of the way," he finished.
"So the first hit was sort of an accident, but the second wasn't. And as the duo, they were clearly in the wrong. They could have backed away, have said that making you reveal yourself was their goal all along, or even have put on a good show but not hit you."
"You're really okay with me being with them again? You're not going to tell me not to?"
"The main reasons I'd tell you not to, would be if your partner cheated on you when you were in a monogamous relationship, if your partner raised their hand to you, or if they were a scumbag," she listed.
He laughed. "Career criminals don't count?"
"Technically," she said slowly, "being a vigilante is illegal. And from what I've read of their records, Ollie has more kills to his name."
"Joe did say that Len comes in, does a job and gets out, generally with no casualties."
"Best way to not get caught," Felicity pointed out.
"True. The police will still want to catch the perpetrator of a heist, but one that kills a guard or cop? They'll hunt them down with every resource they've got."
She nodded, and let silence fall for a few moments. "Feel better for talking about it?"
"Yeah," he admitted with a smile.
"Well, feel free to call me with any developments."
"Thanks Fliss."
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"I'm not sure whether to feel touched or stalked," Barry stated in lieu of a greeting the moment Felicity answered her phone.
She laughed. "Some insightful presents?" He hummed an agreement. "Like?"
"A delivered calorie-appropriate lunch every day, a book I've been wanting to get, a new album from a band I like, not to mention a delivered mid-morning coffee whenever I'm at CCPD." He blushed. "And that memorable crime scene."
"Spill," she ordered.
"I had already been there for a couple of hours, and I was likely to be there for a few more – it was a really complicated scene – and I got a delivery of a variety of pastries from a bakery down the street. Luckily there were enough that I could offer one to everyone else, and I still managed to get two."
"They can't get mad at you, if they indulged as well," she stated.
"Exactly. Though I had to promise I hadn't told anyone anything."
"And a delivered lunch?"
"Yeah, unless I think to sort one out the night before – which I rarely do – then I have to buy lunch, and I've had a lunch delivered for me, from a variety of establishments, all with enough calories to keep me going, from day one. Day two was when the coffees started. Three was the book, five the CD, and four the crime scene."
"Anything today?"
"I just found a note."
"Have you opened it?"
"No," he admitted.
"Open it!" she ordered. He quickly opened the note and flash read it. He blew out a breath. "Well?" she demanded.
"Len honestly didn't see me until the train, and only suspected who I was. He knew I'd get everyone off the train, and he had no intention of killing me – he said what he did because he knew you were behind him, and he also knew that it was really a vacuum."
"Eh, I was surprised we got away with that," she retorted nonchalantly.
"It was only when I faced the two of them that they knew it was me. They regret the pain they caused, they actually did pull their punches, while trying to make it look good, but they hadn't counted on me deliberately slowing down – and when I did they figured I must have some protection in the suit," he summarised.
"Is that the whole of the note?" He hummed an affirmative. "Turn it over," she ordered, and heard the rustle. "There's more isn't there?"
"Yeah," he replied, part sheepish part distracted, as he read through the back. "They both want to have a relationship with me," he breathed. "An exclusive trio."
"That's good isn't it?" she asked softly.
"Yes," he admitted. "But I'm still mad at them," he stated.
"Good," she replied making him laugh. "I still don't think they've earnt your forgiveness yet."
There was a knock on the door. Barry gazed through the peephole before he opened it. "Barry Allen?" a delivery guy asked.
"Yes?"
"These are for you," he stated, turning and handing a bouquet of roses to Barry.
"Thank you," Barry replied dazedly as he closed and locked the door once more.
"What is it?"
"I need to send you a photo, I can't do these justice," he murmured, as he snapped a photo of the trio of roses; a row of white and orange roses bracketing the centre red roses. He sent it to her.
"Aww, they're perfect for the three of you," she breathed.
"Yeah," Barry breathed. "I don't know how I'm going to explain them, but they're beautiful."
"So you're definitely the girl," she teased making him laugh.
"I already knew that anyway," he retorted causing her to laugh wickedly.
"What are you looking at?" Oliver asked in the background.
"Nothing," Felicity replied neutrally.
"Felicity," he growled.
"Do you really want to look at something cute and girly?" she asked challengingly.
Silence for a moment. "Are there likely to be squeals in the near future?"
"Most likely."
"Then I will go and get us lunch," he stated.
"Okay, he's gone," she stated.
"You've finally found the way to keep something a secret from Oliver," Barry mused.
"Oh I always knew that was the way to go, but I also knew if I used it too often, he'd cotton on. Best to use it only when necessary."
Barry grinned. "Thanks."
"Meh, I'll ease him into the idea once you're official, but I figured it was best not to show him the flowers, or that I was on the phone to you, at least while they're still in the grovelling period. It's going to be difficult enough to stop him from shooting them full of arrows as it is, without you not forgiving them yet."
"It'll make a difference?"
"Barry, if you were in a relationship with them-"
"I'd defend them to Oliver," he finished.
"Exactly. So have you been working on the list?"
"Yes actually, there are a couple of things I wanted to run by you, to check my wording."
"Shoot."
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Barry sighed, as he settled in for a long haul. Even with his superspeed he was going to be here for hours, and it was already six. He sighed again, a CSI's work was never done. Or at least, that was what it felt like sometimes.
There was a tap on the fire exit door. Welcoming the distraction, he opened the door and found Len and Mick on the other side of it, both holding a couple of pizza boxes in their hands. Barry debated over whether to invite them in or send them away, but the scent of pizza decided it. He stepped back, silently inviting them inside. "What do you want?" he asked wearily accepting the boxes Len handed him.
"Just your company," Len replied, as he and Mick took in his lab. "Is this where you were when you got struck by lightning?"
