Life Ain't what it Seems
A/N: This takes place between the first and second season. Also, I haven't played Yahtzee in a while, so I apologize if I got the rules wrong. This is based off of the song "Dream" by Imagine Dragons.
We all are living in a dream,
But life ain't what it seems
Oh, everything's a mess
Ray Palmer proudly stood in front of the applauding crowd and flashing cameras in front of a new museum of science. Once the crowd quieted down, Ray began to speak,
"I am here today to not only open a new museum of science, but I am also here to dedicate this museum to science. My goal is to keep mankind moving forward and keep science propelling upwards."
The crowd cheered.
"Mr. Palmer!" a reporter called to Ray. "How does it feel to be a legend of science?"
Ray beamed. "Well, it wasn't easy getting here," he admitted. "But I will tell you, it feels great. I know I have a purpose, and I know that I am helping benefit the human race. I also know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my wife, Anna Palmer," Ray said as he glanced to a beautiful dark-haired woman standing behind him. "She has encouraged me to keep going, and I don't think I would be here without her support."
Ray walked over to Anna and put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. They smiled at each other lovingly. The crowd drank it up and applauded loudly.
O
The breeze softly ruffled through the white, gauzy curtains and lazily made its way through the neat, sturdy house. It wound its way through the hallway adorned with pictures of a happy couple. It rustled through the kitchen, and the cleanly swept counters. It slowly drifted through the dining room and into the living room where two people sat reading peacefully on a couch.
Kendra nestled closer to Carter, and he planted a kiss on her head without looking away from his book. Kendra set her book down and turned to Carter.
"I love you," she said.
Carter looked away from his book and smiled, "I love you, too." He lightly kissed her lips and pulled her even closer to him.
Kendra sighed happily, "Isn't this nice?" She looked around the room. The clock ticked quietly in the background and a bird chirped outside. "It's so peaceful and quiet."
Carter surveyed the room and nodded.
"And it's just us," Kendra added. "There's nothing that could ever separate us."
Carter smiled. "Not now, not ever," he agreed.
Kendra picked up her book and happily resumed reading her story about wild adventures and ancient myths that all seemed so far away.
O
"You're up early," Mrs. Clarissa Stein noted as she entered the kitchen.
Martin Stein, who was sitting at the table, nodded without looking up from the paper he was grading.
"You know," his wife said. "One of these days you are going to need to take a vacation. Take a little break from all this work."
Martin nodded wordlessly again.
Clarissa sat down opposite of him, "I know when something's bothering you, Martin. What is it?"
Martin finally set the paper he was grading down and looked up at his wife, "It's these dreams I keep having."
"Dreams?"
"Yes. All of my recent dreams seem to have some sort of pattern."
"Oh?"
"In every dream, it doesn't matter what my location or what I am doing, I always come across this young man. He is too far for me to speak with him, but upon seeing him, I am suddenly consumed with the desire to talk to him. Every time, I attempt to follow him, but despite my efforts, somehow I can never catch him," Martin paused. "I know they're just dreams, but they keep reoccurring, and I can't help but wonder if they mean something."
His wife leaned over the table and rubbed his hand reassuredly, "I'm sure it's nothing."
Martin nodded half-heartedly, clearly unconvinced.
O
Mick Rory downed the rest of his beer and loudly set it down on the bar counter in front of him. He canvassed his surroundings. The music thumped loudly, the girls danced provocatively, and there was booze everywhere. He smiled. He loved it here. A skinny man dressed in a suit appeared nervously at Mick's side. Mick looked at the man in annoyance.
"What is it?" he asked impatiently.
"Uh, boss, sir," the man began.
"Yes!" Mick said, the small amount of patience he had thinning.
"We have a problem."
"What do you mean, 'problem?' Everyone knows you can't mess with me."
"Well, obviously not everyone, sir, otherwise we would not be having this conversation."
Mick gave the man a look that could kill.
He nervously cleared his throat, "Someone broke into your office."
"What?!" Mick exclaimed explosively as he stood up from his stool.
The man nodded, "Oddly enough, it appears nothing has been taken."
Mick shoved passed the man and headed towards the back of the club to his office. He shoved open the door and quickly looked around the messy room and paused when he saw the broken window.
The nervous man stood in the doorway, not daring to enter Mick's office, "As I said before, sir, it appears that nothing was stolen."
