Peachy

FIVE

Soon after that promise was made they went into the building.

What Barry saw didn't surprise him, he knew Len to be the expensive type, his taste in art gave away that much. He was glad he'd made a change of outfit because they'd just walked into a super fancy restaurant. 

"Wow," Barry breathed, a bit amazed that Len thought he was worth that much money.

Len smiled at the look on his face, before putting an arm around his waist and following the waiter to their table. 

People stared at them, and that made Barry a little bit nervous. Did they recognize Len? That couldn't be it, right? They were far away from Central and Star City, so he hadn't made a name for himself here. At least, as far as Barry knew, he hadn't. Then he looked around the restaurant and realized something. There were some families and groups of friends, but very few. Most of the people there were couples, all consisting of a man and a woman. 

They were staring because they were two guys openly displaying their relationship. 

Barry let out a relieved sigh before taking his place at the table they were appointed to. It was near a window with a breathtaking view. Len really outdid himself. If only his family and friends could see this side of the notorious Captain Cold. But they never would, it had been hard enough for Barry to break through his walls, and when he did, the thief had admitted that he'd always had a soft spot for him. That was the only reason he had managed, so he didn't have any hope for his loved ones to do so too. 

"Wow." was all the brunette could say.

Len smirked. "You should know by now that I have a flair for dramatics," 

Barry smiled, he really did.

"As do you." The thief teasingly added.

Barry stuck out his tongue but quickly returned to seriousness.

"Len, you really didn't have to do all this for me." He told him.

He shook his head. "Barry you're worth every cent of the legitimate money I used to pay for this." 

Barry knew he really meant it, and he couldn't help but smile. 

•*•*•

They left the restaurant with Len laughing softly at Barry's corny jokes, both of them genuinely happy at the moment. So, of course, something had to go wrong. Comming towards them was Joe and he looked very. Barry's eyes went wide with fear and before he could utter even one word Joe had Len pushed against the wall by his throat.

"Snart!" He growled. "What are you doing with my son?" He demanded, putting some more pressure on his hold on the thief.

Barry was at a loss for words. He couldn't move for the shock of Joe nearly choking Len had frozen him in place.

"WELL?" Joe seethed. 

This seemed to jar him out of his shocked state and Barry moved to push Joe of the thief, which proved more difficult than the speedster had expected it to be.

"Barry! What are you doing? He kidnapped you!" Joe yelled.

Barry sighed, but it was an angry sigh. 

"No! He didn't! I willingly went here with him. Seriously, if he wanted to kidnap me he wouldn't bring me to a fancy restaurant now would he?" Barry said, raising his voice a little.

"Well, to be honest, I might've," Len commented, sounding sore.

"Not helping." Barry hissed at him. 

Joe looked confused but his tone was still angry. "Why would you willingly go with him anywhere? He's a criminal!"

"Yes he is, but that is no reason to try and kill my boyfriend," Barry yelled, now angry himself, not realizing that he'd just called Len his boyfriend in front of his adoptive father who was also a cop.

Oh shit.

Barry shot a panicked look at Len, who came up to him and took his hand unnoticed, giving it a squeeze to let the brunette know that he would be there for him no matter what happened here.

"Boyfriend?!"Joe roared, looking at Len with pure hatred.

Barry winced.

"Yes, and if you don't mind, we'd like to go back to our evening. It was delightful until you showed up, detective." Len replied, snarkily.

"You shut your mouth, Snart! This is between me and my son." Joe barked.

"No, it's not! And I don't need to explain myself to you now, should I? You lied to Iris for years about her mother, you made lots of choices that didn't always seem right but were!" Barry snapped. 

Barry didn't get this angry and fierce about something often and Joe knew it. But still, he didn't leave. Joe opened his mouth again to say more but he was cut off.

"Len makes me happy, and if you care for me at all, don't hurt him in any way. Don't arrest him, or threaten to kill him. I don't ask you to support me, but I have had enough judging for today so we're just gonna go home." Barry told his adoptive father in a rather cold tone, before tugging Len with him to his motorcycle. 

Len climbed onto it first, taking his place behind the controls and the speedster just snuggled up to him, not caring if Joe saw. So many emotions were going through him at that moment that caring about others could wait. He felt like crying because of how his friends and family reacted and how they treated Len. But he also really wanted to tell the thief his true feelings for him. That he loved him. Yeah, he loved Len. They may have been dating for less than a day but he did. It was quick, though Barry felt like it had been there all along, suppressed because the guy had always been on the wrong side before he joined the legends. But Barry was afraid saying those feelings out loud would spook Len. The man never was good at letting people in, trusting them. And now he trusted him but saying those three words could scare him and make him run away. So if it took him not admitting that yet to keep the man he loved close, then that was what he would do. Making a mess of everything in the process.

"Barry, we might as well tell team Flash and my Rogues now," Len said quietly.

Barry made a sound of agreement, before laying down his head on Len's back and closing his eyes.