Thank you to everyone for the comments from the last chapter!
It was late in the evening and Ray was in his house drinking coffee. He sighed at the bitter drink in his hand; Felicity and Sara had left to Starling a week ago. As he raised his cup to his lips, his doorbell rang. Ray frowned, who would be ringing his house so late in the night?
Ray opened the door and arched his brow to see Ted in his armored beetle suit.
"Uh…Ted…Why are you in your suit?" Ray asked with a skeptical frown.
"I was bored. Tried getting my mind off things by crime fighting." Ted said with a sigh.
From the worn-out look in his friend's eyes, Ray could tell Ted was more than just 'bored.' He was obviously still hung up about Sara leaving.
Ray nodded and stepped aside for Ted to enter, "Come in, you look like you need a cup of coffee."
"Yes please." Ted said with a sad smile.
As they walked into Ray's kitchen Ted noticed the empty mugs of coffee from the counter. Ted knew the only time Ray drank so much was when he was in a petulant mood.
"You can't concentrate either huh?" Ted said with a dry chuckle as Ray poured them coffee.
Ray frowned as he handed Ted a mug, "No."
After a few minutes of drinking their coffee in silence, Ted ran his hand through his tousled hair, "I really liked her Ray."
"I bet you say that about all the women you date." Ray said with a wry smile.
Ted shook his head, "Sara was different. She didn't treat me like a guy who just happened to be rich. She's the only girl I've dated who understands me as both Ted Kord and Blue Beetle."
"I'm sorry Ted."
Ted glanced at Ray who was calmly drinking his coffee, "Is this how you try to get over Felicity? Drinking coffee to block out the pain?"
"It helps." Ray said with a deep frown. He couldn't help but feel sorry for Ted, it was different seeing Ted so sullen. Usually Ted was the happy go lucky guy, while he was usually the contemplative and moody one. He patted his friend's shoulder, "Don't worry, after a while you'll get used to the hurt."
"No, I won't." Ted set his mug down, "I hate to say this buddy, but you're a stone, I'm not used to heartaches like you."
"You think I'm used to heartaches?" Ray asked before sipping his bitter coffee again.
Ted chuckled dryly, "First when Jean died you tried dating women that looked exactly like her. Just to cover up the pain. Then, you dated Maurguax for months even when you knew you were still in love with Felicity. I don't think I can date another woman without thinking of Sara all the time."
Ray winced; he knew what Ted was talking about. When he first dated Maurguax he couldn't help but hope if Maurguax could have a blond ponytail instead of black, hot pink lipstick instead of red, blue eyes instead of grey, an intelligent cyber hack instead of a lawyer…he wanted Maurguax to be Felicity Smoak.
"Do you think we should have gone after them?" Ted asked while staring at his mug vacantly.
Ray shook his head.
"Smoak and Sara are two determined women, when they set their mind on something. They do it. There's nothing we could have said to bring them back." Ray said before sipping his coffee.
As Ted was about to reply, Ray's smartwatch rang. Ray frowned as he looked up from his watch, "Sorry Ted, I have to go, I just received a signal that there was a heist at the Louvre museum."
Ted arched his brow, "Let me guess by the Panther Gang right?"
"Yeah, Europe's most notorious art thieves. They're one of my toughest enemies." Ray frowned, "You know them?"
Ted smirked, "I've taken down one of their leaders two years ago. His name was Gaston Burlé"
"Either they found a new leader or Gaston busted out of prison." Ray muttered as he turned around. As he walked to his lab to get his suit he noticed Ted following him.
Ray scowled, "Go home Ted."
Ted rolled his eyes as he watched Ray pull the lever to reveal his lab. "You're a hero. I'm a hero…"
"And you're point is?" Ray said with a frown as he pressed his palms against the chest of the suit to activate it.
"Suit is ready for use." Ray outstretched his arms while his armored suit automatically attached to his skin.
Ted smiled, "My point is we should team up. It'll be just like old times from college, except this time we're fighting crime."
