Archive of Our Own ^beta

They had ended up spending the night with Clark, Kara and Louis and there was only one guest room left. Luckily, the room had a queen-sized bed and as a result, they decided to share. Upon retiring for the evening, Barry had tossed and turned for half an hour before Oliver sat up and glared, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry - I just can’t get comfortable. I’ll head out to the couch so you can get some sleep.” He then made to get up, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, “You don’t need to leave. Just tell me what I can do to help.”

Barry sighed and moved back to where he had his back to the headboard and crossed his legs under him. Oliver continued to watch him and moved up to where he was sitting with his back to the headboard and his legs outstretched, “Barry?”

“I don’t know what you can do. It’s not that I don’t trust you – I do. Look, let’s go to sleep.”

“Barry-”

He pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his face in his hands, “Go to sleep, Ollie. I’m fine. Sorry, I disturbed you.”

Oliver sighed, reached over to Barry and pulled him to his chest with him sitting between his outstretched legs. A surprised, “oof,” was heard. Barry struggled for a minute before he felt his speed buzzing under Oliver’s skin, closing his eyes, he relaxed into the embrace and felt the ache in his muscles begin to ease. Noticing Barry had relaxed, Oliver waited for him to say something, “I thought you weren’t a hugger?”

He chuckled and then answered, “Only when the situation calls for it.”

“You know I’m okay right?”

No reply was heard, instead, Oliver only tightened his grip. In return, Barry shifted to where Oliver was supporting most of his weight. They stayed like that for a while before the silence was broken, “When we first met, you saved my life. I didn’t like or trust you back then – but you stayed in touch and over time we trusted each other with our lives. I told you that you could always talk to me and I meant it.”

“Ollie, I’m sorry about shooting you in the back earlier.”

“Barry, I’m not mad now. And I get the sense that that is not what has you up right now.”

“I can move if you want-”

“If I didn’t want you in my space, I wouldn’t have pulled you in it. I’m going to use a word I don’t use often. Please.”

He shook his head, “I never thought I’d feel this way again- the way I felt when Thawne killed my mother. I used to have nightmares about Zoom taking someone I cared about, I would wake up screaming. When he broke my back, and I gave him my speed to save Wally – I felt powerless. The same when he killed my dad so that I would be like him. The same when Savitar stabbed me with his claw, and I thought I couldn’t save Iris. The same when you were taken by the dominators. And now, I don’t have my speed and I can’t sleep because of my back hurting where it was broken. And I don’t feel safe. I’ve gotten used to everyone that I love leaving – but it doesn’t mean that it gets any easier.”

“You’re not powerless and in each of those cases you did the best you could. And the common denominator is that you persevered. Yes, you’ve had people leave you. Loss is part of life, but the ones we love still live on in us. And know that, when I make promises, I keep them. I’m not going to leave you. And I will keep you safe. No matter what.”

They sat there in silence before Oliver added, “I haven’t been able to sleep either, but at least we’re in this together.”

“We almost weren’t,” he said with a shrug.

“Explain,” he replied with a sharp tone.

“I almost – Look it doesn’t matter,” Oliver’s arms became tighter around him, at that to keep him there.

“I kept putting myself in danger a while back during the stuff with Savitar. I thought the world would be better off without me.” A startled intake of breath was heard, “And here I was thinking I was the self-sacrificing idiot.”

Barry gave him a wounded look. Oliver then huffed and continued, “You mean a lot to your family. To Iris, your friends and to me. So, promise me that you’ll come to me if you need to or feel like that, and I’ll promise you the same.”

“Thank you,” Barry shifted again as if trying to get comfortable.
“Turn over.”

“What,” he asked in a startled tone,

“Do you trust me?”

In reply, Barry leaned up, placed a hand on Oliver’s shoulder and turned over to where he was laying on the archer’s chest. Once was sure Barry was settled, he placed his hands on the speedster’s shoulders and gently began to rub. He then moved his hands to Barry’s back and worked out the knots there. Finally, he moved his hands to where Zoom had broken his back and worked out the tension until he felt Barry relax against him.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day, Barry made sure Oliver ate enough so he wouldn’t pass out from low glucose. Later, the helped Cisco and the team and worked with Kara to save their world. Once, he and Kara had stopped running he felt dizzy, but shook it off as everyone decided to return to Star Labs.

