Chapter 7

December 18th Len was throwing a Christmas party for all his staff and the Rogues in the bar. The day before, Friday Ray was in his workshop, joking around with Lisa while they ate Chinese take-out for lunch. "Oh, Axel told me he's bringing the guy he's been seeing recently. Apparently it worked out."

"Funny, Mick said the same thing. You don't think?"

"What? No way. Oh my God, they are. You know what, that explains a lot."

"It really does."

"Is Shawna coming tonight? Mark was on the fence."

"I don't know, she told me she might, but no guarantee." Lisa told him. "I'm really happy that her and Mark are settling down but I miss hanging out with her sometimes. Does that make me a bad friend?"

"No, Lisa, it's OK to miss your friend. But it has freed you up to pursue a certain tech genius and I don't mean me. How is Cisco?"

"He's good. I'm actually leaving early to go to a movie with him tomorrow. Don't get ahead of yourself, it's just a date." She told him.

"Still progress." He smiled at her.

"Still progress," she agreed. "OK so what're you wearing tomorrow?"

"Why does it matter?" Ray asked.

"Because I may have been drunk but my brain is like a sponge, you like my brother, so, what're you wearing?"

"Probably something similar to what I wore the other week we went out."

"No way, come on, lock up," Lisa told him throwing the take-out container in the trash.

"Lisa I'm on call, I can't leave."

"Sure you can, hand me your phone." Knowing it was hopeless to resist he handed over his phone. "Here," she tossed it back to him. "Now the calls will be forwarded. Come on, let's go already."

The next night Ray arrived at the club with Lisa just before 8. He was wearing a pair of... snug- would be the best way to describe them- dark wash jeans and a deep navy button down with a black blazer over the top. Once inside they put their coats in Len's office and Ray rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and Lisa brushed her fingers through his hair to make sure it would stay put before they went to the bar.

The bar was fairly full. Ray knew most of Len's employees of his various businesses but there were still a few people he was unfamiliar with. Ten minutes after he and Lisa had arrived Mick and Axel walked through the door, they had an arm comfortably around each other and they looked very happy as they got caught under mistletoe and shared a kiss. They came over to where Ray and Lisa were standing and ordered their drinks, Axel turned to them and hugged Lisa. "Are you happy?" She asked him.

"Very happy. Mick makes me very happy." He replied to her and smiled widely at the approval he saw on her face.

Len joined them later, just in time to see Lisa off for her date with Cisco and the party went on, Len made his rounds talking to each employee, discretely handing them Christmas card containing a hefty Christmas Bonus. An additional four figures for their paychecks.

Shortly after midnight, when Ray had a pleasant buzz going and Mick and Axel could only be seen when the disco lights hit the corner of the room Ray found himself talking to Len. They were both drinking beers as they talked, mainly work stuff. The drinks ran empty and Len headed behind the bar to get them both another, hold Ray's across the bar to him. Their fingers brushed and they paused as they heard sniggering. "What's so funny Rathaway?" Len asked, he was clearly drunk out of his mind.

Ray looked up, "shit," he cursed. Hanging from the bar was mistletoe. Len inwardly cursed his sister who had hung it all about a week before.

"Rules is rules," Hartley slurred.

"Go hit on the DJ or something," Len told him and Hartley gave the guy a once over before walking towards him. "He's going home with a bruise or two. So, um, is this OK?" He asked, his eyes darting to the mistletoe and back to Ray.

"Sure, rules are rules right?" Ray said, he should have known then he wasn't thinking clearly, but he leaned towards his boss anyway. Len closed the distance between them, pressing their lips together pleasantly surprised at how soft Ray's lips were. Ray shifted to get more comfortable as neither of them withdrew from the kiss, his hand moving to the back of Len's neck as the older man deepened the kiss. After what seemed like definitely not enough time Len pulled back from the kiss, resting their foreheads together as they took deep breaths.

"I have to go," Len said and darted away, out from the back of the bar and through the crowds before Ray could say anything to stop him.

"Shit."

The next morning Ray stood on his fire escape sipping his coffee. His lips still tingled from last night. If he hadn't been drinking he'd have had a clear head and he could have not kissed Len like he had. Shortened it to just a peck, stopped Len before they had gone too far. But he hadn't. And his inability to control himself had brought on another bout of not so innocent dreams that haunted him into the early hours of the morning. Len's lips on his lips. Len's lips on his neck. Len's lips on his body. Len's lips on his- No. He couldn't think about that. Not now. Not ever.