"Hmm.." Ray said as he glanced at his comical friend. Having Ted as a crime fighting partner might actually be handy…
"You know you want to." Ted sang jokingly.
"Fine." Ray said with a smirk as the visor of his suit shut closed.
'''''''''''''''''
When they arrived at the museum, Ray turned around with a frown, "The sensors on my suit says there are 10 people in the room."
Ted arched his brow, "That doesn't make sense. Doesn't this museum have the Mona Lisa? Where's the tight security?"
"The Panther Gang must have done something to all the guards." Ray said as he noticed a lot of unconscious men on the floor, "We need a plan."
"You said there are 10 people in the building right? Five for you, five for me." Ted cracked his fingers as he kicked the door down, "Piece of cake."
"Haven't you ever heard of being stealthy?" Ray growled as five men suddenly appeared with guns stated shooting at them.
"That's no fun!" Ted said with a laugh as a blue ray-gun from his suit formed on his hand. Ray rolled his eyes as they fought the five men off.
"That was easy." Ted said while dusting his hands after they finished fighting. Ray frowned at Ted, "Now we have to find the other five guys. Let's just hope we didn't scare them off."
"Lighten up cranky-pants." Ted said with a grin as they walked through the museum. As they were about to take a left turn Ray heard 3 men talking. Ray turned and motioned for Ted to keep quiet. Ted furrowed his brows in confusion as they observed the men who were setting up two chairs and a laptop.
"Why do those look like the electric chairs they use in prison?"
Ray frowned. With the way the men were hooking the laptop to the electric chairs, Ray couldn't help but feel the men were here more than just to steal some artwork…
Ray's eyes widened in realization, "They aren't here to steal Ted. They're here for us. The Panther Gang must have guessed The Atom and Blue Beetle were going to come."
"So this is a trap." Ted said completing Ray's sentence.
"Precisely." Said a deep French voice from behind them.
Ray frowned, it was Gaston.
Gaston wore a long, dark cloak, buttoned at the chest but open near the legs, to allow movement. He had a helmet, simple and close fitting, with a large, full-face visor like his, made of tinted black glass and oval in shape… it looked a lot based of his and Ted's design for their suits.
Gaston smiled, "Nice seeing two of my arch nemeses in the same place. How do you like my outfit?"
"You ripped that off our OMAC prototype." Ted growled, "How did you get out of prison?"
"A villain never tells his secrets, you know that Blue Beetle." Gaston said narrowing his dark eyes at Ted.
"I see you've moved on from just stealing art now." Ray said with a sarcastic frown. Gaston smirked as he raised his machine pistol, "Finders keepers, oui?"
"Just cut to the chase and tell us you're here." Ray scowled.
"I've been trying to steal the Mona Lisa for years." Gaston glanced at the two, "Then I realized that I've been going at this all wrong. Why get my hands dirty when I have two people who will be willing to steal the painting for me."
Ted laughed, "Wait, you mean us?"
"Who else?"
"And how do you plan on doing that? Forcing us with your gun?" Ray said dryly.
"Yes." Gaston said cooly.
Ted raised his gun at Gaston. Bright blue lights started to blink from his gun as he focused a beam at Gaston, "The ray from my gun is ten times more than yours could ever be, you shoot, and you're toast."
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Gaston said with a laugh as he aimed his gun at them.
"Ted, watch out!" Ray shouted. As he pushed Ted back, a blast shocked their suits. Ray grimaced in pain as Ted dropped unconscious on the floor.
Ray shook his head as everything around him slowly started to become dizzy…just as he was about to black out he heard his suit beep.
"Danger sensed. Back-up shrinking activating."
''''''''''
Ray woke up to the rapid sound of his suit beeping. As he opened his eyes, he realized each of his arms and legs were tightly buckled to the armrest and legs or the chair. He turned his head to see Ted frowning at their predicament.
"How long do you think we've been knocked out for Ted?"
"I'm not sure." Ted said grimly, "And I don't know what Gaston shot us with, but my suit keeps malfunctioning."