Barry settled on his chair, keeping an eye on both of them as he helped himself to a slice. He nodded toward the skylight as he took a bite, unable to hold back a moan.
The thieves shared a smile, and settled against the other side of the desk, they didn't want to spook the Speedster. "Lot of work," Len murmured. Barry nodded and helped himself to another slice. "How did you cope before your Superspeed?"
"I lived for slow days, it gave me the chance to catch up, and slow weeks meant I could not only clear my desk, but also back-catalogue jobs," he replied. "There are times when I wonder how I still have a job."
"Your Captain knows he's lucky to have you," Mick rumbled before he helped himself to a slice from one of the boxes they'd kept.
Barry blinked. "You have a brilliant mind," Len continued. "You could be creating the latest new technology, or curing cancer, but instead you deign to help the police to solve their crimes. Your Captain knows he is very lucky to have your skills in his department, and is willing to accept your need to prioritise tests, and how often you're late."
"I do not want to know how you know that," Barry stated. "I need plausible deniability."
Both thieves smiled. Len leant forward and pressed the button on Barry's phone, making the screen light up. The roses were Barry's background. He opened his mouth and Barry held up a hand for quiet, his head tilted as he listened intently. There it was; footsteps. "Quickly, go outside," he urged, pressing their boxes into their hands as he ushered them back onto the fire escape.
He settled back on his chair at normal speed – it would be a bugger to tidy up the case files if he upset them with his superspeed. "Hey Joe!" he greeted brightly as his foster figure appeared in the doorway.
"Hey Bare," he replied, heading over to Barry's desk. "I was going to ask if you needed anything, but it looks like you're already sorted," he remarked, handing the grateful speedster a mug of coffee.
"Thanks," he said as he took a sip. "So good," he murmured appreciatively. "And, yeah, already sorted," he added as an afterthought.
Joe regarded him seriously for a moment. "I know that something's bothering you, and I understand if you can't talk to me about it," he added before Barry could respond, "so long as you're talking to someone about it."
"I am," he promised.
"Felicity?" Barry nodded. "Yeah, the two of you did share an immediate connection." Barry smiled. "I just want you to know you can talk to me about anything."
"I know."
"Do you?" Barry looked at him in confusion. "I know you've been hiding things from me Barry, for years." Barry's jaw dropped open. "I figured you had a good reason for keeping them to yourself, so I left it alone." Barry's mouth shut with a click. "Just know that if you need to talk to me, about anything, I am here."
"I'm bi," Barry blurted.
"I know," he replied gently. Barry gaped. "Why do you think I kept encouraging you to confess your feelings for Iris? I figured if I did it enough, you'd tell me."
Barry snorted. "That didn't quite work out."
"No. But it's happened now," he stated, covering Barry's hand with his own, "and that's all that matters."
Barry nodded with a smile. "Thanks Joe. I may take you up on that, just not today."
Joe smiled back. "Well the offer's open, any time." He waited until Barry nodded before he headed for the door. He paused in the doorway. "Do us all a favour and let them back in before they get bored," he requested, chuckling at Barry's guilty expression. "You've still got that teenage detection system in place, so it's safe," he added with a wink as he strode from the room.
Barry waited, listening to the sound of retreating footsteps, before he opened the fire exit and ushered his companions back inside.
"How did he know we were outside?" Mick asked.
"He's a detective," he replied with a shrug as he settled back on his chair. "That, and it might have something to do with having pizza on my desk," he added, as he helped himself to another slice.
"Oh?" Len prompted.
Barry hastily swallowed. "Despite the numerous exits," he began, gesturing to his own fire escape, "there's a protocol in place to only use the main entrance, except for emergencies, for security reasons."
"Makes sense," Mick remarked.
"So, in order for me to have gotten pizza, I would have either had to have a delivery, or gone and gotten it myself, and since both options would have involved someone going past Joe's desk with pizza boxes, it's clear they came from somewhere different. Since I'd have to walk back in at normal speed, to avoid any awkward questions. Speaking of, any chance you could take the empty boxes back with you?" he asked hopefully.
"Sure Scarlet," Len replied with a smile.
A machine pinged. Barry quickly washed his hands before donning a pair of gloves and turning his attention to the machine. He removed the sample, noted the results, and set up the next sample. He then finished off the paperwork required, stored the finished sample, and set that file aside with a sigh.
"Why wash your hands, if you're going to put on gloves?" Mick asked curiously.
"Makes it easier to clean the powder from your hands, after you remove the gloves, and also prevents you from getting any foreign traces on your sterile gloves. Wouldn't want to accidentally tamper with evidence," he remarked, wiping his hands clean, and helping himself to another slice.
"Would Felicity be the 'Fliss' you spoke to?" Len asked curiously.
"So you did hear that," Barry stated blushing. The thieves nodded, and waited. It took Barry a second, but he got it. "Yes. We met when I went to Starling City to help with a case, and we just clicked."
"Why did she have a bug detector?"
"Because you never know when you might need one," he replied with a shrug. "And, as proven, it can come in handy." They blinked at him. "She works at Queen Consolidated – and she went to MIT. It gives you a touch of paranoia," he mused helping himself to another slice of pizza.
"And you don't have it because…?" Mick rumbled.
"Who says I don't?" he replied with a cheeky grin. "Mine just comes in a different form." He glanced around himself pointedly. "Considering my vocation."
"Why don't you use your Speed to clear your desk now?" Len asked curiously.
"Because all of these cases require a sample being run in order to finish them off," he stated. "While I may…have made use of my speed, once or twice, when the machine was broken, for the most part it's best if I make use of the equipment available. Some lawyers are pedantic enough to want to see the official record on the machine," he groused as the machine dinged again.
He repeated his earlier process, and set up the next sample. "What were we talking about?"