Mick and Axel had gotten home late and both of them had passed out minutes after hitting the mattress in their room. Unfortunately for them, unlike an alarm clock, children had no snooze button. "Daddy, Axel, time to get up," Aideen cheered loudly.

"Aideen why?" Axel groaned rolling over, away from her.

"Daddy wake up," Aideen said shaking him. "You left your phone downstairs, Uncle Len keeps calling you." She said handing it to him.

"Snart this better be good." Mick ground out as Aideen climbed in between him and Axel.

"Something happened last night."

"What's this gotta do with me?"

"I kissed him."

"Him who?" Mick grumbled, he was too tired and too hungover for this shit.

"Raymond Palmer."

"Fine, be there soon." Mick hung up and sighed. "I gotta go talk to Len, stay outta trouble and try not to torture Axel." He told his daughter.

"OK," she yawned.

Mick arrived at the bar where Len was doing some clean up. "What happened?"

"My sister put mistletoe up and we got caught. Something happened, it went beyond a peck. I couldn't help myself." Len sighed. "Now I don't know what to do. Lisa can't know. She'll kill me."

"It's just a kiss Snart."

"It wasn't though. We both felt more than that. I got outta there as soon as I could, but just couldn't help it." Len had given up sweeping and was leaning against the bar. "What do I do Mick? You're my best friend, any advice would be nice."

"You said yourself there was something about the kid. Something different, right?"

"Right."

"Then go with it. Len, you never enjoy yourself, why not see where it goes?" Mick said, it was far from his usual advice, but even he knew he was different now. "Everyone deserves a chance at happiness, even you. Can I go? I'm hanging out my ass right now."

"Yeah you can go," Len said, "sorry if I woke you. You're right though. Maybe it is time I tried to be happy for once."

"Whatever." Mick called walking out the door.

Len knew he was right, he just didn't know how to talk to Ray, although Mick had another point, hangovers don't make good brains for thinking. Pushing off of the bar he went to his office and dropped onto the couch and was out before he knew it.

Monday Ray only received a text from Len, telling him that the Center was out for the holidays and he needed to go in and update their entire computer systems. It would take him about two maybe three days. Then he would just be on call from his personal cell phone until after Christmas. Ray sighed, he may have just fucked up any kind of future with the Rogues.

Christmas Eve Ray called his mother, told her he loved her. He really wished he could visit, but his brother would be there and that was the last thing he wanted. That evening he went to Mick's place, he'd been invited to Rogues Christmas dinner. "Christmas sweater's a non-optional must." Lisa had told him. So he put on his sweater, pulled on his jacket and took the bike, his backpack overflowing with Christmas presents. He didn't expect anything in return, but Mick was feeding him and according to Axel, his food was to die for. Plus these people had accepted him as one of their own in a way that the Arrow's team never had. He felt at home. He just hoped that wasn't about to change.

"Ray! Ray! Look what I got in the mail today." Aideen cried bouncing excitedly.

"A Christmas card, who's it from?"

"My penguin at the zoo, he's called Monty, look they sent a picture," she grinned.

"He's a cute little guy. Here, go put these under the tree OK? Your dad in the kitchen?"

"Yep."

"Hey guys." Ray said stepping into the kitchen. Everyone had turned up, even Mark and Shawna, all wearing stupid looking sweaters.

"Hey," the adults chorused. The only person not present was Len. And Ray hadn't heard from him since Monday. He arrived just as they were sitting down to eat earning a dirty look from his sister considering how much he grills her for being late. Ray enjoyed the meal, Mick's cooking was amazing, it reminded him of the cook his family had had when he was a child. After dinner Mick let Aideen pick one present to open and she chose one from him and Axel, which was a new scooter, which he promised her she could ride once the snow Mark had graced them with had cleared up.

At 8 Aideen went to bed, excited about Christmas the next morning and Mick and Axel brought down her other Christmas presents and everyone began putting on their coats. Ray was confused, but Shawna, who was staying put explained. "All the kids who go to the Center, the under-privileged ones, Lisa buys presents and wraps them, they're going to deliver them. You should go too. I'm staying here with Aideen." She told him and he nodded. Lisa grabbed his arm, declaring he was going with her since this was her thing and he was new. Mick and Len, Hartley, Mark and Axel and Len and Lisa took cars to her place where all the gifts were stashed. She's sorted them into bags per child and into three piles dependent on where they lived. The Center catered for 90 people under the age of 18, 57 of which were under the age of 10 which equated to just under 33 families. So the teams had 11 families each to visit.