"Everything is rearranged! How do you know nothing has been stolen?!"
"I-I don't, sir, I just didn't see anything missing when I initially investigated the room."
"Well, check again!" Mick ordered. "I need another drink."
"Yes, sir."
Mick stormed out of his office and back into the club, but something caught his eye. Everyone knew to fear Mick Rory; he was the king of this place, yet there was a man across the room looking at him with ice cold eyes with a small smirk on his face. The man seemed familiar somehow, but Mick didn't know why. He was on the verge of almost recalling a forgotten memory, when he was interrupted.
"Sir!"
Mick angrily spun around, miffed that he had lost the memory, "What?!"
"It appears that while we were back in your office, someone stole all of the money up front."
Mick immediately looked across the room, but the man he had seen earlier had vanished.
O
Captain Lance wearily unlocked the door to his house after a long day of work. He opened the door and was surprised to find that the house was dark. His wife should have been home.
"Honey?" Lance called out. "I'm home." Lance cautiously walked into the kitchen and turned on the light.
Lance jumped in surprise when the room suddenly erupted in noise, confetti, and laughter.
"Surprise!" people shouted, popping out from behind various kitchen appliances. Captain Lance chuckled and smiled when he saw a banner spanning across the length of the kitchen that read:
Happy Birthday, Quentin Lance!
Lance was suddenly smothered in hugs.
He chuckled as he returned his daughters' embrace. "Alright, girls, alright," he said pulling away to look at their faces. Sara and Laurel Lance smiled back at their father enthusiastically. "So tell me, whose idea was this?" he asked. The girls smiled at each other knowingly. "Laurel, was it you?"
"Actually," Sara said. "It was Mom's idea."
Captain Lance looked up to see his wife approaching him. When she reached him, she gave him a peck on the cheek and handed him a drink,
"Do you really think I'd forget my own husband's birthday?"
"Well..." Lance smiled giving his wife a playful smile.
"Quentin!" his wife exclaimed while playfully hitting him on the shoulder.
"C'mon, you two," Laurel said, directing her parents towards the table. "Let's go cut the cake."
Sara watched as her family cut the cake. Her dad said something that her mother playfully reprimanded him for, but it made Laurel laugh, causing the sound of her musical laughter to float across the room. Sara smiled, but she felt as if something was missing, as if something was off about this picturesque scene.
O
Burning, powerful energy pulsed through his body. He could feel it energizing him, sustaining him, causing him to feel as if he could do anything. It became too much for his body to maintain, and his hands and feet erupted in flames. He suddenly had this crazy idea, and he urged the fire at his hands and feet to intensify; it did. He rocketed off of the ground and soared through the sky. He felt the wind whipping past himself, and he shouted in excitement. He felt so free. He felt like he had no worries.
He circled in fanciful whirls and laughed as he gracefully arced through the clouds. A sharp, sudden pain wracked through his brain. He faltered and he began to fall. The pain began to throb and he managed to stop himself from falling to his demise. He slowly descended back to Earth, panting heavily.
"Jefferson!" a voice shouted, causing the pain in his head to increase. He knelt down and clutched his head. "Jefferson!" the voice repeated with more urgency.
"Stop," Jax managed to gasp. "Please, stop."
"Jax, are you okay?" a younger voice asked.
Jax opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He instantly sat up unaware of his surroundings. He looked in the direction that the voice came.
"Hey, man," a man no older than twenty-one said. "Are you okay? You were shouting in your sleep."
Jax looked around at his college dorm room and sighed in relief. Everything was normal.
"Yeah," he said, rubbing his head. He had a slight, throbbing headache. "I was just dreaming."
"Cool," his roommate said, turning away. He suddenly turned back, "Oh, yeah, your dad called when you were asleep. I answered, and he said he needed to speak with you."
Jax nodded, still dazed from his powerful dream, "Thanks."
"No problem," his roommate said and nonchalantly left the room.
Jax sighed once more and rubbed his hand over his head. He really needed to get rid of this headache.
O
"Daddy, Daddy!" a small blond boy cried excitedly as he rushed into his father's arms. Rip Hunter picked up his small son and hugged him closely.
"Hello, Jonas," he said, a large smile stretching across his face.
"Rip?" a woman's voice called.
Rip set down Jonas. "Miranda, I'm home early!" he proclaimed happily.
