Barry Allen asking me to rob a vending machine for him. Never thought I'd see the day.
[ he's kidding. leonard knows that barry is absolutely asking him to pay like fifty bucks to actually empty a vending machine, but teasing him is just too tempting. as is hanging up right after he says, ] How can I resist a request like that?
[ a handful of minutes later, he strolls into barry's hospital room, arms laden with what looks like the contents of two vending machines piled on top of a little cart he's borrowed. ]
[for a horrible moment, he's envisioning his nurse turning back up with yet another bowl of the porridge-like concoction they'd been forcing him to eat since waking back up again. so having len walk in instead is something he's more than grateful for. especially with a cart as laden with sugar-filled snacks as that. it's enough to have him perk right up, tiredness pushed away an replaced by a wide grin and buzz of excitement.
you have made his day, leonard snart.]
You did pay for that, right?
[because as much as he may want to dig straight in, he has to ask first. theft is still a crime and he at least needs to try and be annoyed if that's the case. not that it'd stop him from tucking in anyway.]
[ mostly because the handful of nurses he's met at the hospital have been delightful people who take absolutely zero of his shit and he's mildly scared of them in the same way he occasionally gets mildly scared of lisa. he'd prefer not to get a tongue lashing and disappointed look. ]
I'll send you a bill once you're not on an IV. [ leonard tosses a candy bar at barry as he perches on the edge of the hospital bed, unwrapping one for himself. ] Or maybe you can make whatever we've got for insurance here pay for it.
[well, that's good enough for him. he digs in to the candy bar straight away, the wrapper barely removed before he's shoving half of it in his mouth. it's far from being a pretty sight, but it's the last thought on his mind right now.]
I don't think they cover emergency candy runs.
[which...are words that may not be entirely understandable, given that they're said around the mouthful of chocolate he's replacing at the same time.]
You never said what you were doing here in the first place.
[ and that's about when leonard starts looking like he's in one of those, "need a moment? chew it over with twix." commercials as he takes a bite right as barry starts almost-asking about what he's doing here. he holds up a finger, chews, swallows, and raises one shoulder in a very nonchalant shrug. ]
Volunteering. Gotta make sure I rack up those feel-good points somehow.
[his expression softens completely at that, pride showing through despite knowing that he isn't really in any kind of a position to feel that way. but he can't help it. it's times like this, times where len proves what barry's always known, that brings it out of him. len may have an excuse for his behavior, but it's exactly that as far as he's concerned. an excuse. something to save face when really, he's being the person he really is beneath the captain cold persona.
okay, so maybe he's reading far too much in to it and his own personal feelings towards len are playing a part in it all too. but it doesn't make him believe it any less.]
I'm glad you were able to help out. They needed someone who could keep their cool in an emergency.
[ all his motivation for helping out involved (at least at first) the fact that if he doesn't get this wish he dies and the fact that he'd rather stay on management's good side for now. maybe now, a day or so after the initial quake, part of it also has to do with wanting to see the kids he's been helping out with get to go home. but he'll never admit that. the closest he'll get is not protesting too vehemently when barry implies he's doing something just for the good of it. ]
Nice pun, though. [ he smirks a little. ] Solid seven out of ten.
[he doesn't push. doesn't try to get any more out of len than he already has. the entire visit feels too comfortable for him to risk ruining it all by pushing len for details he may not be willing to share.
so instead, he just pushes himself up the bed so he can sit propped by the pillows instead. tapping len's side with his foot, he motions towards the snack pile in a request for more.he doesn't particularly mind what he gets. anything beats his earlier meals.]
Only a seven? You're meant to go easy on me. [see: being in hospital.]
[ with one hand he swats at that foot, and with the other he grabs a bag of chips from their food-loot pile and tosses it at barry's head. ]
I don't have to go easy on you when it's your own damn fault you're in here.
[ he pins barry with the same sort of disappointed look he used to give lisa every time she did something stupid when she was a teenager. he doesn't really expect it to work, but it's worth pointing out that being in the hospital could've easily been avoided. ]
[it's a testament to how out of it he really is that he doesn't realize what len's done until he's being hit in the head. the scowl he throws back is halfhearted at best though, and it isn't long before he's crunching away at the chips. and possibly trying to buy himself time in the process.]