Lisa drove through the deprived part of Central City pulling up to the first house and Ray read the children's names from the list who lived here. Two young boys, one Aideen's age and one in the Day Care Unit of the Center. The older of the boys was Ethan, the boy Aideen had been colouring with the first day he'd visited the Center. Lisa knocked, holding the Santa Sack with the toddler toys in and a woman, no older than Lisa opened the door, smiled and invited them in.

The evening continued in a similar fashion. Ray enjoyed himself, it felt so good to give back to people who really deserved it, and it made him wonder why he never considered doing it before. Lisa dropped him back off at Mick's and he took his bike home.

Christmas morning Ray called his mom again, knowing his brother wouldn't be there and spent two hours talking, really talking to her. After making his breakfast, blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes he opened the few gifts under his tree that he had put up while babysitting Aideen so she could help him decorate. His mom had sent him some in the mail and he had a couple from his close friends in the Rogues. Mark had gotten him a new game for his Xbox, one he hadn't played before and made a mental note to try it later. Lisa had given him a Weasley-style Sweater from the Harry Potter films which he smiled it, he'd gotten her the same thing; they both loved the movies and had had long nights debating the books. As he made coffee he heard something like movement in his bedroom and then on his fire escape. "Crap," seriously? He thought, who robbed on Christmas? He sprinted through and looked out but whoever it had been was long gone. Turning he tried to work out what had been stolen, but he found nothing missing or moved. Only a wrapped package on his bed. 'Raymond x.' It was written in a familiar script that he knew to be Len's. No, he thought, his boss had not broken into his apartment to give him a Christmas present. But nobody else called him by his full name.

Only Len.

Slightly nervous he unwrapped the package until he was holding in his hands a Limited First Edition and Signed copy of Orson Welles War of the Worlds and a CD of the original 1938 radio broadcast.

This was a book he's been trying to track down for years and he'd never mentioned it to anyone- except Lisa. But Lisa wouldn't have told her brother about that, would she? No way, he thought, it was purely coincidence. It had to be. Except it was too exact. He decided to ask her about it.

"Hello?"

"Merry Christmas Lisa."

"Merry Christmas to you too. Something up?"

"Yeah, did you mention to your brother the book I was trying to find?"

"I don't think I did, why do you ask?"

"Well I think he just broke into my apartment and left it wrapped immaculately I might add, on my bed, and signed it Raymond with a kiss."

"I swear I have never told him that. Are you sure it was him?"

"Only he calls me Raymond."

"That is a little weird. Wait he broke in?"

"From the fire escape."

"Want me to have a word?"

"No, no, I'll call him. Have a nice day Lisa."

"Bye Ray."

Ray spent most of his day trying to work out how to approach the subject with Len. Knowing his boss he would just deny it, but Ray knew it could only have been him.

Shortly before four when Len was at Mick's with his sister for Christmas Dinner his phone vibrated on the coffee table as he and Aideen worked on the Christmas Yule Log. "Lisa can you see what that is?"

"It's a text from Ray," she said and continued before he could get the phone from her, "I know you'll deny it but thank you for the book, it's exactly what I've been looking for. Again, thank you.'" It buzzed again. "An 'X'. He called me about that this morning, he's only mentioned that book to me and he knows it was from you, how did you know about that?" She asked suspicious.

Len sighed, he couldn't deny it was from him. "I may have seen the auction on eBay open on his laptop when I went to his workshop. But he closed it and never bid." Len told her.

"He showed it to me, Len that book was-"

"I know what it cost Lisa. He deserved it, he's worked really hard and he's had a bit of a rough year."

"So it has nothing to do with the fact you have the hots for him."

"I do not have the hots for anyone."

"What does that mean?" They cursed, they had forgotten Aideen was there with them.

"It means he likes him, very much, like your daddy likes Axel," Lisa explained it as best she could.

"I don't-"

"How come?" Aideen asked again and Lisa smirked.

"He does Aideen, he just can't admit it," Lisa grinned at the child.

"Don't you like Ray Uncle Len?"

Len sighed, he couldn't lie to Aideen. "I do like him sweetie, very much, but to grownups, it's very complicated."

