Leonard Snart // Captain Cold - IC Inbox

[hypothermic]

ID: coldasice

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[hypothermic]

What makes you think I give a damn?

[billionerd]

It's a fresh start? And we can all be on the same side.

[hypothermic]

What makes you think I want us to be on the same side?

[billionerd]

Beats being enemies? Or... whatever passive aggressive thing we had going on. Come on, one meal, one night.

[hypothermic]

Fine. You tell Mick what she did and ask him if she can stay the night.

He gives you his okay? I'll give you mine.

[billionerd]

Sure, okay.

[hypothermic]

Have fun with that.

[billionerd]

[ He ain't dumb, he's gonna bring offerings. ]

[charbroil]

[ Mick's currently none the wiser about this conversation, concerning himself with a pot of soup in their jury-rigged kitchen. He's not really the type to look too far ahead, but he's pretty content knowing most of the hot things they're charitably giving away are pretty cheap and freeze well. Someone rather smartly managed to get the heat gun off of his hip while company is expected; the bad news is he hadn't let it go too far. ]

Hold on. [ Not looking up from where he's stirring the brew, Mick holds up a hand towards Ray as he approaches. ] Where's your hairnet, Lunch Lad?

[billionerd]

[ Ray stops before getting any closer, he's not gonna ruin Mick's soup. He's got stuff from Jon to bake bread, so he busies himself setting that aside and looking for everything else he needs for it. ]

I'm gonna try baking. Any requests?

[ He's not sure of how to start this conversation so, maybe starting with baked goods will make it go easier. ]

[charbroil]

[ Now that does get a look, brows arching. ]

Just to spectate.

[ Hard to tell yet whether this is going to be a disaster, impressive, or an impressive disaster. Mick's trying to find a cue in Ray's confidence to tell him which he can expect. ]

[billionerd]

[ He will 100% blow something up the first time. Subsequent attempts will go better. ]

I really miss the internet. [ He glances at Mick's soup. ] Are you done, I need to tell you something.

[charbroil]

Just needs to come to a boil so it can simmer.

[ Mick raps the spoon on the edge of the pot, perhaps a tinge chagrined. He technically wasn't supposed to still be stirring it but it was somewhat pacifying.

Now Ray seems to be asking for his full attention and the pyro gives it to him, crossing his arms over his chest. The soup spoon still sticks out under the crook of an elbow in one of his fists. ]

What's up?

[ It never seems like Palmer brings him any good news, so he's clearly armoring himself up. ]

[billionerd]

Okay so... you know months ago when you first came in and Len's arm was broken?

[ He finds a place to sit because this is probably a conversation best had while sitting. ]

And then you tried to scare me into telling you and I didn't? I'm telling you now. If you still wanna hear it.

[charbroil]

[ The older man doesn't seem to agree; the only movement he makes is to turn and face Ray wherever he sits while Mick himself remains on his feet.

It's not hard to tell that his focus narrows when the other man announces their topic of discussion today. He hasn't forgotten; it's never been too far from his mind whenever he sees Snart talking with the other on his own or when Mick leaves them alone. It's one secret they've both refused to tell him and it's hard not to imagine there are others.

If he thought he'd moved past it, he corrects himself when he feels a surge that almost makes him bite the bait. But his eyes narrow, head twisting to look at Ray sidelong. ]

Why?

[billionerd]

[ Ray rubs the back of his neck, visibly uneasy. He keeps his eyes on Mick and shrugs a little. ]

Because the person responsible is gone, but a different version of them showed up and this new person doesn't know anything about it, obviously. [ He takes a deep breath before continuing. ] And they asked for food and shelter and Leonard's understandably angry about it, so he told me to tell you the whole story so you'd decide if it's cool to help this person.

[ Honesty is always the best approach, right? ]

[charbroil]

[ Mick isn't anticipating the scoff that falls out of him, but once it's out, he owns it. Wry amusement plays over his features in the form of a grimace. ]

You didn't think maybe that was just another way to say "no"?

[billionerd]

[ Ray can't help smiling at him. ]

When Len wants to say no he's very clear about it. He's annoyed and wanted to see what I'd do.

[charbroil]

He doesn't hit what he doesn't have to. Every single one of those little digits is worth six figures.

[ Mick passes his free hand through the air, wiggling his gloved fingers in a way that's almost mystic. ]

And he knows if he tells you to kiss his ass, that's not going to stop you.

