Chapter Text
Leonard Snart was running away from the police like he normally did. Mick was by his side as they darted into an alleyway. They had gone far enough to not be seen from the street when Len tripped over something. He fell, something he would deny later on, and took Mick’s hand to pull himself up. He looked where he tripped and caught a glimpse of a leg encased in red leather. He swore and pulled the collapsed body from behind the dumpster. Sliding his fingers under the neck of Barry Allen’s suit he felt for a pulse.
“Mick the closest safe house with IV capabilities is where?” He sighed slightly. Barry’s pulse was rapidly beating under his fingers.
“Four blocks southwest from here. Why are we saving the hero?”
“Because he’ll be indebted to us if we do.” Len tried to hoist Barry into his arms but was pushed aside by Mick. The man effortlessly lifted the red leather clad body and carried him in the direction of the safe house.
When they got into the safe house Len checked their patient’s pulse again before he went looking for some clothes he could change their erstwhile superhero into. He grabbed one of his sweatshirts and a pair of Mick’s sweatpants. He looked around until he found the intricate black mask Lisa had worn for a heist once and added it to the pile. When he came downstairs, Mick was going through Barry’s pockets. There were a few protein bars, a cell phone, and something that looked suspiciously like a miniaturized stun gun.
“Mick if I ask you to look away while I get his face covered will you?”
“Why?”
“I swore I’d tell no one his identity in trade for not killing anyone on our jobs.” He looked at Mick until Mick turned around and covered his eyes. Len had Barry’s cowl off as soon as he was certain that Mick couldn’t see. He slid the mask on and made sure it was secure enough to withstand the manhandling getting Barry changed would involve.
“Can I turn around now?” Len plucked the small communication device out of Barry’s ear and set it on the table. He disconnected the central flash logo from Barry’s uniform and set it aside with the other stuff.
“Yes. Let’s get him changed and then we can start an IV to get him rehydrated and get some sugar into him.” Mick lifted Barry and Len unzipped the suit. The two of them got Barry out of it and into the sweatpants and sweatshirt that Len had brought down. Len took the needle that Mick handed to him and gently inserted it into a vein. He pulled the needle out when he was certain the small tube was firmly seated and hooked up the two IV bags Mick had grabbed. He slid the small blood pressure and heart rate monitor onto Barry’s wrist and sighed.
“What now?” Mick’s voice was gruff and Len looked up at him.
“Now we wait.”
The first thing Barry noticed was that he wasn’t in the suit anymore. The soft cotton that encased his body seemed well worn. The second thing he noticed was that he was warm. There was a soft blanket draped over him. He wrinkled his nose slightly and realized that he was wearing a mask on his face. He tried to reach up and tug it off but a hand stopped him.
“Well look what the cat dragged in.” Barry’s eyes shot open when he recognized Leonard Snart’s voice. He tried to jolt upright but strong hands that were covered in burns pressed down on his shoulders. “Easy Scarlet. We just rehydrated you from your little jaunt fighting whoever you were fighting.”
“My suit?”
“Is here. I kept my promise to keep your identity a secret. Even Mick didn’t see your face.” A protein bar was shoved into Barry’s hands and he ate it in quick bites. Len perched next to him on the couch and took the hand that had the IV in it. He deftly removed the small tube and taped a cotton ball over it. He handed Barry another one of the protein bars and the man ate it quickly. He reached for the last one and Len passed it over. Mick was watching them intensely.
“What?”
“I’m trying to extrapolate what’s under the mask.” Barry let out a frustrated sigh.
“No using my identity against me, the people I work with, my family, or anyone else it could be used against. No telling anyone or I’ll stop letting you get away with some of the loot from your heists. And please try to be more careful with your fire gun. It’s hard to fix after you set everything on fire.”
“Thieves’ honor.” Barry shot Mick a look and looked to Len who nodded. Barry stripped off the mask and went back to eating his protein bar. Mick stared for a moment before he started laughing. “Barry Allen. The puny little CSI from CCPD.”
“It’s a day job. I can’t exactly be working full time as a superhero and still pay rent.” Barry stood up, slightly shocked when Mick’s large hand landed on the small of his back to steady him. He reached for the suit but Len shook his head.
“Don’t bother. You can keep the sweatpants and the sweatshirt.” Len grabbed a backpack and tucked the suit into it, placing the rest of Barry’s belongings on top. He zipped it up and handed it to the man.
“Snart I won’t tell anyone about this place.” Barry looked around then slid the bag onto his back. “Thank you to you both. Rory, remember our deal.” He slipped out of the safe house. Len watched him go.
“You’ve got the hots for super speed.”
“I do not.”
“You do. You want to press him against a wall and have your way with him.” Len shot him a look and Mick grinned. “If he’s willing I want to press him against a wall and have my way with him.” Mick looked in the direction that Barry had gone. “You let him leave with your favorite sweatshirt.
Barry had taken to wearing the sweatpants and sweatshirt around the house. The first time he had worn the sweatpants, emblazoned with the name of one of the public high schools, Iris had asked where he had gotten them. He had shrugged and told her he didn’t remember, probably some thrift shop or something. The sweatshirt was a little more difficult to shrug off. Barry found out inadvertently that the sweatshirt was issued in jail when Joe approached him about it. The excuse he finally came up with was that he found it in the lost and found at the court house one day when he had been expected to present evidence and that he had brought it home and washed it.
Len spotted Barry walking to work one day with the sweatshirt on and smiled slightly. He followed the man, ignoring Mick’s ribbing about his crush until Barry slipped into an alleyway. He followed the other man in and was met by a punch that he easily caught.
“Now Scarlett that isn’t nice.”
“Why are you following me Snart?”
“Is a man not allowed to watch his enemy?” Len looked him over. “That sweatshirt looks good on you.” Barry started to pull it off and Len backed away. “No, I meant it. Keep it.” Barry brushed past them and walked out of the alley. Len turned to watch him leave and pulled his gun to point at Mick.
“What’s that for?”
“If you so much as say one word of what you’re thinking I will freeze your face off.”