They had a kitchen, an amazing medical bay, a high tech lab for computing and engineering, and an AI that was almost terrifyingly human. And yet, they had a communal bathroom.

It reminded Sara of her high school days after PE, when all the girls would use the opportunity to judge and discriminate. She had the privilege, the responsibility, the shame, of being an attractive blonde, even in high school, which put her in a position of power. She didn't tease any of the other girls, but she didn't stop the ones who called themselves her friends. At least, they were her friends right up until she was caught making out with Natalie Spitz, the head cheerleader. Then she too had descended into the unspeakables, even worse than the others, but Sara gave as good as she got. As their friend, the attractive girls had confided in her, and Sara used their secrets to keep them at a distance. It worked, but it left her a pariah for her senior year, despite being popular outside of school. And with all the boys.

Suffice it to say, Sara hated communal showers. So she got up earlier than everyone else to use them. The showers were partitioned off, so even if someone else were in there, no one would be able to see anything (not that they would try to take a look), but she felt more comfortable alone.

She finished up fairly quickly, only special occasions inclined to make her dawdle in the steam. Toweling off and changing into the clothes she brought, she headed back out, unsurprised to see Leonard coming down the hallway.

"Do you have a thing against sleep?" he grumbled, looking over her already clean and dressed figure.

"It's boring."

"So's floating around here constantly." Leonard glanced at the walls. "If we don't get out soon, I'm going to have to get creative."

"Still have some teammates to prank," Sara reminded him.

He nodded, "We do. We'll talk over breakfast."

"Sounds good. Enjoy your shower."

"You can always join me."

Sara smiled and walked past him, back towards her room.

Halfway there, Sara was startled to see Ray, Kendra, and Jax heading down, the bags under their eyes indicating they hadn't slept much either. "What are you all doing up?" She enjoyed her quiet morning time before the rest of the team appeared.

"Nothing," Jax answered, too quickly. Ray glanced at his watch. Kendra colored slightly.

"Dammit," Sara muttered, dropping her towel and caddy, turning to head back to the showers. The others followed on her heels.

She got to the bathroom and threw open the door. She shouted, "Len!" just as the water turned on and a woman's voice echoed against the tile.

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I'm the queen.

Underneath the brief instrumental bit, Sara heard Leonard's curse, "Fucking kidding me?!"

Sara was frozen in the door of the bathroom, Ray, Kendra and Jax just behind her.

Len came out of the shower in just a towel and Sara couldn't help her eyes widening. For someone who wore so many layers, she hadn't been expecting the lean muscled frame. She stared at the V near his hips, the lyrical talents of Idina Menzel still echoing through the bathroom.

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried!

Water clung to his hair and shoulders, trailing down over his chest to the his lean hips and absorbed by the towel precariously wrapped there. He wasn't built like Mick, his frame not right for that type of muscle, but he looked damn good for a man who seemed to avoid physical activity. Just enough for what he needed and not a bit more.

"Palmer," Leonard growled, his eyes cutting like ice chips.

"Hey," Ray said, sounding less than confident. "You said you wanted a challenge."

"Right now, the challenge is going to be how far you can get before I can get dressed and grab my gun."

"Hey, man, it's just a prank," Jax said.

Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Well, now they know!

Kendra snorted at the music, unable to hold in her amusement any longer.

Leonard's eyes flickered towards her, but softened slightly, falling into the prank. It didn't stop him from looking back at Jax and Ray. "You've got two minutes. I'd get moving."

"Come on, Snart-"

"A minute and 55 seconds."

Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door!

They took the advice of the song and turned tail, Kendra still giggling, but Ray and Jax looking sufficiently nervous. Sara stepped aside as the door swung shut, leaving the two of them alone.

"I tried to warn you," Sara said.

He waved his hand, "They were bound to get lucky. We'll get them back. After I get dressed." He turned away, done with the conversation and pointedly ignoring the music that was still playing.

Sara caught sight of his back. Though it was as toned as the rest of him, what caught her attention were the white lines and divots that punctuated his skin. The biggest began at his hip and worked up towards the opposite shoulder. One small cluster on his side looked like bullet holes. A few on his shoulder looked like cigarette burns.