You get that there was an earthquake, right? There wasn't exactly time to go eat.
[or rather, he didn't make time because that meant abandoning potential casualties. even if it would've only been temporarily, he couldn't bring himself to do that. not when every second counted.]
Do you or do you not have superspeed? Hitting up a grocery store for snacks shouldn't take you more than a few seconds.
[ barry could even leave an IOU at the register, if he really wanted to. point is, he made a choice. and that choice has landed him here. with leonard sitting on the end of his bed, opening a bag of twizzlers, and throwing one at his face because len is the Most Mature. ]
Yeah, well...I guess I need to work on my priorities or something.
[it's a muted response, the admonishment enough to have him feeling bad about it. this may not be len, but that doesn't mean he wants to let him down either. but then there's yet more food being launched at his face and the surprise of it is enough to put an end to his brief dip in mood. it leaves him blinking back at len as he catches up with what just happened.]
Uh-- I was told overnight, but I'll probably ask to leave today instead. [a shrug] There's no point taking up a bed when I can sleep this off somewhere else.
You might as well stick around. [ he says around a bit of licorice. ] Everybody's either here or holed up in the gym. There's enough beds here that you're not taking one from someone else, and you're not a hundred percent yet.
[ as if to prove his point, he grabs another bag of chips and tosses it at barry. he hasn't caught one thing yet, and it's not because leonard has terrible aim. ]
I'm f-- [well, possibly not fine, considering the word is interrupted by yet another bag of chips being thrown at him. though at least this time he's able to protect his face with his arm. catching the bag seems to be a little beyond him right now.]
Dude. Are you seriously going to spend all day throwing things at me?
[because, oh would you look at that, the entire cart of food is somehow now down by his end of the bed instead. which would probably have been a much smoother move if it didn't leave him winded in the process.]
[ he tilts his head to the side, pulling an exaggerated face as he thinks that over. ]
Nah. Takes the fun out of it when you do something like that. [ leonard gestures to the pile of snacks that are not where they were two seconds ago. ] But if you try any of that "I'm fine" bullshit, I might start up again. Let someone else take care of things for a while.
But I am. [though he's quick to add--] I just need to finish eating and take a nap. Then I'll be good to go.
[he purposely avoids saying the f-word, simply because he'd rather eat those snacks than have more of them thrown at him. digging through the pile, he finds another few candy bars, wasting no time in finishing off another one before he says anything else.]
I know I haven't said it yet but, thanks. For all of this. [whether he's talking about the next bar he's unwrapping or something else, he doesn't clarify. but it's gratitude that extends beyond len's agreement to empty those vending machines for him. it's for his patience, for giving him a chance to navigate his way around their friendship and not push for answers. the words may be far from enough, but it's a start.]
[ some of the teasing vibe fades from the room into something more sedate. this whole situation is more than a little fucked up. and while leonard can't know what it's like to deal with everything from barry's side, figuring out how things are working with him and sara has given him enough of a hard time that he can make a guess. it blows. and there's no easy way around it. all they can do is muddle through and be aware of each other.
he looks away, nudging barry's foot with his elbow. ] If you really want to thank me, don't be the asshole patient nobody at the hospital likes. And don't tell anybody I'm willingly spending time here.
I wouldn't dare! The people working here-- They're heroes. I wouldn't even think of trying to annoy them.
[even though he's fairly sure he's managed that already, to an extent. he's been the cause of many an exasperated sigh already, thanks to his requests to leave. though in his defence, he really does know that all he needs to do is eat and sleep. so why stay here and cause more work for the nurses when he could just go to the gym instead?]
You know, I don't think anybody would believe me if I told them you were here. [a slow, teasing grin and--] My knight in shining armour.
[ the look leonard gives him is so thoroughly disgusted that it's bound to get a laugh. but he can't help it. that just sounds so wrong it puts his teeth on edge. ]
For a moment there, I actually thought you were likable. [ but not anymore. never again will he make that mistake. ]
[as expected, len's expression leaves barry doubling over with laughter. something he doesn't even bother trying to stifle in any way. after everything that's happened, it feels good to be able to just let loose, even if he does go a little over the top with it. but it's needed, and len just happens to be in the wrong (right?) place at the right time.
when he does finally manage to calm himself back down again, he shoves at len's side again with his foot. a nudge, and he tosses over a bag of (what he's assuming are) m&m's.]