"Maybe I can shrink and get us out of here." Ray muttered. Ray could feel his suit trying to shrink but it kept short-circuiting. He frowned, maybe it was because he needed to calm down. He took slow, deep, breaths. He imagined Felicity's soft smile. Her infectious laugh. Her playful eyes…
"Unable to activate shrinking mode. Suit malfunction."
Ray frowned, even as his suit steadied into a slow beep, it didn't shrink him. "My suit isn't working either." He muttered angrily.
Gaston entered the room with his three men, "That's because I shot you two with an electromagnetic wave."
"What did you do to our suits?" Ted growled.
Gaston pointed to the laptop one of his men were holding, "My laptop control electric currents for both your armors. Now I can control every movement you both do."
"He's bluffing." Ray said with narrowing his eyes at Gaston. A smile curved on Gaston's lips, "You don't believe me?"
Ray smirked, "If you can control everything we do, why did you feel the need to tie us up to these chairs?"
Gaston glared at Ray and turned to his men, "Release them."
Ray frowned as he looked up to see Gaston type something into his laptop. After two men unbuckled him, Ray suddenly found his suit forcing him to stand up. Ted and Ray faced each other and stepped back into a stance that one would in a fight.
"You and Blue Beetle. Two are one of the most brilliant heros in all of France. I've always wondered which of you is the better fighter."
"I'm not fighting my friend." Ted demanded.
"We'll see about that." Gaston said with a laugh. Ray's eyes widened as his suit beeped uncontrollably. "Deactivate suit!" Ray shouted to his suit.
"Fight mode engaged."
"Deactivate fight mode!" Ray ordered his suit while trying to step out of his stance. His arm didn't budge, it was like he was paralyzed.
"Override." The suit said with a beep.
"Uh oh…That doesn't sound good." Ted said as he noticed Ray's armor light up.
Ray's eyes widened, as his arm swung to hit Ted. As Ted fell down from Ray's punch, he raised his arm to shot Ray with a blue beam from his suit. Ray dodged the beam and kicked Ted to the ground.
Gaston arched his brow. "Come on. You two can fight better than that." He said as he typed in a command to his laptop.
A shocker formed on Ted's arm, he sat up and zapped Ray's leg. "I didn't mean to do that!" Ted exclaimed as a bigger ray-gun formed on his other hand.
As Ray felt his suit get up, he could feel the atoms on his armor start to agitate, "Gaston stop messing around! Ted and I could kill each other."
"You just gave me an even better idea." Gaston turned to his men, "Grab the Mona Lisa."
"What are you doing?" Ray growled as he watched Gaston continue to type into his laptop. Gaston closed his laptop and glanced at the men who were still fighting.
"I'm killing two birds with one stone. Literally." Gaston stood up to leave, "Enjoy your time as friends while you can. Because by the time you two are done fighting, you'll be dead."
"Not on our watch." Said a voice from behind Gaston.
Gaston turned to see two blond women. One all in black with a bow staff and the other in heels and a tablet under her arm.
"Who are you?" Gaston growled at them. "Their girlfriends." Felicity piped with a smile as she waved at them.
"Sara?" "Smoak?" Ted and Ray asked in disbelief at the same time.
"Hello boys." Sara said with a wink.
Gaston frowned, "What makes you two think you can defeat me?" Gaston turned, "Men, get these girls out of here."
Felicity laughed, "Your 'men' aren't available, they're all tied up." She put a hand on her hip and pointed to Sara, "She beat up them up in under 3 minutes, so it'll be a piece of cake hitting you."
Sara smirked as she swiftly kicked the gun out of Gaston's hand and hit him on the floor with her staff.
"I'll get the laptop." Felicity said as ran to pick up the laptop from Gaston's hand. After a few seconds of typing Felicity looked up apologetically, "Ted. Ray. Try not to kill each other. I'm almost done."
"We can't." Ted said with a grunt after Ray punched him.