Miranda appeared from around the corner and smiled at her husband. "Jonas," she said. "Go get ready for dinner." Jonas scurried off down the hallway. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Well, the Time Masters let me go home early."
Miranda raised an eyebrow skeptically, "For one, you are a time-traveler; for all I know you could be later than usual. And two, the Time Masters don't let people go home early. I know, because I used to work for them, same as you, Rip."
"I guess they made an exception," Rip said as he walked towards the kitchen. "What is that delicious smell?"
"It's your favorite."
Rip turned and smiled at his wife, "You are wonderful, you know that?"
"I do," she said teasingly.
"Mum!" Jonas called from the kitchen. "Dinner's getting cold!"
Miranda laughed, "Alright, Jonas. We'll be in there in a second." She turned to Rip and she became serious. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything Rip said,
"We shouldn't keep him waiting. It would be a shame if dinner got cold."
O
"Sorry I'm late," Ray said as he opened the door into his large, beautiful home. "I had to do a few interviews about the museum."
Anna quickly padded into to room with a large smile filling on her face. She hugged Ray tightly and then gave him a long, meaningful kiss.
"Not that I'm complaining or anything," Ray said. "But what was that for?"
Anna's smile grew wider, and she appeared as if she was glowing, "I have some good news. I'm pregnant."
O
Carter sprawled next to the fireplace, his features softened by the light from the mellow flames. He poured wine into a glass and handed it to Kendra who was also reclined on the floor next to him. Soft jazz played romantically in the background.
Kendra took a sip of her wine and smiled, "Isn't this great? Just the two of us together. No distractions, no other people," she paused and looked into Carter's eyes. "Nothing to bother us."
Carter smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. Kendra noticed.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he lied.
Kendra raised an eyebrow, "C'mon, Carter."
"I don't know," Carter admitted looking into his wine glass. "It just feels like this isn't real," he glanced at Kendra. "This can't be real. It's too perfect."
"What are you talking about? Of course this is real."
Carter shook his head as if trying to get rid of a bad memory, "Yeah, you're right. I don't know what I was thinking."
Kendra looked at him, concern tugging on her features, "You shouldn't worry so much."
Carter returned her gaze and smiled, "Well, one of us has to do it."
O
Mick tilted his head back and finished the contents in his glass. He loudly banged it down on the counter in front of him as if announcing his accomplishment.
"Another," he gruffly told the bar tender.
Mick's assistant appeared at his side as soon as the bartender returned with Mick's drink.
Mick sighed angrily, "What now?" He took a swig from his drink and turned his fiery gaze to his assistant.
"There's been a little, uh, skirmish, sir."
"What do you mean 'skirmish'?"
"I don't know exactly how it started, but it seems a few of our guys have started a fight with the rival mob family."
Mick swore and stood up, "Where?"
"Off of Main Street, sir. I suggest we get there as soon as possible to resolve the dispute."
"Yeah, yeah," Mick said and turned to grab his bottle off of the counter.
He paused as something caught his eye. The man he had seen earlier after his bar was robbed was sitting coolly in the back of the bar in a lone booth. His icy gaze settled on Mick. He took a sip from a glass, acting as if nothing was wrong.
"Sir!" his assistant nagged. "We need to hurry before this gets too out of hand!"
Mick turned to him and growled, "I'll meet you in the car." He looked back to where the man had been sitting, but, just like last time, he had vanished.
O
Sara unleashed the dice that were in the red cup, and they scattered across the table. She eagerly counted them.
"Yahtzee!" she exclaimed proudly.
"No way!" her father said. "This is like the third time in a row."
"You are so cheating!" Laurel teased.
Sara smiled back her smugly, "You're just jealous you don't have my mad Yahtzee skills."
They all burst out laughing at this comment.
"I don't mean to be the one to spoil the fun," Sara's mom said. "But I only have time for one more round. I have a meeting tomorrow."
The girls groaned.
"Now, now, girls," Captain Lance said with a sparkle in his eye. "You know your mother's losing, so we should probably take it easy."
Mrs. Lance scoffed, "That's what you think! By the end of this round I'll have beat you all!"
"Is that a challenge?" Laurel asked.
"That's what it sounds like to me," Sara said.
Mrs. Lance picked up the dice and put them into the red cup with a determined smile on her face, "Be prepared to lose."