"Official record," Len prompted.
"Right. And unfortunately these machines are expensive, so we never have more than one per lab."
The pair nodded as they absorbed this. "What did she mean by not having to act normal?" Mick rumbled.
Barry opened and closed his mouth several times. "Feel free to show off Scarlet," Len encouraged.
Barry regarded the two of them seriously for a moment, then sped-ate the remainder of his pizza. He licked his lips with a smile.
"Don't stop on our account," Mick encouraged, deep voice causing Barry to shiver.
The Speedster ate through his second pizza in seconds, licking his lips with a contented smile.
"Feel better?" Len asked gently.
"Much," he replied with a grin. "Somehow, using my speed to eat doesn't deplete the number of calories I'm consuming, I assume it's because I'm simply accessing them quicker," he explained.
"It must be frustrating, having to eat your number of calories at a 'normal' pace," Len remarked conversationally.
"It can be," he agreed. "Thank you, by the way, for those lunches – and this – they're much appreciated."
"And tasty?" Mick prompted.
"Delicious," he stated with a grin.
"You're welcome," Len replied. "How long you going to be here Scarlet?"
"Couple of hours ish," he replied. The pair settled into more comfortable positions. "You sure you want to keep me company? It's bound to be pretty boring."
"Sure," Mick rumbled.
"Nowhere we'd rather be," Len added with a smirk.
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Barry dashed down the staircase, deftly avoiding jostling coworkers, and skidded to a halt in front of the reception desk. "You wanted to see me Captain?"
"For you," he stated, nodding his head to a machine in an open box on the counter.
"Is that…?"
"A brand-new Gas Chromatograph?" Captain Singh finished. Barry nodded. "Yep. Arrived this morning. Had the techs check every inch, and there's nothing wrong with it."
"Are you sure you want me to have it?" Barry checked.
"It was addressed to you, and since there's no hidden surprises, it's all yours," the Captain stated.
"In that case, I can already think of several things it can help me with. Someone fancy helping me carry it to the lab?" he asked with a bright grin.
"I'll help you Bare," Joe remarked, grabbing one end while Barry hoisted the other.
Joe waited until they had settled the machine in Barry's lab before he turned to the Speedster expectantly. "I made one comment last night about the machines being too expensive to have more than one per lab," he insisted.
"In that case, I'd say you need to discuss this," Joe murmured. "See you at dinner tonight?"
"Wouldn't miss it," Barry replied with a grin. The moment his footsteps receded Barry speed dialled Felicity.
"What's up?" she asked curiously.
"A brand-new Gas Chromatograph arrived this morning," he stated. "For me."
"How'd you manage that?"
"Len and Mick brought me pizza last night."
"Oh really?" she asked, tone suggestive.
Barry laughed. "I made one comment about the fact the machine's too expensive to have more than one per lab…"
"And a new one arrives for you the following morning," she finished.
"Yeah."
"Forgiven them yet?"
"It's so close," he admitted. "If it was just Mick, I'd already be there. But since I'd have to instigate things with both of them at the same time, I'm not there yet…though, I'm borderline," he admitted softly. He heard the sound of a door closing firmly. "You were in company, weren't you?" he groaned.
"Yep," she admitted. "Needed to make sure I didn't pique anyone's interest," she remarked softly. "Now, do you think today's lunch will tip you over, or will it be tomorrow's present?"
"Err…probably tomorrow's present," he remarked pensively.
"Then invite them to dinner the day after tomorrow." He blinked. "Make them sweat a little longer, another day won't kill them," she added making him laugh. "Now, when you have that dinner, you make sure you discuss that list of demands, and ensure that they agree to all of them."
"Planning on it."
"Good. Also," she continued lowering her voice further, "make sure they don't get more than a peck for several dates okay?"
"Okay…?"
"Don't want them thinking they can talk you into sex every time they want. It only happens when you want it," she stated firmly.
"Otherwise known as, don't want them thinking I'm easy," he retorted.
"You were young and you needed to unwind, what happened then was the exception not the rule. Doing this will ensure that they know that."
"But what if I want it to be the rule?"
She couldn't help her burst of wicked laughter. "Three days. Minimum," she stated. "Resist their charms that long, and you can do whatever you like."
"Makes sense," he murmured. "I wouldn't just fall into bed if it was anyone else."
"Exactly," she replied brightly. "And besides, by doing this, you might get a few more presents out of them…before they think they no longer have to make the effort except on special occasions."
Barry snorted. "Looking for me to get spoilt a little longer?"
"Of course. You deserve it."
"Thanks Fliss."
"Anytime."
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Barry tapped his foot nervously as he waited for his company to arrive. He was actually early, waiting in a private room that Len and Mick had booked for them, in a family-run Italian restaurant he'd been wanting to try out.
His phone rang and he about hit the ceiling. "Yeah?" he asked, tone sheepish.
"Feeling FINE?"
Barry laughed. "Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional?" he asked, amusement tinging his voice. "Not quite, but thanks, I needed that."
"Figured. While you might look adorable when you're nervous, and babbling, I thought you might want to appear confident when they arrived."
"You know me so well," he murmured. "How did you know I'd be early?"
"You're always early to the really important things," she stated. "Have you talked to Joe yet?"
"Yeah, we had a long-overdue chat – he'd already figured everything out. While he's not exactly thrilled his son is getting into a relationship with two career thieves, one of which is a pyromaniac, he's accepted it. And he admitted that they have decent personality traits, and lines they don't cross."
"And by dating you they're likely to fall more on the side of the angels," she retorted.
"Or at least gain a few more lines they won't cross."
"Have you mentioned any of this to Iris?"
"No," he stated firmly. "She knows I'm on a date, and I really want it to go well, but I figured it would be better to face that conversation after they agree to my terms."
