bakerstreet | body heat, the meme.

I'm not asking you to. [ That came out sharper than he intended.

He stops, letting that last pun warm him and give him time to think. Did it make them uncomfortable? He can't speak for Trickster or Piper. So, him. Did it make him uncomfortable.

Honestly? He doesn't know what he feels. For every emotion, there seems to be a contradictory one that he feels simultaneously. And there's so much that he just does not want to deal with, that he copes with by staring into fire. And he can't do that now, so he focuses on the heat from the puns instead. But that only goes so far. ]

You're allowed to have feelings. You don't have to be a cold bastard all the time. [ When he says "you", he's thinking of it in plural. ]

Never really seen the advantage in having feelings. Especially not in letting anyone know. These days, I don't reckon there is any point to them.

[Other than leading him further down into depression, that is.]

Just lets everyone know your weakness. So relax. I ain't gonna tear up. Things aren't about to get heated between us. As hot as I'm sure you are for me.

I'm sure we can ignore the sparks between us.

[That should last for a while, he hopes.]

[ Save him from Leonard Snarts who don't know how to deal with feelings.

Mick flushes, and not all of it from the puns. Nope. Nothing at all going on between them. That'd be weird. And that would be uncomfortable.

He grinds his teeth a little. ]

Maybe if the Leonard Snart I knew had let anyone know his feelings, things would've been different.

[ Mick is getting dangerously close to voicing something he's been thinking about since him and Trickster first started talking about the true nature of the relationship between his alternate self and Len.

So. In an obvious "changing the subject" voice, he says: ] Almost makes you miss Florida, huh?

Edited 2016-07-17 17:29 (UTC)

I will never miss Florida. No one misses Florida, we could just chop it clean off.

[He will let the subject be changed, but only very temporarily. Some things need saying.]

I find it funny that you get on my case about sharing my feelings when you can't even look me in the eye and ask what's on your mind.

[A given value of funny, at least.]

I ain't the only one holding back, Mick.

[ Len has a point, honestly. That's mildly irritating.

He makes himself look at Len, mouth twisting. Then he sighs, thinking of a flickering candle flame to calm himself. ]

You wanna know what the truth is? Truth is, I don't hate you. Not you you, and not the other you. Well, maybe sometimes. He's frustrating.

But we were also friends. Mostly. [ He looks down again. ]

He wanted me to stay with the Rogues. But he was one of the reasons why left. Don't get me wrong; I don't regret reforming. I only wonder what would've happened if he'd actually talked to me instead of lashing out or acting like -- like... a clingy ex.

[ Beat. Somewhat uncertainly: ] Not literally.

Not literally. Of course not. No homo, bro.

[Leonard chuckles, shaking his head. It's interesting, even though he has actually been able to guess at most of this by now. But at least Mick is finally talking instead of just lashing out sometimes.]

Who knows. I know I have never been good at the heart to heart. Guessing he isn't either. Maybe even worse.

[Time to heat things up again, by way of puns. What is his life?]

I met you on my first day in juvie. I was new, the smallest kid, a Snart, I had a group attacking me. Fought back, but one pulled a knife. I'd have been dead if not for you. You always looked out for me, in your way. But you were hotheaded. Burning with so much emotion all the time and, of course, drawn to the flame.

[Always a sensitive topic, but it's not as if Mick doesn't know that Len is aware.]

I could never really control you. Burned too bright. I guess that was part of the draw for me. I need a challenge, I get bored.

[ ~~Maybe a little bit homo?~~

He whistles at juvie story. ]

You weren't kidding when you called me your oldest friend.

[ He is not surprised at the drawn to the flame comment though, he had already pinged on that similarity.

Cold getting bored sounds a bit familiar too. Seems fair to make this a back-and-forth thing, so Mick shares a little bit too.

He also moves in a bit closer to Len, since he's the warmer one of the two now -- gotta share that body heat. Under the blanket, he wraps an arm around Len's waist. ]

I first saw Captain Cold on the news. I was in a bad place at the time, needing direction. Being a Rogue… it seemed exciting. An escape. A lifestyle, and I wanted in. [ He smiles a little. ] I admired him.