[ oh no. m&ms, his one true food weakness. leonard glares as he opens the bag and pops an m&m into his mouth. ]
No, you're not. [ he's very transparent. but it's hard to begrudge him the laughter when he looks so pathetic in the hospital bed and clearly needs a laugh. len just wishes it could've been at something other than his expense. ]
You're lucky you're more tolerable than most in this place.
Well, I'm not going to get anywhere here if I scare everybody off.
[never mind the fact that he purposely tries to be nice to everyone back home too, no matter how many times that's been used against him before. he trusts people far too easily, and despite all the issues it may have caused him and his team before, he's loathe to change his ways.]
I've been told I'm adorable.
[even though that word does come with a grimace. it's not exactly a descriptive he's proud of. but given that the rogues had used it multiple times in eudio, it comes with fond memories too.]
[ the fact that leonard is still here gives lie to that. sure, barry may occasionally be annoying in his chipper do-gooder ways. but for some odd reason, len's fond of him. ]
You want adorable, you should head down to the obstetrics wing. Some of the little handfuls there could charm the skin off a snake.
[and that's another piece to the puzzle. while len may have only meant it as an off-handed comment, barry can't help but read in to it. can't keep the smile off his face as it all starts to come together.
len was in the hospital.
he was in the hospital, but not as a patient.
he was there, not as a patient but as a visitor to the obstetrics wing.]
You were helping them out. [...sorry, len. but there's awe in his voice at that. he can't help it.]
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[because he could take care of that himself if he had the energy too. meaning even he knows that leaving would be a dumb idea right now.]
I was kind of hoping that you'd be willing to pick me up something to eat, or empty a vending machine for me, or something.
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[ he's kidding. leonard knows that barry is absolutely asking him to pay like fifty bucks to actually empty a vending machine, but teasing him is just too tempting. as is hanging up right after he says, ] How can I resist a request like that?
[ a handful of minutes later, he strolls into barry's hospital room, arms laden with what looks like the contents of two vending machines piled on top of a little cart he's borrowed. ]
Somebody order room service?
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you have made his day, leonard snart.]
You did pay for that, right?
[because as much as he may want to dig straight in, he has to ask first. theft is still a crime and he at least needs to try and be annoyed if that's the case. not that it'd stop him from tucking in anyway.]
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[ mostly because the handful of nurses he's met at the hospital have been delightful people who take absolutely zero of his shit and he's mildly scared of them in the same way he occasionally gets mildly scared of lisa. he'd prefer not to get a tongue lashing and disappointed look. ]
I'll send you a bill once you're not on an IV. [ leonard tosses a candy bar at barry as he perches on the edge of the hospital bed, unwrapping one for himself. ] Or maybe you can make whatever we've got for insurance here pay for it.
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I don't think they cover emergency candy runs.
[which...are words that may not be entirely understandable, given that they're said around the mouthful of chocolate he's replacing at the same time.]
You never said what you were doing here in the first place.
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Volunteering. Gotta make sure I rack up those feel-good points somehow.
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okay, so maybe he's reading far too much in to it and his own personal feelings towards len are playing a part in it all too. but it doesn't make him believe it any less.]
I'm glad you were able to help out. They needed someone who could keep their cool in an emergency.
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[ all his motivation for helping out involved (at least at first) the fact that if he doesn't get this wish he dies and the fact that he'd rather stay on management's good side for now. maybe now, a day or so after the initial quake, part of it also has to do with wanting to see the kids he's been helping out with get to go home. but he'll never admit that. the closest he'll get is not protesting too vehemently when barry implies he's doing something just for the good of it. ]
Nice pun, though. [ he smirks a little. ] Solid seven out of ten.
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so instead, he just pushes himself up the bed so he can sit propped by the pillows instead. tapping len's side with his foot, he motions towards the snack pile in a request for more.he doesn't particularly mind what he gets. anything beats his earlier meals.]
Only a seven? You're meant to go easy on me. [see: being in hospital.]
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I don't have to go easy on you when it's your own damn fault you're in here.