"Think they will then?"
"Hoping so, but there's not much point hashing everything out with Iris, if they then decide I'm not worth the trouble of sticking to my demands."
"Oh, as if!"
He snorted. "You know what I mean, it's quite a few restrictions – that they might find too difficult to stick to." She let out an inelegant snort. "What?"
"Considering they knew about your day job and your nightly activities, before they started to court you, I'd say there isn't much you could ask for that they wouldn't agree to. Especially since you have more lines you wouldn't cross than they do."
"There is that," he conceded.
"So…deep breath, and remember you are the one with the power in this situation. They want you, and it's down to them to deserve you."
"Right," he murmured, breathing deeply.
"And have fun. Ooh, and don't forget-"
"Three days minimum before I capitulate, got it," he interrupted.
"Love it. Enjoy!"
"Will do, thanks Fliss."
"Anytime – I have to live vicariously somehow."
Barry laughed as he hung up, his amusement still prevalent when the door opened and his company arrived. "Hi," he greeted brightly.
"You look good Red," Mick rumbled.
"I clean up all right," he replied with a mischievous grin.
"Cute," Len remarked. "We'll need a few minutes to decide," he stated to the hovering waiter, holding his hand out for the menus.
"Were you trying to intimidate him?" Barry asked curiously as the waiter scurried away quickly.
"He can't help it," Mick remarked with a grin as he held out a chair for the Speedster, after which he and Len settled into chairs opposite, forming a loose triangle.
"Hilarious," Len deadpanned, handing his two companions a menu.
"There's nothing wrong with needing to be in control of a situation," Barry consoled, his eyes filled with mischief.
"You didn't complain before," Len drawled, eyes raking the Speedster suggestively. Barry flushed. "Scarlet."
Barry tapped into the confidence he had as the Flash and smirked at the thief. "Why would I?" he retorted, tone suggestive. "It made our night together more…interesting," he said deliberately roughening his voice on the last word, his smirk widening when both his companions shivered. He was only able to hold it another moment before he broke out in a grin, it was nice to turn the tables for a change.
Len cleared his throat. "So, what did you want to order?" Barry smiled knowingly, sharing a look with Mick. "They do decent sized portions here."
"Maybe not quite enough for you, but close," Mick added, making Barry laugh.
With a smile, Barry handed back his menu. "Surprise me," he remarked.
"You realise you're giving him control," Mick stage-whispered.
"It's all right to…bend every now and again," the Speedster replied, mischief dancing in his eyes. Len huffed, unable to prevent his lips curving upward.
Barry's expression turned debating. "What is it red?" Mick asked.
"There's something I need to talk to you about, want to do it now, or wait until after we've eaten?"
"Now," Len replied. "Then you can relax."
Barry smiled, and pulled a folded bit of paper from his jacket. "I've made a list," he stated. "Which you need to stick to, or we're over," he said firmly. "Tell me now, if there's any deal-breakers on it."
Len took the proffered piece of paper, unfolded it, and scanned the contents, with Mick reading over his shoulder. He glanced at his partner, then flipped it over. He smirked. "I like how you have combined, and individual, demands Scarlet," he drawled.
"I also split it professional and personal," he murmured.
"We noticed," Mick stated with a grin.
"So?" he asked, a hint of his nervousness bleeding into his voice.
"No problems," Mick assured.
"Nor with me," Len drawled. "Figured most of it anyway," he continued. "And this way, it's all in the open without a lengthy conversation."
"You know what he's like for timing," Mick sighed.
Barry snorted. "Yeah, noticed. So how is this going to work?"
"Same as any other relationship. Exchange numbers, and see each other when we can. We've got a couple of properties that only we and Lisa know about," he mused. Barry's eyebrows reached his hairline.
"He means for when we're not in public," Mick rumbled, grinning at the Speedster's shiver. "Somewhere private we can get together."
"Without the rogues, or the detective interrupting us."
"No, only Lisa," Barry interjected.
"If I tell her to stay away, she will," Len stated.
The door opened cautiously. "Are you ready to order?" came the hesitant query.
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Barry speed-dialled Felicity. "Oh my god," he groaned the moment she answered.
"What's wrong?" she asked concerned.
"They are hot," he replied with a whine.
She laughed. "Finding it difficult to stick to the third date rule?" she murmured.
"I've only been on one, Fliss, one, and I already want to jump them!"
"Let's face it, that would have occurred the moment you forgave them."
"But they looked so hot, and they'd made an effort-" he cut off with a sound of frustration.
"Did you mention the list?"
"Yes. And they agreed, very quickly."
"And they didn't get more than a peck?"
"One kiss each, and don't think it wasn't difficult to keep that chaste," he groused.
"Poor Barry," she consoled. "You only have to survive one more date with your modesty intact, and then you can jump them on the third if you want."
"Better make sure that one's private," he murmured, causing her to laugh wickedly.
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"Iris? Can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure Barry, what's up?" she asked, patting the seat next to her on the sofa.
"First, you know I'm Bi right?"
"You never came out and said it, but yes I do know," she replied gently. "You lit up when talking about a couple of guys, the same way you did when you were crushing on a girl," she added with a supportive smile.
"Right," he said sheepishly. "Well, you know how I told you I had a couple of one-night-stands at College?"
"Yes?" she encouraged.
"They're, uh, back in town, and they, um, tracked me down-"
"And they were the two guys you had a date with last night?" she finished.
"Yes," he replied in a small voice.
"Barry, did you honestly think I would be upset with you?" she asked. "In this case, I understand why you were being secretive, and there is nothing wrong with being in a triad," she stated firmly. "Send anyone that gives you shit my way."
He grinned. "You take your big sister role seriously."
"Damn straight," she replied with a grin. "Come on Bare, hit me with the rest of it."