[ He turns to twist the heat down to low on the soup, as the unwatched pot has nearly come to a roiling boil. The way he looks at Ray as he picks up the lid and wafts some of the steam from it into his own face is nothing less than suggestive. Just because he doesn't always act on his compulsions doesn't mean Mick doesn't have them, doesn't fantasize about what would happen if he chose the worst possible course of action next.

The lid clanks a little as he fits it on top of the pot. ]

Talk.

[billionerd]

[ Ray's gotten used to Mick's looks, he doesn't always know what they mean, but he's fine with it. They know each other pretty well by now, Mick's right, Ray would help even if they said no but he'd find a way to do it somewhere else. The warehouse belongs to all three of them, Ray wouldn't try to monopolize it. ]

Okay, okay. [ He considers for like half a second to maybe skip over the part with Eddie, but he decides against it. ] So, when Len first got here he got into a dumb argument with Eddie and he thought it'd be funny to kidnap him and post pictures in the network... so, he did that. People overreacted, they went searching for Eddie and couldn't find him, a woman— Russian spy, actually, found Len instead and beat him up to try to get him to give up the info. He didn't.

[ He's kind of getting angry just remembering, which is dumb of him since it's been so long. ]

[charbroil]

[ Mick resumes his position of arms crossed over his chest as Ray begins to explain. The rather mean little smirk that starts to form at the antics with the cop ( he thinks Leonard's actions were funny too, no surprise there ) fades just as quickly when they reach the part about a Russian spy torturing his partner for information. ]

Nothing to give up if he tried. Doesn't take long to figure out nothing stays put for long.

[ He knows that's not new information, but: ]

So if she'd been here for more than a couple of days, she wasn't really looking for information. That or she's one dumb Russkie.

[ The way Mick shifts his weight from foot to foot should let Ray know he's not the only one getting irritated. He doesn't doubt Leonard gave this woman no satisfaction of a response, though. He was too used to being beaten for bullshit reasons. ]

What makes you think she's not gonna find another excuse?

[billionerd]

[ For someone who doesn't really hold grudges, Ray's given this an absurd amount of thought. ]

I don't know. She posted a picture; it was her, looking really proud of herself, a soldier, who I think was just there as a voyeur. And Leonard beaten up in the background. It happened pretty soon after Len posted a pic of Eddie beaten up, so part of it was definitely payback. They— both her and the soldier got angry at me when I pointed out the hypocrisy.

[ But that's not the point right now. There's no use in getting worked up all over again. ]

But this new person isn't her and I won't hold it against her. And I really hope you and Len won't either.

[charbroil]

It is her.

[ He objects, his eyes growing a little wider with the added strength of his voice. It isn't a shout, but it's a louder volume, heavy and blunt.]

Just 'cause she doesn't remember doesn't mean what she did goes away. And the reason you can't say she won't do it again is because you know she could. Other than that, I bet you don't know shit about her.

[ If he knows Snart, it's not just Ray his partner thinks he's testing. It's not just for Mick to guess his expectations now, but decide what is best. It isn't usual for Leonard not to call the shots up front.

He has a decision in mind, but he's not ready to give it just yet. There's a very rare opportunity here for him. ]

Ever think maybe you just can't say "no" to anyone that asks you for help, Ray?

[billionerd]

[ He needs a drink. He thinks this new Natasha is a different Natasha, much like Caitlin was not the crazy woman who almost got him killed. But Mick's right in that Ray doesn't know for sure, he very deliberately avoided Natasha to avoid confrontation so even if he learned more about this new one, he'd have no way to know if she'd do the same thing again.

He lets Mick speak, though, arms folded. He can't argue with his logic. Also all three of them know Ray can't say no to people. ]

All the time. And I've been thinking, would I have said yes to that first woman? [ He's not sure, which again, weird of him. He wouldn't hesitate usually. ] And probably, yeah. Maybe with caveats? I really don't know. I just know the woman who asked for my help isn't the one who hurt Len. Just looks like her.

[ It's complicated, Ray tends to think people are good deep down and circumstances turn them mean. Natasha isn't an exception. ]

[charbroil]

[ The fact Ray's clearly given it some thought gives him pause enough to think as well. The other man's attitude, quite frankly, boggles his own mindset. Does he lack the imagination or naiveness?

He's not used to thinking for three. Two was hard enough, and often it could be argued that even one was one too much to consider for the likes of Mick Rory. ]

Bring her in.

[ He finally says, at length, with a small roll of broad shoulders. ]

I wanna see her. And if one or both of us wants to come talk to her, you don't trip over yourself to get between us. It's our place and our work too, got it?