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~*~
The moment Barry Allen walked into the board room, Leonard's attention was fragmented. He knew it, and worst of all, his Rogues knew it, too. Lisa smirked, Bivolo elbowed Mardon in the side, and Barry slunk to a corner of the room like he had no idea that he was the focus of everyone in the room.
"We'll end here for the day," Leonard said, planting his hands on the table and rising to his feet. "You've got your instructions."
His Rogues stood and gathered their things before heading to the door. "Can't keep the missus waiting," Digger muttered, and Rosa giggled as they slipped out of the room.
Once they were all gone, Leonard looked over at Barry. "I'm assuming you have a good reason for interrupting me."
"I needed help," Barry said simply, taking a few hesitant steps toward Leonard. "I thought maybe you would be willing."
Leonard snorted. "Okay, kid. I'll bite. What's up?"
"Thawne left me STAR Labs," Barry said. Leonard blinked and hopped up onto the edge of the table as he processed that. "What do I do?"
"Way I see it, you've got two choices." Leonard was pleased that his voice was so calm, because what the fuck. "You can wash your hands of all of it and let the rest of us squabble over the territory, or…" He trailed off, looking expectantly at Barry.
"Or I can take it over," Barry finished, quick on the uptake. The kid had a brain that never quit, that was for sure.
"Or you can take it over," Leonard agreed, reaching out to brush a piece of nonexistent lint from Barry's shoulder.
Barry startled at the touch, and then relaxed and lowered his head. "What should I do?"
"Can't make that decision for you, kid. Hell, it gets out that you're asking me for advice, and you might as well just give me the whole damn thing."
Barry snorted at that. "What, you're staying away from me for my own good?"
Leonard shrugged, choosing to remain silent, and Barry's face contorted with frustration and anger, his eyes glowing yellow with light. Before he could say anything else, Barry was looming over him, keeping Leonard leashed by his tight grip on Leonard's tie. Leonard's heart tripped over itself, and a traitorous, possessive shiver raced down his spine.
"Stop jerking me around, Leonard," Barry snarled, and their mouths clashed together hard enough that Leonard tasted his own blood. He was too eager, he knew, frustrated with his own response as Barry licked his mouth open. It was easy to let it happen, to lean back against the table and leave the boundaries up to Barry.
It was all over in the next second. Barry let Leonard go and stepped away from the table, leaving Leonard breathing hard and in no way ready to stop.
Barry raked his eyes over Leonard's body and shook his head, disappointment overwhelming the anger. "I thought we had something, Snart. I thought I could trust you. And I am so damned tired of playing games. He smoothed down his suit jacket, ran his fingers through his hair. " Let me know when you make up your mind." He turned and left without even waiting for Leonard to respond.
Leonard hadn't even caught his breath yet.
"Fuck," Leonard said with feeling, and he lay back, rubbing his hands over his face. Where had that even come from?
Leonard hadn't been playing games, exactly, but he'd sure lost the damned advantage.
~*~