"It's Len and Mick, I mean-"
"Captain Cold and Heat Wave," she finished warmly.
"You know," he murmured with a sigh of relief.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice your reaction every time either one of them came up in conversation?"
"I don't know why I bother keeping anything secret," he sighed.
"I don't either, you're not very good at hiding them," she teased.
"Low blow," he replied laughing.
"Do they make you happy?"
"It's early days yet, but yeah," he said with a warm smile.
"That's what matters," she stated, gripping his hand tightly. "You told Dad yet?"
"Yes, and Felicity."
"You talked to her and not me?" she asked with a pout.
"Iris," he groaned. She waited. "I'd been keeping it from you for too long, I couldn't just…bring it up."
She pulled him into a hug. "Well, next time you need to talk about something, think about me will you."
"Does this mean you want all the sordid details?"
"That goes without saying," she replied with a wicked grin.
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"Hi," Felicity answered distractedly.
"Ollie on the Salmon Ladder again?" Barry asked amused.
"Mmhmm."
He chuckled. "Shall I give you a few minutes?"
"I can talk," she insisted.
"I need to talk to Ollie," he stated.
"He'll be done in five minutes."
"Without an audience?" he asked hopefully.
"Make it ten," she stated.
"Barry," Oliver greeted ten minutes later. "Would you be the reason Felicity cleared the room?"
"Yes," he admitted sheepishly, beginning to pace.
"What's up?"
"I need to talk to you about something."
"I got that," he replied, voice amused and encouraging.
Barry blew out a breath. "I don't know how t-" he cut off abruptly.
"Just tell me Barry. Surely you're not worried I'm going to shoot you?"
"Not me," he muttered. "I'mdatingtwoguys," he said in a rush.
"Okay," he replied.
"Was that too fast?"
Oliver chuckled. "You forget, I'm used to Felicity on a daily basis, and on caffeine regularly, I'm used to fast speech," he replied. "You're dating two guys. Together, or just at the same time?"
"Together?"
"You forget my past, at least yours is the more honourable option," Oliver pointed out. "Either you thought I was incredibly closed-minded, or you're worried about my reaction as to who they are," he said seriously. A pause. "Who are they Barry?" he asked, voice carefully free of arrow-voice.
"Len Snart and Mick Rory," he admitted, tensing.
A slight pause, then Oliver blew out a breath. "I assume this is what you and Felicity have been discussing the last couple of weeks?"
"Yes?"
He snorted. "No need to sound so unsure of yourself Barry," he replied gently. "I am not going to pick up my arrows and hunt them down. I will leave the threats to Felicity, especially since she can use me as one. I am assuming that if she has been talking with you about it, she has ensured they play by certain rules."
"I've made a list of demands they have to adhere to or we're over," he replied slowly.
"I can't say anything about dating a criminal," he sighed. "And I do have a higher kill count than either of them," he admitted.
"You're taking this very well," Barry murmured cautiously.
"I am trying…to think before I reach for my bow. At least when it comes to personal matters," he added. "And I know you Barry, you wouldn't be with them if you didn't see some good in them."
"What makes you think it's not just about sex?" he retorted.
Oliver snorted. "Are you even wired that way?"
"You'd be surprised," he groused. "It's what got me into this mess," he muttered.
"College indiscretion come back to haunt you?"
"Not so much indiscretion…"
"One-night-stand?"
Barry hopped onto a desk, legs swinging. "Both of them," he admitted.
"Let me guess, it was the only ones you ever had, and the sex was better than any you had in a committed relationship?"
"How did you know that?" he demanded.
"I'm more insightful than people give me credit for. You ever have something you need to discuss – or need a male opinion that isn't either Joe or Cisco's – feel free to call me."
"This your way of saying you have things you need to do?"
"I always have time for you Barry," he replied warmly. "Was there something else you needed to talk about?"
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"Hey Fliss?"
"Yes?"
"You know when you said wait until the third date…?"
She laughed wickedly. "Do at least one date-like activity, and then you can do what you like," she replied. He blew out a relieved breath. "You've been finding this difficult then?"
"Very," he spoke fervently. She snorted. "It's not funny!" he insisted. "I had to think about Hedwig dying!" She started laughing. "Then Dobby!"
She choked past the laughter. "Who else's demise did you think about?"
"Remus, Severus and Fred!"
She gasped. "Pulled out the big gun," she murmured.
"Don't laugh," he ordered.
"There is nothing funny about Fred dying," she replied seriously. "That was one death too many."
He sighed. "God, I can't figure out if I looked like a space-case or an emotional wreck," he groaned.
"They still asked for a third date didn't they?"
"Yes, but after the effort they put in to get to this point, I doubt they'd settle for anything less than sex." She scoffed. "What?"
"They won't settle for anything less than you."
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Barry knocked on the door of the address he'd been given – and double checked, twice – he had made sure that their third date would take place somewhere private. The door opened and he smiled brightly at Mick.
"Hey Red," he greeted, tugging the Speedster inside.
"Hi," he replied, leaning up to give him a peck on the lips. He dodged out the way when the pyro would have tried to deepen the touch. He stepped up to Len and gave him a chaste kiss too.
"Scarlet," he murmured as their Speedster pulled back. "You look good," he continued.
Barry tugged at his red shirt nervously. "And you're wearing our colours," Mick rumbled as he came up behind the Speedster, sandwiching him between the two of them.
"Was it deliberate?" Len drawled.
Barry nodded, and bit his bottom lip as he fought back a vibration. "This is my favourite outfit," he admitted.
"That so?" Len drawled as he and Mick pressed close.
"D-dinner?" the Speedster prompted.
"Sure thing Scarlet," Len murmured as they each backed off.