[ he pins barry with the same sort of disappointed look he used to give lisa every time she did something stupid when she was a teenager. he doesn't really expect it to work, but it's worth pointing out that being in the hospital could've easily been avoided. ]
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You get that there was an earthquake, right? There wasn't exactly time to go eat.
[or rather, he didn't make time because that meant abandoning potential casualties. even if it would've only been temporarily, he couldn't bring himself to do that. not when every second counted.]
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[ barry could even leave an IOU at the register, if he really wanted to. point is, he made a choice. and that choice has landed him here. with leonard sitting on the end of his bed, opening a bag of twizzlers, and throwing one at his face because len is the Most Mature. ]
How long they want you to stay here?
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[it's a muted response, the admonishment enough to have him feeling bad about it. this may not be len, but that doesn't mean he wants to let him down either. but then there's yet more food being launched at his face and the surprise of it is enough to put an end to his brief dip in mood. it leaves him blinking back at len as he catches up with what just happened.]
Uh-- I was told overnight, but I'll probably ask to leave today instead. [a shrug] There's no point taking up a bed when I can sleep this off somewhere else.
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[ as if to prove his point, he grabs another bag of chips and tosses it at barry. he hasn't caught one thing yet, and it's not because leonard has terrible aim. ]
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Dude. Are you seriously going to spend all day throwing things at me?
[because, oh would you look at that, the entire cart of food is somehow now down by his end of the bed instead. which would probably have been a much smoother move if it didn't leave him winded in the process.]
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Nah. Takes the fun out of it when you do something like that. [ leonard gestures to the pile of snacks that are not where they were two seconds ago. ] But if you try any of that "I'm fine" bullshit, I might start up again. Let someone else take care of things for a while.
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[he purposely avoids saying the f-word, simply because he'd rather eat those snacks than have more of them thrown at him. digging through the pile, he finds another few candy bars, wasting no time in finishing off another one before he says anything else.]
I know I haven't said it yet but, thanks. For all of this. [whether he's talking about the next bar he's unwrapping or something else, he doesn't clarify. but it's gratitude that extends beyond len's agreement to empty those vending machines for him. it's for his patience, for giving him a chance to navigate his way around their friendship and not push for answers. the words may be far from enough, but it's a start.]
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he looks away, nudging barry's foot with his elbow. ] If you really want to thank me, don't be the asshole patient nobody at the hospital likes. And don't tell anybody I'm willingly spending time here.
[ he's got an image to maintain, after all. ]
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[even though he's fairly sure he's managed that already, to an extent. he's been the cause of many an exasperated sigh already, thanks to his requests to leave. though in his defence, he really does know that all he needs to do is eat and sleep. so why stay here and cause more work for the nurses when he could just go to the gym instead?]
You know, I don't think anybody would believe me if I told them you were here. [a slow, teasing grin and--] My knight in shining armour.
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For a moment there, I actually thought you were likable. [ but not anymore. never again will he make that mistake. ]
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when he does finally manage to calm himself back down again, he shoves at len's side again with his foot. a nudge, and he tosses over a bag of (what he's assuming are) m&m's.]
Sorry. [except he really isn't.]
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No, you're not. [ he's very transparent. but it's hard to begrudge him the laughter when he looks so pathetic in the hospital bed and clearly needs a laugh. len just wishes it could've been at something other than his expense. ]
You're lucky you're more tolerable than most in this place.
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[never mind the fact that he purposely tries to be nice to everyone back home too, no matter how many times that's been used against him before. he trusts people far too easily, and despite all the issues it may have caused him and his team before, he's loathe to change his ways.]
I've been told I'm adorable.
[even though that word does come with a grimace. it's not exactly a descriptive he's proud of. but given that the rogues had used it multiple times in eudio, it comes with fond memories too.]
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[ the fact that leonard is still here gives lie to that. sure, barry may occasionally be annoying in his chipper do-gooder ways. but for some odd reason, len's fond of him. ]
You want adorable, you should head down to the obstetrics wing. Some of the little handfuls there could charm the skin off a snake.
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len was in the hospital.
he was in the hospital, but not as a patient.
he was there, not as a patient but as a visitor to the obstetrics wing.]
You were helping them out. [...sorry, len. but there's awe in his voice at that. he can't help it.]
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