"Why not talk to him?" She asked, Len loved and hated how perceptive she was.

"Honestly? Because it scares me a little."

"You said nothing scares Captain Cold." She said folding her arms over her apron.

"That was before I met Ray," he told her softly.

"Ray isn't scary. Just talk," Aideen told him matter of factly.

"OK honey, I'll talk to him OK?"

"OK."

He took his phone back from his sister and texted Ray. 'Don't worry about it, to me, you're more than worth it.' He hesitated before adding an 'x' and hit send. "There, now back to decorating," he said, keen to get Aideen less focused on him and Ray and back to Christmas.

Ray and Len didn't see or hear from each other until Len text him about the New Year's Eve party to ask if he was going. Taken slightly back by the sudden forwardness of the text, he hesitated but replied he would be going, Lisa had promised to drag him there. Ray reused his outfit from the Christmas party and nervously tweaked his hair in the mirror. He didn't know why he was so nervous, it wasn't like it was a date or anything. It was a party, in a bar and all the Rogues minus Mark and Shawna would be there.

He got to the bar at 10:30, Lisa was the first person he saw and she had someone with her. It was Cisco! Ray had to hide, he zipped through the crowd and into the office where he shed his coat and texted her. 'What is Cisco doing here? He could blow my cover?- Ray'. He got back a barely readable text about Cisco's brother being a dick so he left the family party to be with Lisa. Great, Ray thought, he was stuck in the office to avoid being seen. He really did think Cisco was a great guy, but if he saw him drunk, who knew who he'd text. "Raymond?"

"Seriously? Can't you use Ray like everyone else?"

"Raymond, why're you hiding?" Len asked.

"Your sister has Cisco out there, I can't risk him seeing me. He's drunk."

"Too bad, I'll have Axel bring you something from behind the bar Raymond."

"Keep calling me that I'll call you Leonard."

"I look forward to it Raymond." Ray rolled his eyes as Len left, he's clearly had a bit to drink. Len returned himself with a bottle of Whisky and two glasses. "Drinking alone is no fun."

They sat and drank on the couch in Len's office "I never thanked you properly, for the book," Ray said some time later.

"You texted me."

"I know but I meant to thank you in person. You know? Thank you Leonard, I've been after that book for some time, I've read it twice this week."

"You're welcome Raymond."

"Do you have to call me that?" He asked, with disgust on his face. "The only other person who calls me that was my asshole brother and my stupid father who named me after himself. Our family history has all the oldest boys taking either the name Raymond or Michael. I was meant to be a Michael, but he called me Raymond. If I ever have a son, I'm calling him Michael, I couldn't ever name my son after myself."

"It's a good name. Raymond, Michael. Both of them. But Raymond suits you. I couldn't see you as a Michael."

"Thanks-" He was interrupted by the countdown to the New Year coming from the bar.

"3...2...1 HAPPY NEW YEAR. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o' lang syne!" As the song continued Ray and Len just looked at each other.

"What the hell," Ray said surging forward to kiss Len again, unlike last time, with feeling. Len reacted instantly to the kiss, returning pressure against Ray's still soft lips, shifting closer to him on the couch. Len took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue meeting Ray's making them both let out a groan.

"Do you wanna get outta here?" Asked Len breathlessly as Ray panted once they parted for air. Ray nodded, not trusting his voice and snatched his jacket from the stand as Len lead him out and through the crowd to hail a cab. They barely managed to stay calm and separated for the whole ride back to Ray's place which was closer than Len's. They broke again in the elevator, Len pressing Ray into the wall, wrestling him out of his jacket. Once in the apartment they kicked off their shoes and Ray dragged him to his bedroom, immediately starting to work on Len's deep red shirt, quickly working the buttons and pushing it over his shoulders, marveling at his toned body. His lips attacked Len's neck and jaw as Len worked to get Ray out of his clothes. Impatient they both kicked off their jeans and Ray sat on the edge of his bed, pulling Len to him by his hips.

"How do you wanna do this?" He asked pulling Len out of his underpants and beginning to slowly jerk him off.

"I don't mind either way," Len told him.

"You top me this time, never bottomed before, really wanna give it a go. I'll top you next time."

"Next time?"

"Definitely a next time," Ray grinned and took Len fully into his mouth with no warning. Len held onto Ray's shoulder and fisted a hand lightly in his hair to keep himself steady as Ray sucked his cock.

