Chapter Text
After that first night at Lisa’s apartment, events started to unfold rather fast. Within a week, Len had all but moved into his sister’s home. He still spent most of his time at Hartley’s lab, but he no longer had to spend the night in the small bedroom attached to it. It was nice, spending time with his sister again. With the regaining of his memories, he had begun to miss her. They spent many nights up late laughing over one shared experience or another.
A new development that had arisen over the week was that he had remembered almost every event in his life, including those not shown by the Oculus. However, he never regained the last moments leading up to his ‘death’. Before waking in the Time Force, his last memory was of leaving 2166. The Vanishing Point remained a dark spot on his memory. Len hated it. All he knew was what little information Ray and Mick had known and been willing to share, which wasn’t enough to ebb the feeling that there was something he needed to remember; something that he needed to know in order to explain.
He could make guesses about his motivation in those final moments. Though he had never imagined himself a hero, let alone a martyr, he believed if it came down to freeing the whole of time from the grip of tyrannical time bastards and his life, he would have chosen the former. He had never been one for higher authority.
Despite the lack of explanation, Leonard and Ray’s relationship held strong. They had even gone on a date; if you could consider a night on Lisa’s couch watching movies and making out a date. For the first time in a long time, Leonard felt content with his life. Sure he still had the intruding visions, the constant dull ache in his head, and an uneasy feeling about the whole Oculus thing, but he had a support group now, despite how out of place that felt.
With the uptick in his life there came the fork in the metaphorical road. For a man who could now see time in all its possibilities, figuring out the proper path for his own future was rather difficult.
“But think of all the good we could do with all the information you have!” Ray argued, hands waving about ecstatically as he stood off to the right of Len’s spot on the couch in the living room. “You could literally lead us to the time and place we need to be!”
Mick snorted, sipping on his beer as he leaned against the left arm of the couch. “As if Pretty couldn’t make up something to do the same.”
Ray conceded with a tick of the head, “True, but he wouldn’t have to if we went back.”
“Sure,” Mick huffed, “Sounds like a great idea.” He punctuated with another swig of beer.
Ray opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Leonard. “Enough.”
“But Len, we,” Ray protested only to be cut off again.
“No,” Len got up from the couch, looking between his best friend and his… well whatever Raymond was. Boyfriend seemed a tad too juvenile for what they had. “Excuse me.” He walked past Mick towards the door. He needed space to think.
Ray called after him but Mick must have held him back because Len was able to leave the apartment complex alone. Having no destination in mind, Len wandered aimlessly as he thought.
The metaphorical fork in the road he had come across was the choice to either go back to the Waverider and continue their time travels or to stay in the present. There were pros and cons for each path. The Waverider had given him a purpose, one that was bigger than anything he had been doing before. However, remaining in the present gave him time with his sister. Sure they could return to an approximate time that they left but he would still lose that time. If the Oculus taught him anything, there was never enough time.
He passed an elderly couple and chose to slip into their timeline for a distraction. He watched the start of their relationship, the uncertainty and strong emotions that echoed in his own relationship with Raymond. From there he traveled through their engagement to the birth of their children; then on to them sending their kids off into the world. When he got to their present, he pushed back the timeline.
He pulled out his pill bottle when the dull ache in his head became sharper upon exiting the visions. He was running low again which would prompt another trip to S.T.A.R. Labs. With nothing better to do, he decided that getting it over sooner was better than later and headed for the workplace of a certain speedster.
His relationship with Team Flash had improved since he was pulled out of the speedforce. He seemed to have been accepted into the group begrudgingly. They no longer considered him a thief, however, even if they started considering him as more of a hero, the past shared between them was hard to get over.
Caitlyn and Cisco weren’t quick to forgive their respective kidnapping scenarios, which Leonard could respect. Despite this, they never treated him poorly while in their care. Sure there were a few snide comments thrown here or there, but Leonard would have expected them to flat out refuse to help.
Barry Allen, however, was one to forgive easily. Maybe not forget, but he was always quick to ask for Leonard’s help despite multiple betrayals. Leonard wasn’t sure if that was ignorance or nativity.
Once arriving at S.T.A.R. Labs, Leonard couldn’t help but slip into old habits. He chose to sneak into the facility; with the help of his new abilities it was rather easy. Thanks to this, he was able to sneak up on the first person he came across.
