maskormenacelogs | [closed] I'd be playin' with fire

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[closed] I'd be playin' with fire

WHO: Leonard Snart & Mick Rory
WHERE: Mick's motel room
WHEN: 4/20
WHAT: Leonard came in late with Starbucks
WARNINGS: nothing yet, there might be some displays of affection

[Finding out where Mick ended up isn't much of a challenge. For one thing, there's a trace to follow. For another, Leonard knows him. A cheap motel, self-punishment, thinking he deserves no better.

Sounds about right.

Leonard lets himself in easily enough while Mick is out. He ends up sitting on the bed - this is a small room, not as if there's much seating available - legs crossed, back against the wall, sipping from a take-away coffee cup that may or may not contain hot chocolate.

When the door opens and Mick walks in, Leonard lifts his gaze, lashes turning up, the full effect of his eyes focusing on Mick.]

Can't leave you alone for a second, can I?

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[ Mick has a bag of groceries -- not much, only for snacks and some bagels for breakfast, but a man needs to eat.

He also promptly drops the bag on the floor, and there's crunch as the bagels fall onto the ultra-spicy bbq chips bag. ]

Len? What the hell?

[ He's also in costume, since they're the only clothes he owns right now. ]

[Instead of a reply, Leonard takes a long sip from his coffee cup and lets his eyes rest on Mick as he does so. He has mixed feelings about the costume. On the one hand, it looks ridiculous. But it's also the reason this Mick isn't scarred.

Also, it's tight. Overall, it comes up on the winning side.

Finally, Leonard sets the cup down and reaches for another cup be brought, still covered to ensure it's as hot as it could be.]

I got you coffee.

[Obviously what he was doing all that time. Getting coffee.]

How did you -- [ Mick blinks. ] You got me... coffee?

[ Mick stands there, looking like he wants to say something but it takes him a while to narrow down his thoughts from the hundreds of different things before he can say anything.

He strides over, taking the coffee with a steady hand even as his voice shakes. ]

You asshole, I was so worried.

Edited 2017-04-22 04:39 (UTC)

[When Mick is close enough, Leonard reaches out with his free hand to wrap around his wrist, not the one where he's holding his coffee. His grip isn't tight, but enough to be felt. He moves his thumb a little, brushing it along the inside of Mick's wrist in a small circle as he lifts his eyes to meet Mick's.]

I wasn't gone three weeks to get you coffee. [Since this apparently needs clarifying.] Just figured I shouldn't come empty-handed.

[ Mick breathes, letting the little touch remind him that this is real, that Len is back and very much not dead. After a moment he moves to sit on the bed next to Len, a little awkwardly since he doesn't want to pull his hand away. ]

Figured it was the Porter, but didn't know if it'd bring you back. That what happen?

Seems like it. [Instead of saying anything more right away, Leonard cuts the awkwardness of their positions short by putting a hand on Mick's shoulder instead and using that to angle himself right, so he ends up seated on Mick's lap, facing him. It's hardly surprising that he'd favour a position like that, given his penchant for sitting in unusual ways.

He finishes his cup of hot chocolate and sets it down on the floor, straightening up to focus on the man in front of him again. His hand is still on Mick's shoulder and now his newly free hand reaches for Mick's wrist, so he holds him there again too.]

Don't really know where I went.

It's bullshit.

[ The idea of looking Len in the face right now does not seem appealing, the shame of how he reacted starting to creep up on him, but after twenty days without him he just really needs this. With his other hand, the one Len isn't gripping, he reaches up and pulls down his cowl and goggles, eyes downcast. ]

Things got... bad.

[After moving his hand off Mick's shoulder, he tightens it into a fist, runs his thumb over his fingers. An effort to improve circulation, to make his hand less cold. He knows Mick after all. Finally he reaches up to cup the side of his face, trying to coax him to lift his head. He leans forward, their foreheads against each other.]

I caught up some. [Meaning he's seen the majority report, mainly.] But talk to me.

[ Mick obediently lifts his head at Len's touch, forcing himself to look at him.