"Mm fuck," Len breathed out as Ray's hand wrapped around the base of his cock and he sucked the head. "Oh Raymond." Ray stopped sucking but continued to jerk him off leisurely, standing to kiss him again.

"Maybe you should call me Ray," he said stepping out of his own pants and shuffling back on the bed, inviting Len to join him. Len climbed over him, kissing him deeply, their hard cocks rubbing together.

"Condoms and lube?"

"Top draw," Ray said and laid back as Len found what he needed. "How do you want me for this?"

"Over here," Len said kneeling beside the bed, he pulled Ray's hips to the edge and pushed him so he was laid on his back, Ray's hand moved to his cock, stroking it slowly. Len leaned forward to tease Ray's hole and balls with his tongue.

"Mmph, shit," Ray gasped as Len's tongue licked straight over his hole and all the way to his balls and over his cock, pushing Ray's hand away for a minute. Ray heard the cap of the lube go and the squelch of the lube being forced from the bottle. Len warmed it up by rubbing it between his fingers.

"This might feel odd, if it's too much, tell me and we can switch," Ray nodded and let his head fall back to a pillow he'd pulled under his head. He felt Len's finger press against his entrance and bit his lip as it pushed past and inside of him, just half way before being pulled out again. "Breath Ray," Len reminded him pushing inside of him once more, this time a little deeper, slowly working him open. After a minute or so he tested the stretch by adding a second finger, pausing as Ray tensed slightly before relaxing around the intrusion. "Everything OK?" Ray nodded, his eyes sliding shut as Len continued to press his two fingers into him. "Try on your front," Len suggested pulling his fingers out and crawling onto the bed behind Ray, applying more lube before slipping his two fingers back inside him. With the new position it didn't take him long before his finger stroked over Ray's prostate making him curse and jerk his hips forward. Now that he had found what he was looking for Len worked in a third finger before ripping open the condom and rolling it down his hard cock, applying lube to himself before repositioning Ray's hips a little higher and moving between his knees. "Keep breathing and tell me to stop if you need to, OK?" Len asked rubbing his cock between Ray's ass.

"OK," he said and he felt the thick, blunt tip of Len's cock press against his entrance, "oh fuck," he muttered clutching at the pillow under him and biting his lips. Slowly Len pushed on, pausing after the head to let Ray adjust to him, stroking his back encouragingly. "Keep going," Ray panted and Len pushed forward slowly, before too long he felt Ray pushing back against his cock. Len set a slow and leisurely pace, thrusting inside Ray, his front flush to his back he pressed kisses to Ray's shoulders and cheek making shallower movements inside him. "Ah fuck yes," Ray said as Len hit his prostate again. "Stop, wait," Ray said and Len pulled out of him.

"What's wrong?"

"I wanna see you, touch you, can we-?"

"Sure, lay back," Len smiled, pressing their lips together he nestled between Ray's legs, lining his cock back up with Ray's entrance, easing it back into him as they kissed. Ray held onto Len's shoulders, running his hands over Len's body as the pace increased, and the new angle allowed Len better access to his prostate hitting it unevenly.

"Ah shit, Len, fuck me, oh shit," Ray babbled as Len began jerking him off in time with his thrusts.

"Come on Ray," Len whispered lustfully and Ray fell over the edge, his hole tightening around Len so perfectly it brought Len over the edge with him with a final deep thrust. Len collapsed onto Ray and eased his cock out of him. Rolling over he disposed of the condom and went to the bathroom in search of a washcloth to clean them both up with.

"You called me Ray," Ray said as he climbed under the covers to join him, both of them back in their boxer shorts.

"So I did." Len replied leaning in to kiss him lazily. "Get some rest, Ray." Len smiled, wrapped an arm around him and closed his eyes, Ray followed suit.

The next morning Ray woke up pleasantly sore as he pushed himself to sit up. He noted sadly that the other side of the bed was empty and cold but then he heard movement in his kitchen and pulled a t-shirt over his head. In his kitchen he found Len again, fully dressed in fresh clothes. "Your kitchen was horrendously under stocked, had to rectify it." He said.

"You were gone, I almost worried," Ray told him leaning over the counter.

"Not my style, besides, we need to talk, about us." Len said leaning over the counter to kiss him.

Ray ate his omlette standing. "So am I showering alone or..?

"Not today," Len grinned pulling his shirt over his head as he followed Ray back towards the bedroom.