Upon their arrival, Kara went into the kitchen to get water and snack while Barry and Oliver went to get changed. Barry was moving a little slower but kept on moving just the same. They all then said their goodbyes and eventually, it was just Oliver and Barry left. They decided to go into the kitchen to relax for a little while and then go and get a drink.

Before they could make it to the elevator, however, Barry stumbled and passed out. Oliver rushed over to him and checked him for injuries. Finding none, he suspected it was Barry’s glucose levels as he remembered how Barry made sure he ate enough the other morning to make sure he didn’t pass out. Picking him up, he took them to the Cortex and placed him on a gurney. Next, he called Caitlin who ran him through checking Barry’s blood and then told him to get several IVs started. He did as he was instructed and after forty bags Barry woke up to find Oliver watching him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off, “Don’t even think about saying you’re fine. You just scared the hell out of me. You’re lucky I was here and knew what was going on.”

“How did I get here?”

“I carried you. You’re not that heavy, Barry.”

“Have you had anything to eat or drink yet? You need to take care of yourself too.”

“I did after I got you settled. Are you feeling, okay?”

“Tired, but other than that I think I’m okay. Can you take the IVs out?”

Oliver moved over to him and took out his IV lines and then, reached over and grabbed a bottle of water and a power bar off the counter where he had placed it for when Barry woke up. Handing it to him, he then, proceeded to throw away all of the supplies he had used. Next, he pulled up a chair next to Barry’s bed and sat down, “How are you so calm?”

“This has happened before, and I was fine. Plus, I trust you to take care of me if something happens.” Seeing a surprised look at that, he chuckled and continued, “You shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve always been there for me. I trust you with my life, Ollie.”

He smiled and gave Barry a thoughtful look, “How could you be so sure?”

“Because you have a habit of being a great caretaker – even though you won’t admit it. You took care of Felicity, Thea, Roy, Diggle – Not to mention your son. Bottom line, you look after the people you love and protect them against all costs. And I know I would do the same for you.”

“He nodded and added, “Thank you.”

Barry moved to get up, but was stopped by a look from Ollie, “Do not move. You’re on bedrest for the next hour.”

“I’m okay now. What if I’m needed?”

“Humor me.”

From the tone and the look, he knew arguing would be pointless and decided to settle in. There were a few moments where the only sound was Barry eating and drinking. Once he was done, he asked, “Why do you care about me?”

Oliver looked up at him with surprise, “The real question is why wouldn’t I? You’re my friend – more than that.”

“But I constantly screw up.”

Chuckling with a humorless laugh, “You’re not a God Barry. We’re human. We make mistakes. We learn from them, and we grow. I’d be a shitty friend if after all of my mistakes – I left you for yours. The truth is Barry – I care more about you then I could ever say. Why didn’t you tell me that your sugar was dropping?”

Barry looked sheepish, “Because I didn’t want to bother anyone. Besides, I’ve hid my injuries and this for years.”

“What part of you can always talk to me did you not understand?”

“Technically, I did understand. I just didn’t want to burden you with it.”

“You are not a burden. Least of all to me. I’m not going to let you push me away. No matter what happens.

“Then promise me something in return,” he replied, as green eyes met blue.

“What?”

“We’re partners - so don’t push me away either. Don’t keep secrets.”

“I can promise I won’t push you away. But sometimes there are secrets I have to keep.”

Barry nodded, and then moved to get up and this time wasn’t stopped. Oliver placed a hand on his arm when he stumbled, and removed his hand when Barry walked normally, “We’ll take my bike to the bar.”

For once, Barry didn’t argue and got on the bike behind Oliver. The archer after making sure he was ready and within twenty minutes they were at the bar beer in hand. They talked about superspeed, and he expressed that he thought because of Barry he would be a better man one day. And Barry may not know the lengths Oliver had gone to for now – because Oliver didn’t want to burden him. But he knew that he could trust him and that whatever he needed Oliver would be there no matter what obstacle laid before him.