Barry devoured dinner, glad that conversation wasn't stunted – with all the mental distractions he had to come up with. "Did you have a dessert planned?" he asked cautiously.
"No," Mick stated.
"Thank God," he murmured and sped onto Len's lap.
"Did you-" Len began.
"Shut up," Barry interrupted and pulled the thief into a heated kiss. He held a hand out behind him, tugging Mick against his back when the pyro took it. He moaned and pulled back, panting. He turned his head, and offered his mouth to the pyro, moaning when Mick devoured it.
He began to shift needily between them, switching between pressing his hard cock against Len's, and his ass against Mick's crotch. "Ah-ah, Scarlet," Len chided as they pinned him in place, making their Speedster whine.
Mick pulled back, and a panting Barry turned back to Len with needy eyes. "Please," he whimpered. They began to thrust against him, causing him to let out a needy moan.
"What's with the change Scarlet?" he drawled. "You were avoiding our touch before this."
"Please," he whined.
"Answer the question Red," Mick ordered, his deep rumble of a voice causing Barry to shiver.
"I had to – uhn – hold out for – ah! – three dates before sex," he panted. "I promised. Please, I need-" he cut off with a noise of frustration.
"We've got you Scarlet," Len soothed, and Mick pressed more firmly against the Speedster from behind.
The thieves kept Barry's hips pinned and thrust against him. The feel of Len's cock sliding against his own, and Mick's monster of a cock pressing against his ass, even through their trousers, enough to send him over the edge.
He gripped onto Len's shoulder as he slumped back against Mick. "I think, with my abilities, sex with you now, will kill me," he panted.
"As if we'd let that happen," Mick rumbled.
"We'll just have to be more careful of you," Len drawled. "And keep you fed."
Barry let out a soft groan as he hardened once again, causing Len to smirk. "It would be cruel to leave you in this state," he drawled. "So why don't we…get reacquainted?"
"My God," Barry groaned as he vibrated.
Mick let out a wicked chuckle. "Imagine how good that's going to feel, boss, when we're naked." Barry whimpered.
"Shh, Scarlet," Len soothed, stroking his cheek gently. "We've got you," he continued, nodding for Mick to scoop him up. "And we're going to make you feel good," he promised with a drawling purr as he kept pace with Mick carrying their Speedster to the bedroom.
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"Barry Allen you dirty stop-out!" Felicity greeted teasingly as Barry closed the door behind him.
He blinked rapidly, then realised Iris had Felicity on speaker. "Hey," he greeted, too sated to even attempt sheepish.
Both women whistled. "That good?" Iris asked with a wicked grin.
"You have no idea," he replied with a warm, almost sappy, smile.
"We will if you tell us," the blonde pointed out.
"First, do you have company?" he demanded.
"Decidedly not," she stated. "I wanted to make sure I was free to get the dirt."
"And don't even try to get rid of me," Iris stated, "since I've waited this long for you to get home."
"I know better," he stated as he sprawled beside her on the sofa with a lazy stretch.
"Oh come here," she murmured, placing a pillow on her lap and patting it. He stretched out and laid his head on the pillow. "Comfy?" she asked, stroking his hair gently. He hummed an agreement.
"Out with it!" the blonde demanded.
Barry laughed softly. "I managed through dinner," he stated. "Just."
"That difficult?" she commiserated.
"Come on, they're both sex on legs!" he retorted causing both women to laugh. "And touch-driven," he added. "I kept having to give them the cheek, or keep a kiss chaste, or dodge out of their grip…when all I wanted to do was let them have what they want."
"But we discussed-"
"Yes," he sighed. "Wait until the third date."
"Because you are the one in control of the situation, and sex happens when you want it," Felicity finished firmly.
"You realise I have a heightened metabolism, right?" he retorted.
"Yeah," the blonde replied slowly while Iris started laughing. "Oh God, you have a heightened libido too?"
"Yeah," he sighed.
"Why didn't you say anything?" she demanded.
"It's embarrassing to admit to," he murmured. "Would it have changed your rule?"
"Yes! I would have told you to do a couple of date-like activities on the second date, then you can go home with them." He groaned.
"Well, you will keep secrets," Iris teased. "But it was good?"
"Do you really need to ask me that? They were the best sex I'd ever had separately, what do you think they're going to be like together?"
"Spill!" Felicity demanded. "Watching the salmon ladder only gets a girl so far!"
He snorted. "Well…Len's attention to detail translates well to the bedroom," he admitted a grin. "As does Mick's following of Len's orders."
Felicity groaned while Iris blew out a breath. "Don't stop there!" the tech geek demanded.
Barry blushed. "Well, I can't go into too much detail-" A pouting sound over the phone. "Fliss, they're possessive, and private men, do you really think they'd want me to share details like that?"
"I promise not the tell anyone, not even Ollie, please," she begged.
Barry's phone pinged. "Oh my God," he groaned, covering his face. "How does he do that?"
"Len knows you're talking to us, doesn't he?" Iris asked knowingly.
"Yes," Barry groaned.
"Well?" Fliss demanded.
"'Tell them whatever you're comfortable with Scarlet'," he read.
Fliss squealed, making both the others laugh. "Spill!" she demanded.
He glanced up at Iris who arched an eyebrow challengingly. "Okay, okay," he caved. "Do not repeat a word of this."
"I promise," Iris responded seriously.
"Not even if I really want to," Felicity promised making him laugh again.
"Okay, right, well…Lenisbig," he finished in a rush.
"How big?"
"About ten inches, I think," he replied. "It's not like I've measured, but he's long, and he's got a decent girth too," he sighed happily.
"You're a size queen!" Fliss enthused.
Barry blushed but didn't deny it. "AndMick'samonster," he said in a rush.
"Seriously?" they said in unison.
