Leonard Snart isn't an evil man. He's not a good one, certainly, and if he leaves a couple of dead bodies behind on gigs, he's not going to cry himself to sleep. Len likes what he does too much to stop and there's a steadily growing dossier in the CCPD station to attest to his continuing streak of successful robberies. Snart's been very high on their list of criminals to put away in Iron Heights. It's possible that Len isn't totally displeased about that. But there's a lot of smoke in the show he puts on to maintain his image.

Then, about a year ago, Zoom entered the scene, and gave law enforcement an entirely new and infinitely more dangerous subject of focus. Along with him he'd brought along people with superhuman abilities—metahumans, that was the popular term—as minions. Now he's drawn a ring of terror around and throughout Central City. CCPD is literally standing still while Zoom races by, doing whatever he wants, which is generally to kill and destroy. Zoom has proved time and again that the whole police force together no match for him. To be fair … what is?

The people of Central City are dying to know the answer to that question—in the most literal way. Sometimes Len gets a whiff of a rumor that a biochemist is working on a serum to incapacitate Zoom, but that's all it's been. Rumors. Wishful thinking born of desperation.

Len's thinking it's time to lay low and not draw a madman's attention to his exploits. But, sadly, Leonard Snart's reputation as a master thief precedes him. Len can't say he's taken by surprise when Zoom strolls into one of the most secure of Len's safehouses. More specifically, he strolls through a triple-bolted door into the living room while Len is eating breakfast with Lisa—because, it's true, not-so-bad guys do eat breakfast.

Lisa screams at Zoom's sudden appearance. Len would like to scream with her, but he can't reveal that kind of vulnerability to a monster. So, Len finishes the remaining mouthful of omelet and then pushes the plate away before turning his gaze to Zoom, who is standing incongruously a few feet away.

"Sorry, we finished off the eggs," Len says, as casually as he can. "You'll find a few pancakes on the stove, though."

Zoom laughs. That's what Len assumes he's doing. The reverberating sound makes his ears hurt. "I didn't come here for the food."

Len gives a sidelong glance to Lisa, warning her to stay quiet, before schooling his face into a coolly puzzled expression. "Then how can I help you?"

"I'd like you to steal something for me."

Before Len can answer, before he can even formulate a response, Zoom is gone. And … he's taken Lisa, leaving Len staring at the single red-gold strand on the palm of his hand, glinting in the sunlight.

Now he's chained to the wall in the corner of a lair—a lair! Villains had honest-to-God lairs?—awaiting Zoom's instructions. Len watches the play of shadows at the cavern entrance as the hours tick by. He's familiar with the tactic—making targets wait. Sweat. Run themselves into the ground in mindless panic.

There's a rush of air, and then he's not alone. Zoom's standing in the center of the room, waving an expansive arm and talking. Len recognizes the theatrics of a megalomaniac, but to soliloquize? This man's batshit crazy.

No, there're two people—a man and a woman—retching at Zoom's feet. Len can sympathize. His stomach didn't find the ride appealing either. He cranes his neck to get a better view of what's going on.

"Get up," Zoom says, his tone mild despite the command.

They're young … so young. Not so much a man and woman as a boy and girl frightened out of their wits. They jump at Zoom's artificially deep growl.

"I get my victims in pairs." Zoom is saying. "I'd like to say it's for the company, but honestly, I do it because two people are easier to control than one." He looks at his newest acquisition, whose pallor is apparent despite her dark skin. She's frozen with fear. Zoom examines her critically. "Looks like overkill in this case, though."

"What—what do you want?" It's the nerdy-looking young man next to her, rather forgettable on first glance next to the stunning beauty of his companion. He's edging in between her and Zoom; it'd be laughable—as if Zoom couldn't get past him, through him should Zoom so choose—if the attempt wasn't so sad.

Zoom's gaze slides to the boy. Len's had that look trained on him before, and however much of a genuine badass Leonard Snart is, Zoom's conspicuously sadistic insanity had chilled him to the core.

It's not like the kid's unaffected, either. He's white and shaking but stands his ground in front of the girl. Len has to admire him. Stronger men haven't dared to get in Zoom's way.

Zoom reaches behind his head and methodically removes the mask to reveal a strikingly handsome man whose face has been on the news all week. Hunter Zoloman could have been an actor if he hadn't decided to focus on murder instead.

"You and Miss West were walking together at the time I came to … pick her up. I hope you didn't mind the impromptu ride."

"Why are you targeting Iris?" The girl seems to wake a little from her shock and tries to pull him back away from their captor. The boy doesn't budge, but Len can see his right hand reaching behind him to clasp hers tightly.

Zoom is dismissive of this interruption. "I might as well let you both know." His smile is condescending, as though he's expending more generosity than they deserve. "Unfortunately for you, Miss West, Detective Joe West is your father."

Realization dawns on both captives, but if anything, the knowledge frightens them even more than their prior ignorance.

"To recap, Detective West led the investigation that revealed my everyday identity." Zoom indicates his unmasked face. "Now I can't even show up at Jitters as myself. Shame. The cappuccino is better than anywhere else in Central City. Then again … I'm not confined to one city, am I?"

Iris's voice wavers precariously as she confirms aloud, "You want revenge on my dad. You're getting to him through me."

"I'll get to him personally soon enough. But a little jolt to his heart wouldn't hurt my reputation." In a blink Zoom has shoved the boy aside hard enough to stun him, so Iris is standing alone.