Ray wished he could be happy to see Felicity but he was currently dodging hits from Ted. Soon Ted was backing him to a wall with a laser gun to his neck.
Ray frowned as could feel himself start to shrink. If he shrinks out of control who knows the damage he'd be able to do to Ted internally.
"Felicity, we need you switch off the control for our suits. Now." Ray said urgently.
"The laptop won't accept the passwords I'm entering." Felicity exclaimed as her fingers flew over the keyboard furiously.
"Good luck with that." Gaston said with a smirk.
Sara turned to punch Gaston in the stomach. She held him by his collar. "What's the password?" She demanded with an angry glare. Gaston scowled back.
"There is no password. You have to destroy the laptop." Gaston growled. Sara pulled a gun from her combat boot, "Throw the laptop on the ground Felicity. I'm shooting it."
Felicity shook her head, "Gaston's bluffing. I know for sure, if I let you shoot at this laptop, it'll ruin our only hope at saving them."
"Smart cookie." Gaston snarled. "Shut up." Sara said as she knocked Gaston unconscious.
Felicity's eyes widened, "Uh..guys… Where did Ray go?" Ted looked around and frowned, "He must have shrunk."
"Then how are we going to find him!" Felicity exclaimed. Suddenly Ted felt a pang in his chest, "Guys I don't know what Ray's doing to me but I can't breathe."
Ted started to hit his chest, Sara frowned, "Ted, you're going to hurt Ray if you keep hitting yourself."
"Then make him stop." Ted gritted in pain.
"I'm sorry I have to do this Ted." Sara said with a frown as she twisted his arm to stop him.
"Oh uh. This isn't good." Felicity said as she tried typing in more passwords, "It's not accepting any of the codes I'm putting in Sara!"
"We'll think of something quick, because I can hold Ted for any longer." Sara grunted.
Ted felt his suit turn to punch Sara. He frowned, "Get away from me Sara, I'm going to hurt you."
"I'm not that easy to hit." Sara said with a sad smile as she hit him twice with her bow staff before kicking him down. She frowned as Ted stood up and blocked each of her hits before closing her into a wall.
Ted felt his left arm transformed into long blue blade.
"Felicity…" Sara and Ted said at the same time as the blade inched closer to Sara's neck. As he was about to hit her, a pain surged through his chest again. He fell to the ground in pain.
Sara ran to Ted and touched the cheek of his armor gently. "Felicity, Ray's messing with Ted's breathing again."
Felicity snapped her fingers, "Maybe I can program it to do the opposite. This is an electromagnetic transmitter, so there must have been some type of device to turn Ray and Ted against each other."
Felicity looked around and noticed there was a gun poking out of Gaston's pocket. "Perfect!" She said aimed it at Ted.
"Felicity are you sure this will work?" Sara said with a worried glance at Ted who was wheezing.
"I'm sure." Felicity said firmly before shooting Ted, "Step back Sara."
As bright, yellow rays were emitted from the gun, Ted fell unconscious.
"That was close." Felicity muttered. The next thing she knew she saw blue and red lights flashed as Ray appeared in front of her.
"Ray!" Felicity said as she hugged him.
"Run Felicity." Ray growled. Her brows furrowed as she let go of him, "What?"
Sara frowned, "Wait Felicity, I don't think the gun got to Ray—"
Felicity blinked as Ray's hands suddenly clenched her throat. Ray's visor opened to reveal his eyes filled with terror, "I'm sorry Felicity, I can't control the suit."
"And I'm sorry I have to do this." Felicity wheezed while feeling his hand start to close on her throat. She punched him as hard as she could before stepping back to shoot him with the ray-gun. After she shot him, Ray fell on the ground next to Ted.
Felicity let out a huge breath, "Remind me to never argue with Ray when he's in his atom suit."
Sara stood up and laughed, "Let's call Waller for help before the police arrive."
''''''''''''''''
Ray frowned as he looked down at his hands and noticed he was in his atom suit. Why would his suit be activated to fight? The next thing he knew Felicity was in front him smiling.
