Rough Childhood
So as I’ve probably said on here before it really bugs me in the episode of Flash, ‘Running to Stand Still’ when Iris makes her stupid ass comment to Len about everyone in the room ‘having a rough childhood’ and to get over it. ¬_¬ Anyhoo I’ve been wanting to write a wee fix-up snippet fic to right this terrible wrong. So here she be.....
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“Ho ho ho.”
Barry's jaw dropped while Iris gasped beside him as they took in the sight of Leonard Snart aka Captain Cold sitting comfortably, parka and all in the armchair by a cosy fire that the thief had obviously started with Barry's Christmas reindeer mug clasped in his hands.
He made a noise in his throat of consideration before placing the mug on the small side table by the chair “Cocoa isn't really cocoa without the mini marshmallows and you're out.” He looked back at Barry with a small almost friendly smile “I checked.”
A flush of anger raised in Barry's cheeks and he flashed across the room, grabbed Snart roughly by the front of the shirt and pushed him hard into the fireplace. He crowded the older man's personal space basically pressing himself completely to his front and snarled “are you out of your mind, breaking into my home?”
The smile turned into the trademark Cold smirk and his voice took it's usual drawl “careful.” His hand rested down on the tip of the gun that rested in it's thigh holster “I've made an upgrade to the cold gun.” He tightened hi hold “if I release my grip of the handle the core goes critical.” His ice blue eyes met Barry's green doe eyes “you might make it out” then his eyes travelled to Iris who still stood close to the front door “but she won't.”
Barry glared at the thief for a second longer, he had to know that Barry would be fast enough to simply pick Iris up as he ran out but looking at him something made the hero pause. Leonard did know this but he was pushing Barry trying to get him to listen and that peeked his interest. So he pulled back taking his time to let go of the edge of Snart's parka as the thief pushed himself from the fireplace.
Barry moved back to stand in front of the sofa as Snart pulled his gloves off and finally addressed Iris “read your article on the disappearing middle classes. Strong point of view” and Barry heard the truth in his words which surprised him “nice prose style.”
Iris snorted and threw her bag onto the sofa as she walked around it to stand on the other side of Barry “well who needs a Pulitzer when you have a homicidal maniac’s seal of approval?”
“Oh frosty” Len chided back and Iris's face pinched before he gave Barry a sideways glance “didn't Barry tell you, I had a rough childhood.”
“Everyone in this room had a rough childhood” Iris replied dryly and Barry flinched “get over it.”
“No” Len said simply making both Barry and Iris blink at him startled “I grew up with an abusive alcoholic father that killed my mother and chased Lisa's into hiding and got me into the thieving game before I could tie my shoelaces properly.” Iris opened her mouth to argue but Snart was not finished “and Barry's grown up without his parents because his mother was murdered in front of him and his daddy was put in prison for it. Oh and everyone thought he was too traumatised or just plain crazy to believe him when he told the police that he was innocent -” he pointed at Iris “- your father being one of them.” Then he brought his hands together in front of him “the police reports make for interesting reading.” He looked to Barry and there was something hidden in his neutral expression, his eyes too bright but he didn't say anything before looking back at Iris the possible warmth evaporating from his eyes “so tell me Miss West what part of your childhood was rough?”
“Snart....” Barry sighed as Iris gaped for a second but he wasn't really sure what to say to any of what he had just regaled them with. Then he released something and his head snapped up to look back at Snart “your father..... Lewis killed your -”
“Not really what I came to talk about Scarlet” Snart snapped and Barry knew that the door that always stood ajar between himself and the thief that allowed him glimpses of the man behind the façade had slammed shut for the night.
Disappointed Barry wrung his hands before asking “why are you here Snart?”
Len looked to the Flash and the smirk was back as he explained how Mardon and Jesse were out to kill him.
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There we are short and sweet hopefully you like it.