Len looks away. He's heard plenty of what Zoom does to his victims. He hasn't had the opportunity to be present at one of Zoom's executions. He is now, though, and he can close his eyes all he wants; Len won't be able to block out the screams. Zoom is going to rip this innocent girl apart.

"Wait!" It's the boy again, struggling to get to his feet. "You don't have to do this."

Zoom rolls his eyes. If the circumstances weren't so dire, Len might have too. Seriously? Is the kid going to appeal to the heart of a monster?

Not bothering to spare a glance at the boy, Zoom replies, in bored tones. "Of course, I don't. But I will."

The idiot stumbles over to them, holding up his hands. "You don't have to hurt … Iris, I mean." The way he emphasizes the girl's name piques Zoom's interest just a little.

"And who," Zoom asks slowly, "who would I hurt instead? We've established that someone is going to die today, yes? To prove a specific point to the Detective."

"My name is Barry Allen. I-"

Zoom considers the information and interrupts, "The kid who got hit by lightning and spent nine months in a coma. The news editorials were just sobbing over you. Until I came along, that is. Then I gave them something else to cry about."

"Yes, and—" Barry gulps several times. Then the damning words start to spill out. "—and Joe West is my foster father."

"Interesting," Zoom says after a moment, "but you'll just have to wait your turn."

"I—I was the CSI on his investigation team." Barry Allen fumbles with his tag and shows the proof. "I'm the one who found evidence linking Zoom to an escaped serial murderer scheduled for execution—Hunter Zoloman. You."

Silence.

If Len hadn't heard the words himself, he wouldn't have believed it. Jesus. The kid's signed his own death warrant. Worse. From the terrified but determined expression on his face, Barry Allen knows what he's done to himself.

Zoom regards him silently. "Hm. Now that changes things," he says at last, stalking over to Barry. "Anything else you'd like to share, CSI Barry Allen? Last words, perhaps?"

Scrawny as he is, Barry is of a fair height; he might be hairsbreadth taller than Len, actually. But he has to look up at Zoom, and the effort seems to drain away whatever meager strength he had left. "Please …"

The boy's going to beg now. It's going to be pathetic and tragic and altogether useless, taking into account the information he's just handed Zoom.

Zoom waits for him to finish with uncharacteristic patience. "Yes?"

"Don't make Iris watch," Barry Allen whispers, trembling uncontrollably and clearly forcing himself to keep his gaze steady.

For a moment, Zoom looks almost surprised. Then he laughs loudly, showing teeth. "I'll think about it." Iris takes a step forward in alarmed protest. In a blink Zoom's put her into one of the cages, gagged and bound but not blindfolded.

Zoom stops Barry before he can react to the changed situation. "Now, turn that way and smile." Barry stares at him, uncomprehending, as Zoom points at the wall opposite them. "This is all streaming live," Zoom tells him. "I made sure CCPD can see and hear everything that happens."

Len's brows knot in confusion. Surely, with an open feed like that, Zoom would be traced back to his lair. He couldn't be that stupid.

As though reading his mind, Zoom grins. "Don't worry. I happen to have a tech genius working for me. He'll block any attempts to hack in. And if someone did manage to break through, he's got an eye on every satellite in the city. I can see anyone coming from miles away. Even then … I doubt the cavalry can charge up this cliff without me realizing their presence."

Zoom's arrogant monologue has purpose, Len knows. He's showing off his invincibility, overawing his enemies and exploiting their fear.

Len wonders about this tech genius. If only he could be persuaded to betray Zoom, Zoom would lose an immensely valuable ally.

"His brother is a guest of mine," Zoom explains to Barry, whose legs have given out on him. "Astonishing, really, that the fact gives him so much incentive to assist me."

Zoom leans down, gripping the kid's chin and forcing his face toward the camera. "Enough story time. I have a script for you." He kneels fully, and without warning, simultaneously yanks Barry's head back and his body up with one hand, while the other wraps around the boy's now exposed throat.

The girl—Iris West—shrieks behind her gag. No help can be expected from her. It's not humanly possible. Len's first assumption, too, is that Zoom is going to break Barry's neck right in front of his live audience.

Barry jerks in Zoom's hold before he hears Iris' muffled scream. His eyes flicker to her, and then, oddly, he seems to relax, swaying passively on his knees as he's held upright by Zoom's stranglehold. The boy's thought process is so obvious as to be written in bold above his head. Struggling will only make Zoom angry, and an angry Zoom … doesn't bear thinking about. Suffering his cruelty will be bad enough. Knowing that the girl is about to witness her best friend snapped like a twig … can't happen. He won't let it.

Zoom lowers his mouth to Barry's ear in a mockery of intimacy. "This is what you say. Ready?"

Barry nods mutely. He'll agree to whatever Zoom wants.

"Look straight at the lens—yes, excellent—and tell the good Central City police not to fuck with Zoom. He doesn't like it. Oh, and—" Zoom adds as an afterthought. "This is a public service announcement."

Barry swallows hard, the motion obvious even covered by Zoom's hand, and tries to speak. He can only mouth the words soundlessly. Zoom gives him a shake, making him flail for balance. "This is your big moment, Barry Allen. Your final chance. Don't disappoint."

After a few more pitiful attempts, Barry manages to croak into the camera, "Don't … don't fuck …. with Zo—Zoom. He—" By the time the kid finally finishes the three lines, he's practically incoherent.

Zoom abruptly releases Barry, who slumps, boneless, to the ground. "You won't be winning a speech contest anytime soon. But I think they got the message."