Cisco was seated at the computer, mumbling to himself as he glared at the screen. A bio analysis of some kind was pulled up on the display.
Leonard hardly cared enough to snoop, so instead he leaned in close and drawled out, “Now what has you so lost in thought?”
Cisco let out a shout and jumped in his chair. “The hell dude! How did you even get in here?” He asked with one hand gripped to his chest.
Leonard chuckled and walked around to the other side of the desk, picking up a document as he went and pretending to be interested in whatever was on it. “I’m looking for the doc.”
Cisco snorted, standing up and snatching the document back. “Yeah, you and me both.”
Raising one eyebrow in question, he asked, “Oh? Is Miss Snow missing?”
“It’s,” Cisco tilted his head, squinting his face, “complicated. What exactly do you want with Caitlin?”
Leonard held up his almost empty pill bottle, giving it a shake. “I’m running low. Wanted a refill before jumping through time.” He added as an afterthought, “physically that is.”
“So you’ve decided to go back to Team Legends?” Cisco asked as he gathered his papers and started leaving the room.
Leonard followed him out with a shrug. “Not completely.”
Cisco sighed, stating under his breath, “I don’t know why I bother to ask.”
Smirking, Leonard continued to follow the shorter man in silence. Once they entered the medbay, he decided to try asking after the doc again. “So is Miss Snow on a trip or just missing?”
Once again, Cisco brushed him off. “It’s a Team Flash matter. Not your concern.” He punctuated his thought by opening the cabinet where medicine was stored. Taking a moment to glance through the cabinet, he grabbed a bottle of pills and tossed them to Leonard. “Do those work?”
Leonard caught the bottle with ease and read the label. It was the same dosage as the last. “Well enough,” he drawled. He waited a moment before asking, “I could help locate the doc if you need.” He tapped his fingers to his temple in a gesture to show what he meant. He could easily slip into Caitlin’s timeline and locate the most probable location for her.
Cisco sighed and shook his head. “I appreciate it but we’ve got it handled.”
“In other words,” Leonard smirked, “butt out.”
Cisco gave a small smile back, “You’ve got it.”
He thought about slipping into the doc’s timeline anyways. It’s not as if the other man could stop him. He had always found Caitlin’s timeline to be rather interesting. It had splits and gaps that he had yet to experience in another’s timeline. It was a puzzle he would have considered figuring out, if he didn’t respect the doc enough not to try.
In the end, he decided against prying. Not just out of respect, but also trusting Team Flash enough to find her on their own. He had what he came for anyways.
Choosing to leave first, Leonard turned from Cisco and began to walk out. Holding up the bottle of pills he tossed a “Thanks” over his shoulder and slipped out into the hall.
Leonard made his way slowly back to his sister’s apartment. He was still torn between the two options in his metaphorical fork in the road. He knew what Raymond wanted. The man had a hero complex a mile wide. He loved the idea of traveling through time and saving the future. If they stayed, the life that awaited them was way less glorious.
He also knew what his sister would want. She wouldn’t want him out of her sight. She had lost him once and that was enough. He couldn’t imagine the pain she went through. He didn’t want to put her through it again.
Mick, he knew, would follow whatever decision he made with minimal complaints. That was just who Mick was. Or at least who he’d become. Leonard’s ride or die as they say. If he was honest, he wasn’t quite sure he wanted it.
He was lost in thought when he arrived back at the apartment complex. He nearly noticed as he bumped into someone outside. He probably wouldn’t have noticed at all if it weren’t for them grabbing his shoulders.
“Lenny?” Lisa was looking at him with concern. She looked as if she was on her way out to a job. When Raymond was around it was easy to pretend they lived a normal, legal life. Despite the incarnation of good sleeping on the couch occasionally, Lisa hadn’t quit thieving. It was all they really knew. Switching career paths would be too hard this late in the game. Instead she chose her targets deliberately so that they at least deserved to be robbed.
“Hey, Lis,” He offered her an easy smile, but she wasn’t falling for it.
“What’s up with you?” They could always read each other like a book. It took a lot of effort to hide from each other.
Leonard shrugged, refusing to offer up his thoughts. She didn’t need to know the turmoil this choice was giving him.
However, once again, Lisa read him after only a few moments studying his face, “You know I’ll support whatever decision you make, right? You don’t have to worry about me.”
Leonard closed his eyes with a sigh, only opening them after collecting his thoughts, “You’re my sister. I’m always going to worry about you.” Though it was true, it wasn’t like them to speak feelings so bluntly. Since the Oculus things had changed though.