She must have made a sound, because Leonard flinched and glanced back. She couldn't get rid of the sorrow in her eyes fast enough and he saw.

His eyes went hard and shuttered, his mouth twisted into a sneer, "Not a pretty sight, is it?"

"Len."

"Get out."

"Just wait-"

"Out, Lance." He vanished behind the partition and the only thing that broke the silence was the sound of water hitting tile and the music that still echoed out.

I don't care
What they're going to say
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway!


That was five hours ago.

The Waverider was small and yet she hadn't seen Leonard since this morning. The others had been avoiding him, which meant they were useless. Sara had searched everywhere she could think of and had found no sign of him. She even went so far as to check that the jump ship was still in place. With every passing moment, she was getting more and more annoyed.

Desperate for somewhere to vent her feelings, she changed into loose clothes and went into the gym, pouring her annoyance out on the dummies and the mat. Kendra ducked her head in, but left once she saw Sara's energy and heard the loud music. So, when the next person opened the door, Sara merely ignored them, hoping there were as smart as Kendra and would leave her alone.

When no one spoke or left, Sara turned, her glare already in place. It solidified when Leonard was standing there, his arms crossed and safely clad in dark thermal once more. She didn't speak, turning back to the punching bag.

"Hiding?" he finally asked.

Sara scoffed, flipping the sweaty edge of her ponytail over her shoulder and remaining silent. She was hiding?

The music quieted and she glared as he turned down the speaker, Sara's heavy breathing sounding louder in the hush. Irritated, her decision to ignore him was overruled by her annoyance. "Did you need something or were you going to kick me out of here, too?"

"Still angry about that, I see." Leonard walked quietly towards the center of the room, not moving directly towards her, but closer nonetheless. "Never mind that I was the one exposed."

"Doesn't mean you need to be a dick about it. I didn't prank you."

"No. But you saw and you…" He smiled coldly, aiming his gaze somewhere over her shoulder. "I despise pity."

"I don't pity you."

He glanced up, surprise softening his visage for a moment. Sara walked past him towards her towel, wiping her face before continuing. "You had a shit life. I know it. If your dad wasn't already dead, I'd do it for you, pro bono, for what he did to you. But your scars-"

"Are my failures," Leonard cut in sharply. "It shows weakness."

"No," Sara disagreed, dropping her towel. "Your scars are your strength. Someone hurt you and you kept going. That's not weakness, Len."

He isn't convinced, she can see that. So she sighs and crosses over to him, lifting the hem of her loose top to the bottom of her rib cage. She can tell he's about to make a comment, so she draws his attention to the thin white line that goes from her rib to her hip. "This is from when the Gambit sank. I ran off with my big sister's boyfriend. She was in love with him, and I knew it, and I ran off with him anyway, because I was jealous. You want to talk about weakness? I brought that on myself because I was selfish. That's weak."

Before she could lower her shirt again, his fingers reach out, hovering over a cluster of puckered scars in her abdomen. He doesn't touch her, but he might as well have, for the heat that's radiating off him sinks through her pores and into her bones. "And those?"

"Those are how I died."

He drops his hand and Sara takes a step back, letting her shirt cover her skin once more as she tries to get some air into her lungs. He glances up at her, his eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry you got hurt," Sara says honestly. "But I don't pity you. And I won't. No matter what you tell me or show me. Just...putting that out there."

Grabbing her towel and music, she headed to the door.

"Birdy," Leonard called after her, "I…" He trailed off, faint frown lines appearing between his eyes.

"I get it." She draws his gaze again and shrugs. "I do."

Remaining silent, Len doesn't move. That's probably as good as she's going to get, so Sara nods with a forced smile and leaves him alone.

He doesn't need to kick her out this time.


Dinner is quiet. Rip is busy in his office and Martin's presence is barely noticed as he buries his nose in his notebook. Ray and Jax run in and grab something quickly, clearly anxious to return to their slightly more secure bedrooms. Kendra and Sara are the only ones at the table with nothing to distract them. Leonard never makes an appearance.