Once he starts talking he needs to get it out. He'd told people bits and pieces of it but he felt Len might understand the whole story. ]

You were gone. Walker's been gone a while. Friend of mine killed himself and didn't come back. This woman said I killed her cousin. Dunno if I did or not but it didn't help.

Didn't want to live here anymore. Wanted it all to go away. Wanted to burn it all away. Then I just wanted to watch something, anything burn.

[ His voice cracks but his eyes seem to shine. ]

It was beautiful. It was gorgeous and cathartic and I shoulda felt bad about it but it was better than what I'd been feeling before.

[ He moves his forehead off off Len's, pressing his face onto his shoulder instead,
voice slightly muffled. ]

Then it was gone. Got arrested, lost my job, now I'm here.

No one got hurt, Mick. You'd taken so many precautions. You lost it then, I get that. I ain't saying that's good. That's on you. But that nothing happened? That's also on you.

[Leonard doesn't say much more, just holds onto Mick, running his fingers over his scalp gently. He can't do much to comfort him, he knows he's not really any good at comfort, but he tries, for what that's worth.]

I'm here too. [He finally mumbles.] I'm with you.

[ Mick takes a shuddering breath, grabbing at Len's shirt to steady himself. ]

You're... you're right. It coulda been worse.

[ He sniffs, trying to avoid wiping his eyes on Len's clothes. ]

Thanks for coming back.

[It's strange, because Leonard doesn't do feelings, not like this. Usually he wouldn't know what to do with this, but it's still Mick. This Mick, someone else, but someone he knows and someone who matters, in his own right and because of the connection they have. So it's easier to move his hand to cup Mick's face, to wipe his tears away with his thumb - gently, and to keep holding him close. No one there to see anyway.]

I'll always come back to you when I got the option.

You matter. I told you that.

[Silence for a while and still that closeness that for whatever reason isn't suffocating.]

Don't tell me we gotta stay holed up in this shitty motel room though. We got a place, remember?

[ Mick doesn't answer Len when he tells him he matters, but he holds onto those words like someone grabbing on a life raft.

He takes the time to pull himself together. ]

We...?

[ The implication hits Mick very quickly. ]

You want me to live with you?

Yeah.

[He hasn't meant for this to be a thing, but from Mick's reaction it's obvious that it is a thing and now he has to react accordingly.

He suspects he'll mess that up.]

Got any issues with that?

[Yes. Nailed it.]

[ A month ago, Mick would've been balking at commitment issues. Now, though, he's worried about something else. ]

Len, I burnt down the house. You sure you want me around all your stuff?

I want you around. So, yeah. I do.

[Commitment issues don't really factor into things much with Leonard, but he's in a unique position. He gets that Mick would feel differently about it all.]

You were around my stuff for a long time and nothing happened. Besides, I ain't attached to anything here.

Just to you.

Just has to happen once.

[ But he wraps his arms around him, hugging him close, wanting to believe he's not as fucked up as he thinks he is, if Len can care about him so much. He's silent for a bit, internal debate raging.

It takes him a while, but he manages to decide. ]

Sounds kinda nice. This motel was getting kinda musty anyway.

Whatever. You think I care about anything here more than about being with you?

[That is a lot more emotional than he's usually likely to get, so he pauses to let Mick talk, finally simply looking around the room and nodding.]

Ain't exactly luxury, eh? You can sulk just as good somewhere else. Promise.

You still doing therapy?

Not sulking. [ He says, sulkily. ]

Got Dr. Chilton to up my sessions.

Whatever you say. [He will let him not!sulk in peace, with only mild mockery.]

Are sessions with Dr. Chilton actually helping you?

[ Mick pauses in his sulking to consider the question seriously. ]

Think I'd be worse-off without 'em. We're gonna be trying a coupla things but... even if they don't work, I need to keep trying.

Long as it's actually helping you. [And the guy stops wanting couple therapy, that'd be a big bonus.] Mick. It's been working. This just isn't something that can just be fixed forever. You know it doesn't work like that.

Doesn't mean you're a bad person.

I was a bad person.

[ He sighs. ] You're right. You're always right, dammit.

I know, it's damn annoying.

If I didn't have my looks, you couldn't stand it. [Hey, it's called self-awareness.]

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[closed] I'd be playin' with fire

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