O
Jax walked into the café and spotted his dad at a nearby table. He walked over to him and sat down.
"Hey, Dad."
His father smiled, "How's my favorite son doing?"
"Dad, I'm you're only son."
His father chuckled, "And I couldn't be more proud."
Jax looked down at the table, heat rising to his cheeks. For some reason, whenever his dad complemented him, it meant the world to him. He didn't know why, but he cherished every moment he had with his father.
"Thanks, Dad."
"Can I buy you something?"
"Dad, I'm in college. I'm not a little kid anymore."
Jax's Dad smiled warmly, "I know you're in college; that means you're broke."
Jax returned his father's smile and chuckled, "Yeah. I am."
"I'll buy you a coffee, and we can catch up."
Jax stared at his father lovingly, "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, son."
O
Clarissa Stein turned to her side and stretched her hand out to the side of the bed where her husband slept. Her hand was met with sheets. She opened her eyes. Martin's side of the bed was empty. She immediately sat up and noticed a light was on downstairs. She quickly pulled on a robe and went downstairs.
"Martin?" she called cautiously. She entered the kitchen to find Martin making a quick cup of coffee. His suitcase and work briefcase lay by the door. Martin spun around upon hearing his name.
"Clarissa! Did I wake you?"
"No," she paused. "Martin, what is going on?"
Martin looked down at his suitcase.
"Martin…"
"Do you remember the dreams I was telling you about?"
"…the ones about the boy?"
"Yes. I had another one tonight, but this one was…different."
"Oh? How so?"
"In my dream, the young man was suffering from what appeared to be a terrible migraine. For some reason, I felt as if I could cure him. I felt as if my presence would relieve him from the pain he was experiencing."
Clarissa glanced back at Martin's suitcase, "Then where are you going?"
"In my dream, I saw the university the young man was attending. I'm planning on going there."
"Martin…"
"Look, I know how this sounds, but, Clarissa, I've never felt so sure about something in my entire life. I need to go see him."
"What if he's not there?"
Martin paused, "Then I might need some medical attention."
Clarissa eyed him worriedly, "If anything happens, tell me. And if you aren't back in two days, I'm going to call for help."
Martin looked at his wife gratefully, "Thank you, Clarissa." He grabbed his car keys, suitcase, and briefcase, and headed out the door.
O
"I just put Jonas to bed," Miranda said to Rip as she sat down next to him on the couch.
Rip turned to Miranda and looked deeply into her eyes, "I love you."
"I love you too, Rip."
Rip frowned; her reply was not as heartfelt as he had expected, "What's wrong?"
"You know what's wrong. You've been avoiding this conversation ever since you've been home."
"I don't know what you mean," Rip obviously lied.
Miranda skeptically raised an eyebrow, "Rip…"
Rip looked down at the floor, but slowly lifted his gaze to Miranda. His eyes were glistening with tears.
"I miss you so much," he confessed.
"I know. But Rip, you know this isn't real."
Rip looked away, a tear falling down his cheek.
"The longer you stay here, the more danger you are in."
Rip let out a shaky breath, "I know."
"Your team's in danger, too."
Rip stood up angrily, "I know that too, Miranda!" He paced away from her and then turned back, "I'm sorry."
She looked at him sadly, "I know."
"It's just not fair!" he exclaimed.
"No, Rip, it's not fair," she said sternly. "But it's also not fair for you to stay here and endanger your team. You need to wake them up."
"And what makes you think they'll want to wake up?"
"They won't. They all have perfect lives here, just like you."
"Then what's the point?"
"The point is you rescuing your team from themselves."
Rip didn't reply.
Miranda continued, "You know how dream fabrications are. They were manufactured for the dreamer to die happily. To live the perfect life but never wake."
"But how can I wake them? They think this is real."
"Do they?"
Rip looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"The moment you entered the dream fabrication, you knew it wasn't real. It didn't take you long to figure out what it was."
"Yes, but none of the team even know what I dream fabrication is!"
"You're right, but they're smart people, Rip. I bet they know these perfect lives aren't real. All they need is a push, a reason, to stop dreaming. They need you."
Rip sat down next to her, "But I don't want to leave you."
"I know you can travel through time, Rip, but you need to stop living in the past."
Rip sighed. Miranda was right.
O
A/N: Sorry this first part was a bit slow. I promise it will be more exciting next chapter.