Didn't tell him that, made up some excuse when he asked.

Sometimes partners, sometimes rivals, often worked with the Rogues -- we had a whole thing going on. Then I left. And like I said earlier, he didn't take it well.

Edited 2016-07-17 23:43 (UTC)

For most of my life, you might have been my only friend. That's why I spent so much time avoiding you.

[It seems like the way his heart is beating should be loud enough for Mick to hear and that thought alone is so unbearably high school that Len almost gets up to go freeze to death by himself.

Nobody touches him like this.

Nobody but Mick.]

A whole thing, huh?

[Of course he had to repeat that part, ever so slightly suggestive. It's easier to accept than how different things went in their two worlds.]

You were pissed at me, because you thought I wanted to play hero. You told me that deep down I'm still the same punk kid you saved in juvie. Don't think you were wrong about that.

[ And there it is. The guilt. He perpetually swings between frustration, a desire to reassert himself as his own individual, and almost wishing that he was the Mick that Len knew. For multiple reasons. It'd make things easier for sure. He wouldn't have to live up to someone he isn't. And Len would have his not-husband back.

And here he is, worrying about Len's happiness at a time like this. ]

I don't blame you.

[ He's been avoiding Len a little bit too, reminded so much of the Captain Cold he knew, but so very different. A different person.

He uses his current tactic of casually ignoring implications, and focuses on the rest. ]

I was mad at you for playing hero? That's the most backwards thing I've heard from you yet.

[ He pauses, very aware of their bodies pressing together, and the cold seeping back in. He keeps himself from pressing closer, feeling that maybe it was getting too close to cuddling.

He knows he's not the one Len would like that from. ]

I dunno, I think you could be a hero. Hell, if I can, you definitely can.

They probably think I was. I'm less convinced.

[Was, of course, because he isn't anymore. Not back where he's from. He's gone, he has to be. Explosions are hard to survive when one is right in the middle of it.

Len notes that Mick is shivering again and he racks his brain, trying to focus on a pun instead of the near-comfort the cold seems to give him right now. Something slow and steady, in comparison to what his heart is doing.]

You look like him. But you're missing the scars. I suppose you have more will to control yourself. He never wanted to bother with that. Uncontrollable. Even for me.

[Puns. Damn it, they are harder to come by when he needs them.]

Here it's like a moth to a flame, only it seems like we both get burned.

Suit helps.[ He mumbles. ]

Maybe it would work better if you stopped trying to control him. [ He phrases it as a suggestion, and tries his best to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

And that last pun was particularly apt. He stares at the ceiling, flushed. ]

You know I can heal burns, right?

[ He meant it as a joke, but when it leaves his mouth he is not entirely sure what it means -- he tries to save it. ]

I just mean... it's probably good we're actually talking about it.

I stopped for a while. Then I tried a different approach and recently, it got out of hand. I wanted you safe and with me and I made mistakes. You made mistakes. We both paid, but your price was higher. Maybe we're even now.

[That's not why he did what he did and he realises belatedly that he's switched pronouns again, from third to second person. You. Mick. Damn it all.]

Is it? Ain't so sure. Maybe healthier than just making out.

[ Okay, mistakes? He knows what that feels like. And he can buy that Len's made mistakes too. And Len is being ambiguous but something definitely happened. Maybe even beyond the whole sacrificing himself for him. That's all fascinating and everything but then Len said that and Mick's thoughts are just:

RECORD SCREECHING TO A HALT NOISE.

He's been aware this whole time, but now he's very aware of how his hand is around Len's waist, and how their bodies are pressing against each other, and how the warmth rushing to his face isn't a remnant of the last pun. He's an adult. He's had feelings before. He's made out with people before.

This, though? Holy shit. ]

What?

Edited 2016-07-28 15:41 (UTC)

Well, Mick.

[That's almost cute.

No.

That is cute.

Len looks at him from the side, the corner of his mouth twitching until he settles for a smirk that is almost something softer.]

I could just get on top of you and find ways to fan the flames.

[ Oh. It was just a set up for another pun. ]

Don't tease me like that, it's not good for my heart.

