FIC: Only Half the Rainbow ~ The Flash/Legends of Tomorrow ~ ColdFlashWave ~ Mature ~ Ch 5/5 ~ FIN

[batsutousai]

Title: Only Half the Rainbow
Fandom: CW's The Flash & Legends of Tomorrow
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: Mature
Pairings: Mick Rory/Leonard Snart, Barry Allen/Mick Rory, Barry Allen/Iris West, Barry Allen/Mick Rory/Leonard Snart
Warnings: Soulmate AU, canon character death, grief, PTSD, alcohol dependency, verbal abuse, canon-typical violence, slow burn, happy ending
Summary: The thing no one ever tells you about being the hero, is that you always lose something when you're saving the day. And, some days, when you finally make it home, it turns out you've lost the only thing that ever mattered.

A/N: About the time I was writing the scene where Mick realized he could save Len, I decided I needed to write this scene. (Originally, Len was going to jump through the Speed Force on his own, because he knew there was a chance he'd get an eleventh hour rescue. But I ended up deciding Barry needed to grab him because, well, the Speed Force is a giant brat.)

FYI, this is, like...SUPER short. Because it's just a scene.

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Epilogue
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Len had long ago developed a sixth sense that told him when he was being followed, which had served him well over the years. He wasn't in the habit of distrusting it, not even in the middle of what should have been an empty wood, and given the dangerous man he was currently helping to hunt, he felt that drawing and switching on his cold gun as he turned was only wise.

The man he found standing behind him was one of the last people he'd have expected, but he didn't let it show, instead snapping out a, "Hello, Flash."

Barry Allen's mouth quirked with a smile that looked almost fond. "Snart," he said. And then he pulled off one of his gloves and held out his hand.

Len froze, staring at the offered hand. It was hardly the first time the Flash had made overtures of camaraderie over the past year and a half or so of their association, but to make a point of removing his glove...

Len suspected he knew exactly what would happen if he took Barry's hand, and he couldn't help but hesitate. Because Mick was trapped in a glass box on the ship behind him, mad with rage and his mind all a scramble; would it be fair to properly meet the third of their soul without him? Especially when their third was someone who Len was already far too enamored of; if they hadn't been on opposite sides of the law, he might have even propositioned him over a year ago, with Mick's okay. (Although, if they were on the same side of the law, Len probably wouldn't get to watch him moving in that ridiculously tight suit, certainly wouldn't have to keep his eyes on him while out on the field. Which would be a pity.)

Barry, who had always struck Len as being far too rushed about everything, was still holding his hand out, patient while Len debated over whether or not to remove his own glove and take his hand.

That, in the end, was what decided Len – patience suggested Barry had come here just to tell Len they were soulmates, which meant he was very likely from the future, which meant Len had to have given in at some point, probably; time travel was far too messy and complicated, some days – and he shoved his gun away then pulled off his glove and clasped Barry's hand in return.

Barry's expression didn't change, even as Len had to just breathe for a moment, so completely blown away by the wash of colors that changed the wood around them into something far too beautiful for mere words.

"I'll find Mick," Barry said, his voice quiet and familiar in a way that Len wasn't used to from him; definitely from the future. "After Savage is dead."

Relief washed over Len, because that promised that Mick would be okay, that he would be himself again, eventually. That whatever the Time Masters had done to him wasn't irreversible. And that, one day, he and Barry would see all of the colors, too.

And then he realized what Barry hadn't said, and had to ask, "Not me, Scarlet?"

Barry shook his head. "I guess that part's up to you." Then he withdrew his hand and pulled his glove back on. "Goodbye, Lenny."

He used the name that only Mick and Lisa used for him; Barry had used it once before, and Len hadn't realized until he was safely ensconced behind bars in Iron Heights, how odd it had seemed that he hadn't been bothered when the Flash had used it. At least now he knew why.

"Barry," he murmured in return.

Barry flashed him a smile, wide and far less guarded than Len had ever seen from him, then he pulled up his hood and vanished with a flash of yellow lightning.

Len stared after him for a moment, flexing the fingers of his ungloved hand. And then, allowing himself a small, fond smile, he pulled his glove back on and turned to return to Waverider, full of hope for a future where he'd have both of his soulmates, safe and sane.

It would be a hope worth dying for.

FIN

Chapters:
One || Two || Three || Four
Epilogue

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