"I love you. You know that right?" Ray heard himself say.
Felicity smiled and put her arm around his shoulders, "I love you too Ray."
As they leaned in to kiss Ray felt his hands push Felicity down.
"Fight mode activated." Beeped his suit.
"What are you doing?" Felicity said in a scared voice. Ray blinked, "I'm sorry, it's my suit, I can't control it. Run before I hurt you Smoak!" Ray shouted.
"Ray you're scaring me." Felicity whispered as she backed away from him. Ray's eyes widened as he saw his hands reach to choke Felicity.
"Deactivate suit!" Ray demanded as his hands closed in on her throat. "Deactivate right now!" The next thing he knew her face went pale under his hands.
A tear slipped from his eye, "Smoak? Smoak. Answer me!"
"Shh… I'm right here Ray."
Ray's eyes flew up to see Felicity's serene blue eyes.
"Smoak?" He whispered. "W-where am I?"
Felicity smiling softly and held his hand, "We're in your sitting room. Well to be more specific your head is on my lap." Felicity blushed as she babbled on, "Not that I mind of course…"
Ray closed his eyes and exhaled, thankfully his nightmare was just a dream. Ray turned his head to see Sara and Ted on the other coach across from them. Ted's head was also on Sara's lap as she placed an ice pack on his head.
"You're ok?" Felicity said while stroking Ray's dark hair away from his eyes. He kissed her hand, "Please tell me I didn't really try to choke you to death."
Felicity bit her lip and smiled sheepishly, "You kinda did…"
"Kind of? Ray almost snapped your neck under his hands." Sara said with a laugh.
Felicity noticed Ray's eyes widen in shock.
"I'm so sorry Smoak, I—"
Felicity laughed, "It's fine. I know you didn't mean to." Ted sighed, "Don't feel bad Ray, I almost beheaded Sara with a blade."
"You mean after I beat you up." Sara said with a grin before kissing his forehead. Ted winced, "Easy, my head still hurts a lot. Ray wasn't easy with the punches."
Ray smirked as he rubbed the sore pain on his rib, "Same here buddy."
Ted sat up and smiled, "You've got to admit I was about to pulverize you. If not for Sara, I would have won."
Ray arched his brow, "I wouldn't be bragging if I were you, last time I checked, I stopped you from breathing."
Felicity rolled her eyes, "It was a draw guys."
"Sure was." Ray and Ted muttered. Felicity and Sara laughed, "You two are hopeless without us anyway."
Ray arched his brow and frowned, "Ted and I are thankful that you two saved our lives… but aren't you two supposed to be in Starling?"
"You two say you needed help with the OMAC project? Oui?" Sara asked with a chuckle
Ted turned to Sara with a wide grin, "Wait does that mean you two are going to move to France? For sure?"
"Yup." Felicity said with a pop at the 'p'
Sara nodded, "In fact we already have our apartment and everything. That's why we came to you guys a week later."
Ray smirked, "What made you two change your mind?"
Felicity tapped her chin, "Let's see… beautiful city, delicious food, amazing potential boyfriends who speak French and happen to fight crime…"
"So we thought … why not?" Sara said completing Felicity's sentence with a shrug.
"I'd spin you around out of happiness, but my head is throbbing." Ted said with a wry smile. Sara laughed as she took Ted's arm, "Let's go get you some aspirin."
After Ted followed Sara, Felicity laughed as she stroked Ray's hair, "The day my boyfriend tried to kill me. That'll be an interesting story to tell my kids."
Ray smiled apologetically at her, "I'm still really sorry about that."
"Stop being sorry. I told you, I know it wasn't your fault." She looked away and sighed, "Plus I kind of deserved it."
Ray sat up and frowned, "What makes you say that? I hurt you, of course you didn't deserve that."
"I spent a whole year regretting that I chose Oliver over you." She held his face, "I'm not going to make that mistake again."
"And I'm never letting you walk away from me again." Ray stated without letting his eyes leave hers.
