"Hold on-" Barry ran forwards, slipping through the doors of the elevator. Catching his breath, he leaned against one side of the contraption, back of his head resting on the walls, eyes closed and face tilted to the ceiling.

This is ridiculous. I don't know why Captain Singh wanted me to talk to the acting CEO of Queen's Consolidated about their applied science division... I'm sure there are other scientists way more qualified to talk about this kind of business about volunteering and generous donations…

Barry ran his hands over his face, visibly stressed, as he was well aware of his talent for tripping over his words when nervous or pressured. And speaking to Oliver Queen about donations he may or may not be making to the science divisions of the Gem Cities was definitely stressing him out. He opened his eyes to peer at the only other person in the elevator with him. Flicking his eyes over to the panel quickly, he saw that the other man was also getting off at the top floor. That saved him from drawing attention to himself by walking over to the panel and pressing another button. Small victories. (Damn you, social anxiety.)

His gaze settled back on the large, muscled man he was with, studying him. He was tall! Barry, at about 6'1'', was very much used to being considered tall-but this guy had to be a good two or three inches taller than Barry, himself. He just looked bigger in general, compared to himself. If Barry was a string bean (as he was often told) then this man was a whole stack of steak. And if the set of the man's jaw and eyebrows said anything, ready to absolutely clobber anyone who said a word he didn't like. Or maybe he just didn't have his morning caffeine fix. Barry couldn't tell, but Barry hadn't had time to grab coffee himself, so he could very well just be projecting his own feelings.

The man was wearing a sharp form fitting sleeveless turtleneck sweater, black slacks, black shoes, with sunglasses perched at the top of his buzzed head, intricate tattoos scrolling down his arms, and burn scars adorning his large biceps. Barry squinted at the campy lanyard around his neck that read, Palmer Industries , but was then drawn to the leash held in the imposing man's hand that lead to a muscular pit bull. As if he couldn't be anymore intimidating, the man had a damn fully grown pitbull with bloody flames on his collar and-is that a skull dog tag? Barry didn't know whether to be amused or impressed.

The dog in question kept brushing himself against his owner's legs, tongue lolling out of it's mouth happily with it's tail hitting the side of the elevator with a loud thump thump thump . The dog tried to nestle his way between the taller man's legs and curl around his calves, hopping from paw to paw. Barry just quirked a smile at the dog and wondered if it would be in bad form to ask to pet him. It didn't look like it was a service dog as it was missing a harness but he couldn't be too sure. Barry was kind of half afraid to actually ask the man in question. Attractive, yes, but intimidating as hell. Could probably break Barry by flicking him. With his pinky. The room around them was punctuated by the clamour of the chain leash and dog tags, as well as the click of the closing elevator doors. Barry hoped the man hadn't caught him staring in the silence that had followed him entering the elevator.

"Sit down," The man's voice rang out, curt, deep, and commanding.

Barry immediately sat down.

And then he realised the man had been talking to his dog. Barry looked up, face heated and red, and the man looked back at him with wide eyes. The dog, distracted by Barry's movement, had not sat, and instead jumped over to Barry, pawing at his crossed legs excitedly.

Barry let his focus turn towards the pit bull, enthusiastically rubbing his hands over the dog. He paid special attention to behind it's ears, and studiously ignored the man's surprised gaze, really hoping it would distract from what an utter fucking mess he was this morning.

No dice: the man had started laughing at him.

Deep, rich, booming, and warm. That wasn't fair. The elevator pinged up three floors.

Barry looked up at the man who had let go of his dog's leash with a pout. He was holding his midsection with both hands as his head tipped back, face flooded with mirth. Barry then looked back down, cheeks and ears burning, and hid his face in the dog's neck.

They had gone up four more floors and he. Was still laughing. Barry huffed and the dog rolled over in his lap, exposing his stomach. Barry rubbed the dog's stomach obligingly, all the while still pouting at the man he didn't know. Not that he would admit he was pouting, no. Barry didn't pout, pshh.

The elevator halted, announcing that they had reached the top floor.
Beefcake Man had stopped laughing-finally-and looked at him with amusement twinkling in his deep slate blue eyes as Barry gently dislodged his dog and scrambled to his feet.

Barry cleared his throat, and held out the dog's leash to the other man as the elevator doors opened.

The man took the leash from him and met Barry's gaze. A shark of a smile grew on his rugged face, "Good boy," he rumbled, delighted as he saw a flush flooding Barry's cheeks once more.

He then firmly said an instruction to his dog in-German? Causing the dog to flank him obediently as they walked out of the elevator, leaving Barry a flustered mess.

Barry snapped out of it as the elevator doors started to close again. Cursing, he pressed the button to keep the doors open and slipped out, righting his clothes with his hands.

Wonderful start to this meeting. Great. At least he probably wouldn't be seeing Attractive Beefcake Man again.

-x-

this was based off a tumblr screen shot/post entitled "today I have fucked up and made a fool of myself like never before" and if I can find the actual link, I'll post it.

so I think this might be a two-three shot with an epilogue...maybe...

Reviews are love.