"Oh yeah," he responded with a happy sigh. "I've talking several inches longer and wider than Len, and he's not exactly average."
"Doesn't that hurt?" Fliss asked, and they could picture her tilting her head to the side.
"Not if the prep is done right," he replied, teeth scraping his bottom lip. "It's more like, you know when you've had several rounds of good sex and you're slightly sore, but in a good way?" They both hummed their agreement. "It's like that." He let out a wistful sigh. "And that doesn't even last for me," he sighed.
"But just imagine how much quicker you can get to the next round when you heal that quickly."
"I don't have to," he replied with a grin.
"Barry Allen!" Iris teased.
He let out a pleased hum. "It was sooo good," he murmured stretching languidly. "I didn't think it could get better than I had it in college, but oh man, I did not take into account my heightened libido or that I'm more sensitive now."
"Details!" Felicity demanded.
"Uh-uh," he responded. "Those I'm keeping to myself," he stated.
"Barry!" she wheedled.
"Nope," he said firmly.
"If we ask questions, will you answer?" Iris asked reasonably.
"Yes."
"Honestly?"
"Yes," he said. "Though I reserve the right to choose not to answer."
Fliss let out another pleased squeal. "So, are they as good as they were?"
"Better," he replied with a smile.
"Is Mick still rough?"
"Well, with his size and strength, he would have to be exceeding careful in order not to be." He shrugged. "I tried it, and found I liked it, so he doesn't have to be that careful."
"So Len was in charge?"
"Well, he does like to plan," Barry retorted with a grin. "Apparently in all aspects of his life. Don't worry, he made sure I was okay with everything. They both wanted me willing and enthusiastic, to everything we did together."
"That's good," Fliss murmured, Iris humming her agreement. "Wait, you didn't get dessert?"
"Not in the traditional sense," he responded slowly.
"Traditional sense?" Iris repeated challengingly.
He grinned. "They didn't make one, food-wise – which I was very thankful for – but it depends on your definition as to whether I got 'dessert' or not."
They both chuckled wickedly. "We are not going there," Iris said decisively. "I do not need your kinks in my head."
"Who said anything about kinks?" he responded with a grin, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
She laughed softly. "Much as I'm enjoying this conversation, there are some things a sister shouldn't know about her brother, even if he is Bi."
He grinned up at her. "You were the one who said you wanted all the sordid details."
She flicked his nose gently. "But I know you enough, to have known you wouldn't go into too much detail. You're not the kind to do that."
Fliss made a disappointed noise. "But I need to live vicariously."
"If it helps, this isn't the only night," he practically purred, stretching languidly again.
"God, he sounds like a contented cat," the blonde remarked. Iris picked up her phone and turned on video chat. Barry waved languidly. "Looks like it too."
"He always gets like this after sex," Iris murmured, turning off video chat after a grin at the blonde. "He may have had most of his conquests in college, but I have seen him like this a time or two." She blinked. "If you see them too often, people are going to think you're on something."
"Or the majority of my co-workers will give me ribbing about finally getting laid," he replied languidly. His phone rang, and he looked up in askance.
"Feel free to take it," she replied.
"Hi," he greeted warmly.
"Aww!" Fliss gushed. "It's one of them isn't it?"
Barry hummed an agreement. "You okay Red?" He hummed another agreement. "Just put me on speaker," he rumbled, causing Barry to shiver.
"Aww," Iris teased.
Barry stuck out his tongue as he put Mick on speaker.
"What?" Fliss demanded.
"Red shivered at a guess," Mick stated. "He likes my voice," he rumbled.
"Well, ease it back," Iris ordered. "It's best if you don't get him riled up over the phone. It's not like you'll see him in the next hour, is it?"
"You've got a point," he admitted. "One sec."
A beat later. "What are you doing Mick?" A familiar voice drawled, causing Barry to shiver again.
"Did this become a five-person conversation?" Fliss asked, amused.
"And all it took was three phones on speaker," Barry replied teasingly.
"Guess that cuts the girl-talk short," she sighed.
"We know Barry is definitely a boy," Len drawled.
"So what's he doing have a girl-talk?" Mick finished.
"He's Bi, in a gay relationship," Fliss responded, and her friends could picture her waving a negligent hand. "That's close enough."
The two thieves laughed. "We're going to get along, aren't we?" Len asked.
"As long as you treat him right," she stated. "I am on his side, and I always will be. Hurt him, and not only will I wreak my tech-wrath upon you, I'll sic the Arrow on you too."
"Warning noted," Len responded.
"Not that we need it," Mick muttered.
"And as to you being on his side," Len continued without pause, "I have one word for you: good."
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The Flash rolled across the ground, aware that without his advanced healing he would likely be sporting injuries. Blood or possibly broken bones. He came to an abrupt halt as he hit a wall. Ouch.
He got his hands under himself, ready to push himself back up and blinked when a jet of flames appeared before his eyes. It formed a wall between him and the Meta. He peered through it, and spotted Heat Wave grinning like a madman, keeping up a steady, protective stream of flame between him and his assailant.
A familiar whirr filled the air, and his meta opponent was now encased in ice. Well, that was unexpected. He pushed himself upright as Mick took his hand off the trigger. "Thanks," he murmured with a warm smile. He would have grinned at this turn of events – if he hadn't been so tired.
"You're welcome Scarlet," Len drawled, tapping on the ice, smirking with satisfaction at the solid sound.
"We'd stay, Red-"
"Go," Barry urged. "Before the police get here."
With last, concerned looks, his lovers quickly left as sirens rent the air. Now he just had to deal with escorting the prison transport, and then he could crash out.
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Barry stowed his Flash suit – the only reason he had used his speed to do so, was because it was the easiest way to get in and out of it – and heard his phone ping. He smiled as he saw it was from Len. It was an address.
