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When Barry comes home, he is surprised to find Leonard in the kitchen. He is normally the one to cook - or to warm up their frozen dinners - and it’s almost a little disconcerting to see Leonard surrounded by ingredients and covered in flour.
“What are you doing?”
Leonard looks over his shoulder, and his face is flushed and covered in flour too. He is not one to get frazzled over anything, but he definitely looks frazzled now.
“Are you…,” Barry laughs as he steps up to him. “Are you trying to bake a cake?”
“I was.”
“But?”
Leonard points at the blackened thing in the trash can - clearly a failed attempt from earlier - and Barry can’t help but laugh.
“What happened there?”
“What do you think?” Leonard glares at him before picking up the bowl and giving it another stir. “How does this look?”
“Can I try?”
Leonard sticks his finger into the batter, and Barry licks it off - part of him ready to throw the cake to the side and take this somewhere else - but when he tastes what kind of cake he is trying to make, he wraps his arms around his waist and he pulls him against his chest.
“Is that pumpkin spice?” He grins, teasing his fingers underneath Leonard’s sweater and over the skin of his stomach. “Is this why you’re making this cake? Are you trying to impress Joe?”
“No!” Leonard quickly objects, but then he relaxes back into Barry’s arms and he sighs. “Maybe.”
“You don’t have to do this, Len. I know he was a little…”
“He threatened to have me arrested.”
“He was teasing you,” Barry reassures him, but he can’t help but blush when he remembers the moment they first told Joe about their relationship. He had gone into the kitchen to get more coffee, but even from there he had heard Joe warn Leonard and indeed threaten to have him arrested if he ever hurt him. Barry didn’t think he was serious, but he didn’t dare ask him - just in case he hadn’t been joking. And, of course Leonard never hurt him, so Joe never followed through on his threats. But Barry can see why he still remembers them, and why it still makes him nervous. Especially now.
“Do you want me to cancel?” he suggests. “I can call him and Cecile and ask if they can come over some other time?”
“I’ve spent all day in the kitchen. I’m not doing this again next time.”
“You don’t need to bake a cake, Len.”
“It might help.”
Or it might make things worse, Barry thinks, but he doesn’t mention it. Because he can tell how hard Leonard has been trying, and honestly, the batter didn’t taste bad.
“You know he can’t stop us from getting married, right?” He smiles, before kissing Leonard’s neck. “I already yes, so…”
“I’m sure he’ll find a way to stop us.”
“He won’t,” Barry chuckles. “I won’t let him, alright? Promise.” He kisses his fiancé’s neck again, but just as he is about to lead him away from the batter - away from the cake making - Leonard nudges him away.
“I am making this cake, Barry.”
“Fine.” Barry rolls his eyes, shaking his head, smiling to himself. “I’ll be in the shower. Will you join me when it’s in the oven?”
“If this one burns too…”
“It won’t.”
“How do you like the cake?” Barry asks when he and Leonard have sat down with Joe and Cecile later that night. “Len made it.”
“It’s…”
“Crispy.” Cecile tries her best to fake a smile, before forcing herself to take a second bite. “It’s nice.”
Leonard glares at Barry, because it’s definitely his fault for distracting him this time and letting the second cake burn. But by the time they realised, it was too late to have a go at making a third.
“Pumpkin spice, huh?” Joe asks, the cake not having the effect that Leonard was going for. Instead of him being pleased, he sets the plate down - a non-amused look on his face. “What did you do?”
“What did I…?” Barry asks, his voice coming out all wrong. “Nothing!”
“Really? Every time you got into trouble, you got me my favourite coffee, and now…”
“Oh my god!” Cecile interrupts, a knowing grin forming on her face.
“What?”
“Tell him!” Cecile smiles, her excitement slowly turning into trepidation when she sees the look on Joe’s face.
“Tell me what?”
“We’re engaged,” Barry announces. “Leonard proposed to me, and I said yes.”
“You’re…,” Joe tries, but he’s at a literal loss for words, and all he can do is stare at them for the longest time.
“Say something.” Cecile nudges his leg. “That’s great news, right?”
Barry remembers the mess in the kitchen he had walked into this afternoon, and how nervous Leonard had been before opening the door to Joe and Cecile just now, and when he looks at him now, he half-expects him to be about to fall apart. But he seems to have regained some of his old confidence, because he flashes Barry a smile and he takes his hand - not actually having held his hand or kissed him in front of Joe, ever, because of Joe's reaction to their relationship.
“Engaged, huh?” Joe finally sighs. “So you’re serious about this, then?”
“We are.” Barry nods, giving Leonard’s hand a tight squeeze to let him know that no matter what, he won’t let Joe ruin this.
Joe still doesn’t seem to be sold on the idea of Barry marrying Leonard Snart, but after sharing a look with Cecile, he seems to at least be accepting that this is really happening.
“Congratulations, guys.” He nods, before getting up and coming over to give Barry a hug. And after hugging Barry, he even pulls Leonard up to his feet too to hug him. It’s a little uncomfortable - from both sides - but Barry can tell that they are trying, for his sake more than anything.
Joe picks his cake back up, and after taking a bite, he shrugs, “Not bad.”
“Really?” Barry asks, sounding a little too surprised, and he holds up his hands when Leonard glares at him. “Sorry, it’s just…”
“Burned.” Joe agrees. “But it tastes alright. I don’t mind it.”
Leonard leans in, bringing his mouth up to Barry’s ear, a relieved smile on his face, “I told you the cake would help, didn’t I?”