She manages to return to her room shortly after dinner and finishes a few more chapters of her book. A knock on her open door drags her eyes upwards and she sees Leonard at the threshold, holding a deck of cards.

"Fancy a game?" he asks.

Part of her wants to say no, still a little bitter from earlier. But the larger part knows that this is exactly what she had been hoping to do - be there for him when he needed it. So she nods, closing the book and making room for him on the bench seat. He saunters over and shuffles in silence. Unusual for him - usually he's gloating over all the money he thinks he'll be taking from her in poker. Sara hides her frown as they start, her raising the bet and him matching it. When it comes to show their cards, Leonard lays down two pairs. Sara reveals three nines and he shakes his head.

"You win, Lance." But he doesn't lay down any money. Not that it's a big deal; she doesn't need his money. Especially seeing as how most of it isn't his at all. But it's unusual, again. She frowns, reaching for the cards, but pauses as he shifts.

He gestures to his shoulder, the too obvious cigarette burns hidden by his thermal but ingrained in her memory.

"He used to use me as an ashtray." It's said quickly and flatly, and he nods at her to deal.

Sara does, realizing the importance of this now and finding her irritation fading by the minute. He wasn't shutting her out, but he wasn't comfortable just sitting around talking about it. She could work with this.

Losing the next hand, Sara passes the cards to him and rolls up her pant leg. Leonard inhales, probably going to say she didn't need to, but she shakes her head and he remains silent. The scar is thin, but wraps almost all the way around her leg. "I pissed off Ras. He had three of the assassins on me before I could move."

Leonard whistles lowly and Sara has to share two more scars before he loses again. He hesitates, but points to the cluster on his side. "A heist went bad. Cops were called in and we were surrounded. Dad needed a distraction so he could get away."

She shakes her head, starting to see red. She didn't pity Leonard - she respected him too much. But she was seriously starting to hate his father. Shooting your own son?

As the next hand is dealt out, Sara asks, "Does your cold gun kill quickly?"

"Almost instantly."

"Too bad. Wish I'd gotten to him first."

He chuckles lowly, but it fades. "I'm glad you didn't." He takes another card from her. "Wouldn't want you to see any family resemblance."

She takes another card, keeping her eyes on her hand. "You're nothing like him, Len."

When she looks up, his eyes are on her, the unfathomable blue deeper and more mysterious than any ocean. "Call?"

She sees his bet and raises him, but loses with her straight.

"I'm running out," she admits. There are dozens of scars, but none worth the story. None worth what he's sharing with her.

Leonard gathered up the cards. "You died. I've heard that part. But coming back?"

She chews her bottom lip, her heart already racing at the thought of the Lazarus Pit. She doesn't want to think about it, but she wants to share it with him, nonetheless. So she stares at his hands as he deals out the cards again.

"It hurt. Much more than dying did. It was wrong and unnatural and it hurt. I couldn't remember my family or friends. I couldn't even remember myself. I was lost." She picked up the cards he pushes towards her, but didn't really see them. "I don't remember it, but sometimes I dream about it. Being ripped out of someplace quiet and through the fire and it just doesn't go away. And sometimes, I'm in a coffin, but I'm awake and I can't breathe. I can't get out." Her hands shake and she puts the cards down, pretending that he didn't see it. "For a long time, I wished they'd just left me dead."

Leonard puts his cards down and sighs. Leaning back in his seat, he rests his head against the wall and closes his eyes. "He's dead. Has been for a while. But sometimes I still think I can hear him, coming up the stairs. And it's like I'm a kid again."

She turns, pressing her back against the wall to face into the room. "No wonder we don't sleep."

They sit in silence for some time. Sara still takes care not to look at him, though his eyes are still closed. Quietly, she admits, "Coming back was worse than dying. For a long time, it wasn't worth it. I didn't think I was worth it." She doesn't turn her head, but she knows his eyes are open. "But being here, being with...it's worth it now."