He consulted his mental map of the city, and then tapped into his speed to transport himself there, phasing through the wall, before collapsing. "You need to take better care of yourself, Scarlet," Len chided.
The Speedster thought about getting up, but that would require too much energy – and he needed some to defend himself. "The call came in as an emergency," he murmured. "Didn't have the chance-"
"You got superspeed, doncha?" Mick rumbled as he scooped up their prone Speedster. "Use it to stock up on calories when you get a call like that."
"It would take a fraction of a second," Len continued, truly concerned at the energy levels of their Speedster, when neither of their voices had sparked a reaction. "And you would be better equipped to face whatever emergency you would face."
"Point taken," he murmured, snuggling close to the pyro's warmth with a sigh.
"You take on too much Red," Mick rumbled.
"But-"
Len laid gentle fingers over his lips. "We understand you feel the need to help, especially since you gained superspeed, however, you are only one person," Len stated.
"And you have a full-time job," Mick added.
"Exactly. We have service people in this city for a reason. Let them do their job," he spoke, a growl in his voice.
"Take the jobs they can't handle," Mick spoke.
"The Metas they have no chance against," Len suggested.
"The fires that'd kill 'em," Mick continued.
"Us," Len added with a smirk that made their Speedster smile. He stroked Barry's cheek gently. "It isn't healthy to run yourself into the ground so often. We understand, that you tackled things like my Heist when you were first getting to grips to your powers, however, it isn't sustainable to continue with that level of crime-stopping, as well as the true emergencies you're needed for, on top of your full-time job as a CSI," he spoke firmly. "Unless you want to give up being a CSI?"
"Absolutely not," he replied immediately, horrified.
"Then you need to cut back on the Flash stuff," Mick stated firmly.
Barry blew out a breath. "I see your point," he murmured. "Food?" he asked hopefully.
"We'll take care of you Scarlet," Len promised.
"Just wanted to make our point when you were unable to escape," Mick rumbled.
"How underhanded of you," he murmured. He licked his lips. "I do get it, and I will take your advice," he stated, voice as firm as he could make it when he was practically running on fumes. "Because the next time Captain Cold and Heat Wave help the Flash, I want the chance to show you how…appreciative I am," he added, before slumping into the pyro's arms.
"We look forward to it, Red," Mick replied.
"Now, let's get the food we prepared into you," Len remarked, leading the pyro into the kitchen.
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Len and Mick shared a look over Barry's sleeping form. The thief fished the Speedster's phone from his pocket without disturbing him, and walked from the room. He unlocked Barry's phone and dialled Felicity. "Hey Bare," she greeted warmly.
"Felicity," he spoke.
"Len? Is Barry okay?" she asked in a rush, concerned.
"He's sleeping," he assured. "What do you know about what goes on in Central?"
"I keep as up to date on Central as I do my own city," she stated. "It takes us longer to get to him, than it does him to us, so I try to have an early-warning system in place. And that was too much detail, wasn't it?"
"No," he replied. "I'm used to him rambling," he stated.
"What's up?" she prompted.
"We invited him to one of our properties," he stated. "He phased through the wall and collapsed to the floor," he stated, voice deliberately neutral. "He then had to make the choice between talking to us, and picking himself up off the floor." She made a horrified sound. "We managed to convince him that he needs to scale back on what he does as The Flash-"
"That's good," she murmured.
"But one instance of Captain Cold and Heat Wave helping The Flash will not endear us to his team," he finished.
"I'll talk to them," she promised. "I know I can convince Cisco and Caitlin, which means the three of them will outvote Wells," she muttered.
"You don't think he'll agree?" he asked softly.
"He kinda reminds me of the Arrow at his earliest; so determined that he's right in his course of action, that he has a 'means justify the end' mentality. It's not that he had no morals," she hastened to add, "but that he had no qualms breaking rules or laws if it meant he could punish the people he felt deserved it."
"And you think Wells has the same mentality?"
"I can't put my finger on why," she murmured. "He's slightly aloof – but you do get that with geniuses – but it always seemed to me that he had that obnoxious professor aspect. You know: I know all of the answers, but I'm going to make you work for the information, and will only grudgingly give you a hint of the right direction if you are absolutely lost as to how to get there." Len hummed as he absorbed that. "And Barry told me that he was really pissed at Cisco when he found out he made the Cold gun," she added. "Okay, it's a weakness for Barry, and it fell into the wrong hands, but why be pissed that Cisco made it?"
"Because he knows another way it could be used," Len murmured. "And that would derail his plans."
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"I cannot believe you would consider this, let alone condone it!" Wells protested.
"Technically, vigilantism is a crime," Len drawled as he and Mick entered. "Lucky the men and women in blue like the Flash, rather than set a manhunt like Starling did for the Arrow," he continued with a smirk.
"He does have a point," Caitlin pointed out.
"And," Cisco stressed as Wells opened his mouth. "Okay, this is a total oversimplification, but Biology," he spoke and pointed at Caitlin. "Chemistry," he continued, pointing at Barry. "Physics," he added, pointing at himself. "Obviously, we all have more knowledge than that, some of which overlaps with the others, but the reason we work so well as a team, is that we all have different areas of speciality. Having more can only help."
"They know the City inside out, and we have to make a surprising number of B+Es," Caitlin added.
"Exactly!" Cisco agreed.
"After everything-"
"If Barry is okay with this, so am I," Caitlin interrupted firmly.
"What she said," Cisco chimed in. "As long as you don't damage the suit," he added.
Mick snorted. "We'll keep that in mind," Len drawled. Barry smiled and slipped between the two thieves. "All right Scarlet?"
"Yeah. I am," he replied with a bright smile as he linked fingers with both of his thieves.