[ He sends a fake-glare at Len, which means he catches that smirk. Now that is just completely unfair. That man should not be allowed to look like that while saying the things he does.

Mick has enough problems without adding "questioning his sexuality" to them. ]

Who's teasing, Mick? I'm stating facts.

[The thing is that Leonard has been around looking like he does long enough to recognise the kind of look and - more importantly - looking away brought on by "questioning one's sexuality". It makes smiling the way he does a lot easier.]

Even if I'd like to straddle you right now, it probably wouldn't be the healthiest choice.

Trust me. Just teasing isn't good for my heart either.

You would?

[ He sounds surprised, even though he really shouldn't be be. The man has been hitting on him since they met. But he's been coping by assuming that Len has been joking this entire time. Or projecting. ]

I'm not your… partner.

[ Even as he says it, his heart is pounding. Like in grade school when somebody admits they have a crush on you -- even though he had already gotten Len to say he loved him. No, not him. The other him. Shit, this is confusing.

In a strange way, if it were any other man other than Alternate Cold, Mick might be able to handle it better. Even the whole man part. It'd be easier to accept his own reaction to a man than it is for this man in particular. ]

You're right. Not very healthy.

My partner, the man I'll never see again? No. You're not.

[Well observed. But he's still Mick.]

Not as if we were ever exclusive.

[Not that it really matters in this context. He's gone, Len is, and his Mick isn't here. This Mick is. He's right here and he's warm and Len had barely wanted to pull away when he'd put an arm around him. For Len, that means a lot. More than he would want to admit.]

Mostly because you're a horn dog.

[ Mick gives a surprised laugh. ] Me?

The Captain Cold I knew was constantly chasing after women. 'Till he gave up and just started hiring a prostitute.

[ He did catch that implication though. The implication that Len wasn't confusing him with his Mick, or else there would be no need to say him and his other self weren't exclusive.

And that kinda makes it worse.

It's harder to distance himself from it if it isn't a projection thing. ]

I'm a lot more picky. I need a connection. Doubt I could pay for that. I just don't care about gender.

[He's had offers from prostitutes of course. More worryingly, when he was younger, he frequently got offers or more forceful inquiries himself. Especially in prison. But that had been dealt with and it has no place in this conversation.]

Some people just start to matter. And every now and then, those people are hot.

[ Mick. Don't say the thing. Don't say the thing. Do not. Say. The thing. Just don't. Don't say the thing. Ignore the thing. Repress the thing. Whatever he does, don't say the thing. He can't un-say the thing.

Let the conversation drift on to other matters. If he says the thing, it'll put the conversation back on him. So don't say the thing.

Half-question, half-realization: ] I matter to you.

[ HE SAID THE THING. ]

[You don't say. is the first thing that comes to mind, but it's left unsaid, just implied in the way he raises his eyebrows, stopping just short of rolling his eyes. Because, ultimately, this is important.]

You matter more than anyone or anything here.

[ Even though Len just gave him the expression equivalent to "No Shit", it's still more than he's gone out of him… basically ever.

And boy, does that make his stomach do flips. There is a world of difference between knowing someone is attracted to you and whatever this is.

And he gets it. He finally gets it. Or thinks he does. And he doesn't even know what to say.

It's cold. And it's freezing. And he might die here.

So, to hell with it.

With his arm still around Len he pulls him into a sort of half-hug, resting his head on his shoulder.

Almost gruffly: ] You matter to me too.

Good.

[He should be making puns, but even just acknowledging Mick's statement with a 'good' has cost him something. Len doesn't do these kind of talks, he's not the touchie-feelie type. But this is different. Mick is different. Somehow especially this Mick is different, because this Mick doesn't understand without word - yet - and doesn't pick up on cues - yet.

So he does turn his head, his lips pressing against Mick's forehead and he just breathes for a moment, wishing he could afford to be quiet. Instead he has to speak up again.]

Time to blaze it up. All that steaming passion and it will get hot in here yet.

[What a power. But at least he can keep Mick warm, even if he's sacrificing dignity for it.]

body heat, the meme.

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rei, who lets me rp

i'd pay you to rp, if you didn't exist i'd have to invent you

sempai noticed me

noticed you're hella fine