"For whatever it's worth, coming from a crook," Leonard murmurs, "I'm glad you're not dead, birdy."

"Coming from a crook and aimed at an assassin?" Sara smiles faintly. "It's worth a lot."

He chuckles and the two of them avoid nightmares.


Despite her late night, Sara was still up before everyone else, getting out of the shower and dressed before seven. She's startled as she returns to her room and sees Leonard waiting outside of it. Slowing her pace, she sees a towel and caddy folded and waiting - clearly he was heading to the shower.

"If you were going to ask me to join you, you're a little late," Sara says as she walks up to him.

His smirk is slow. "I'll be sure to get up earlier. But I had something else in mind." He gestures with his hand for her to walk in front of him, so she does.

"Where are we going?"

"Jax's room."

Sara casts a grin over her shoulder at him. "Oh?"

"It's time for a little payback."

She smirks and hurries to their destination. Once there, she looks expectantly at Leonard, who brandishes a small remote that looks more like a garage door opener. "Would you like to do the honors?" he asks.

"Oh, no. This is all you." She leans against the wall opposite Jax's room, her arms crossed. Leonard joins her and without any ceremony, presses the button.

Heavy bass and guitar come screaming out of Jax's room, accompanied by a woman's high, but powerful voice, cutting through the metal door and walls.

I am the fire

I am burning brighter

Roaring like a storm

A muffled thud comes out of Jax's room and Sara covers her mouth as she laughs. Leonard smirks, pocketing the remote.

And I am the one I've been waiting for

Screaming like a siren

The door opens and Jax spills out, his eyes wild and frantic, his face pale with shock and fear. He stumbles out into the hallway, drawing up short when he sees Leonard and Sara standing in front of him.

"Morning," Leonard says calmly.

"Can't sleep?" Sara adds, feigning a frown.

Jax stutters, trying to draw in air through his panic. "You-you two are such jerks."

"You wanted a challenge." Sara glanced at her nails calmly.

"Yeah?" Jax said, his voice still frantic. "Well, you know what happens when ice gets too close to the fire, Snart?"

Alive and burning brighter

I am the fire

"It melts!" Jax shouted over the music, ignoring Stein and Ray as they poked their heads out.

"That's why I've got the assassin on my side," Leonard retorted.

Sara winked as Jax paled, following Leonard back towards her room, the music still echoing down the hallway. Still smiling, she knocked Leonard's shoulder with her own. "Nice one, crook."

"I thought you'd like that."

Sara couldn't help but realize that this was meant as an apology of sorts. A peace offering for the day before.

She smiled widely at him and he mirrors it faintly, grabbing his towel and shower supplies as they got to her room. "Sure I can't entice you to join me?" His voice is lighter, but she isn't entirely sure he's joking.

"Tempting. But I'm hungry and the kitchen is looking good right now."

He shrugs, convincing her it was a joke. Mostly. "How could I compete with a view like that?"

"You could easily compete with that."

"Right," he scoffs, heading back to the bathroom.

She leaned against her door and watched him leave for a moment. Despite their heavy conversation from the night before, they were back to their light banter and teasing. She wasn't sure it was a good thing that they were both so good at compartmentalizing, but it was what happened. Still, she didn't want him to think she'd forgotten. "Hey, Leonard!"

He pauses and turns back to her, his brow arched.

"Girls find scars very attractive."

"All girls?"

"All girls."

A slow, smoldering smirk spreads across his mouth. "I'll keep that in mind."

"You should."


DC's Legends of Tomorrow belong to their respective creators.

"I Am the Fire" belongs to Halestorm.

"Let it Go" belongs to Idina Menzel and whoever else wrote it.

I own nothing of value. I'm doing this for purely entertainment purposes.

SDCC was amazing, but I found out Leonard is going to be part of the Big Bads this season. :( At least we'll still get to see him, I suppose. But I'll keep living in my little fantasy world with these fanfics.

This has all been in a sort of vague timeline, but I will be joining up with the end of the season soon. Yes, all the end of the season. Just preparing you now.

Thanks for reading!