Lisa smiled, “Yes, but I can take care of myself.” She patted her hip where he caught a glint of gold.
He chuckled, “I know you can.” His smile faded as he broached the real topic of concern. “Will you really be okay if I left you again?”
Lisa’s smile faded as well. She paused, allowing him to know she was giving it serious thought. “I’ll be okay. Just promise me you’ll do everything you can to come back to me.”
A flashback to a past conversation with a more recently passed Lisa came to mind. He shook off the ominous feeling that gave and nodded. “I will fight tooth and nail to come back to you.”
Her smile returned as she reached forward to embrace him. “Then I’ll be alright.”
Leonard hugged her back, squeezing her tight. He still wasn’t fully sure which choice he was going to make but talking with her had lifted some of the weight off. He allowed them a moment to enjoy the embrace before slowly backing away. Deciding to brush passed the emotional goo fest, he smiled at her. “Good luck out there tonight.”
Lisa laughed, “Thank you, but I never needed luck.” She winked and patted his shoulder as she left.
He watched her until she faded out of his sight. He slid into her timeline, watching her grow up all over again. It soothed any of the wounds that arose with the thoughts of leaving her.
He gathered his courage and walked into the apartments. There was one more tough conversation he had left before making his decision.
Ray was seated on the couch with Mick when he entered the apartment. Both turned their heads to look at him as he entered. Ray stood up immediately, “Len.”
Leonard sent Mick a look. Years of knowing each other allowed Mick to interpret the look for what it was. He chugged the rest of his beer before standing up and making his way out of the apartment. He clapped Leonard’s shoulder on the way out.
Ray looked nervous as he quickly threw himself into a ramble. “Len, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been pushing. I just got so excited about the prospects of what we could do I didn’t even think… well I kind of did but I thought maybe I could help persuade you.” He cringed before adding, “But now I know that I was wrong and…”
“Raymond,” Leonard cut him off. Ray stopped talking. He rubbed the back of his neck as he gave Leonard a sheepish look, but he stayed silent. “If we were to stay here, would that be so bad?” Leonard quickly added as Ray opened his mouth, “I want you to really think about it before you answer.”
Ray closed his mouth and Leonard watched the sheepish look turn into one of contemplation. They stayed like that, in silence, for a lot longer than he expected. Finally Ray answered, “No. I don't suppose it would.”
“Then why are you so insistent on returning?” Leonard knew, but he wasn’t sure if Ray did. It was important the other man understood if Leonard was meant to make a choice without pressure.
Ray stayed quiet for another moment before responding, “I suppose it’s because I am important there.” He was quiet as he said it, looking almost ashamed.
Leonard sighed, “You know that you’re important here too, right? You own a whole company for God’s sake.”
“Yeah but it’s not like that matters. It’s all paperwork, budgets, and meetings. It’s nothing like traveling through time and fighting miscreants.”
“So you miss the adrenaline?” Leonard could understand that. He recalled a time when he would purposefully provoke the Flash just to feel something more than the boring dose of it.
Ray nodded. “I suppose I do.”
He let the silence sit around him as he thought about the decision ahead of him. If he was honest he was already leaning heavily in one direction; the conversation with Lisa tipping him over. Deciding Ray had suffered enough he said, “Well then I guess it’s a good thing we’re going back.”
Ray stared at him, stunned. “You mean…?”
Leonard nodded. “We’re going back to the Waverider.”
Grinning, Ray rushed forward to hug him but after a moment pulled back. “Are you sure? Because it seemed like you weren’t a fan of the idea earlier.”
“Yes, I am sure,” he answered, tone leaving no room for doubt. Yet Raymond still looked at him with those puppy eyes, trying to analyze how truthful he was. Leonard decided to put him out of his misery.
“The only thing keeping me here is Lisa,” he admitted. “It’s not like I can go back to the way things were before joining Rip. Especially with this,” he tapped his fingers against his temple. “I don’t suppose I would be living much of a fulfilling life here.” As Ray opened his mouth, Leonard added, “I’ve talked with Lisa. She’ll be okay.”
Ray smiled. “So we’re really going back?”
Leonard smiled back. Even though he could now see the future and the many paths it could take, he didn’t have to. He was certain this was the correct path, the correct person, for him. “Yes,” he punctuated it with a kiss.