"Good." Felicity said with a content smile as his lips met hers.
'''''''''''''''''''''''
Ray and Felicity were walking hand in hand with ice-creams in their other hand.
"Ray, remember how after we started fake dating that you made rules for us."
Ray laughed, "What was the first one again?"
"First and foremost there must be absolutely no public display of affection at work." Felicity recited word for word before licking her ice-cream.
Ray smirked, "Interestingly you never did seem to pay attention to that rule.
Felicity rolled her eyes, "Hah. That's funny, because last time I checked, you were the one who kept flirting with me." "You flirted back." Ray said with a smirk.
"Oh really?" Felicity said arching her brow with a laugh, "And what about the second rule? 'Kissing on the hand, cheek and head is allowed whereas kissing on the lips is forbidden' you broke that rule more than any of the others."
"You didn't seem to mind." Ray said with a chuckle.
"And last but not least, 'do not expect any special privileges because I'm dating you.'" Felicity said trying to mimic Ray's deep voice.
Ray rolled his eyes as they sat down on a bench, "Is there a reason why you're rehashing the past?"
She blushed, "Well. If we are going to be together together I think we need rules again."
Ray arched his brow, "How many rules do you have in mind that we make?"
"Eleven." Felicity said with a cheerful grin. "Why so many?" Ray said as he watched Felicity type some things in her tablet. Felicity rolled her eyes, "Fine, I'll cut it down to six."
Ray frowned, "No."
"You're such a baby. Six isn't that many. Just read mine out loud so we are on the same page."
"And you call me the dork." Ray muttered. "Read!" Felicity said with a teasing grin. Ray arched his brow and frowned as he read the first rule,
1) You are required to buy me a box of chocolate once a week.
"That is ridiculous." Ray stated.
"Fine. I'm joking about that one. Keep reading" Felicity said with a haughty smile.
2) Stop frowning so much.
Ray's frown deepened, "I don't frown that much." Felicity arched her brow, "Yes you do." She poked his cheek, "You're doing it right now."
Ray plastered a fake smile, "Better?"
Felicity laughed, "You know what, I think I can deal with your frowning.
3) Don't attempt cooking without supervision…ever.
Ray laughed, "I'll have to agree with you on that one."
Felicity pretended to gasp, "You actually agree with me on something." He rolled his eyes, "Don't keep your hopes up about that."
4) Don't call me Felicity. It sounds weird when you say it.
"I like that rule Smoak." Ray said with a smile while twirling her hair with his fingers. Felicity laughed as Ray read the next one.
5) Talk to me in French more.
Ray arched his brow, "…why?" She blushed, "Um…Personal preference reasons?"
Ray smirked, "And what's the sixth one."
Felicity adjusted her glasses, "It's not really a rule. I just want you to know I'm undeniably in love with you."
"Of course you are. I'm amazing." Ray said wiggling his brows.
"And I still think you're still a jerk." She mumbled while gazing into his eyes. Ray leaned in and smiled, "I know."
As their lips almost touched she placed her index finger on his lips, and glared into his eyes with a frown, "And if you break my heart, I will make sure delete destroy and demolish every electronic account you've ever owned."
Ray gently flicked her finger off his lips, "Being the Ex-Vice President of Queen Consolidated really toughened you up huh?"
"No. I'm just evil under an innocent disguise." She said with a wink.
"Should I be worried?" Ray asked arching his brow. As she was about to answer her phone rang. "Hello?" She asked.
Felicity. This is Amanda Waller. A new mission just popped up that I was hoping you and your friends would be interested in helping.
Ray took the phone from Felicity's hand, "You're disturbing my date Waller. We can talk about this later."
"Ray, give the phone back to Felicity!"
Ray ended the line and handed the phone to Felicity. Felicity blinked in surprise, "Are you trying to sign a death wish? Do you just realize you cut Amanda Waller off?"
Ray shrugged and touched her cheek, "Now where were we before we were interrupted? Oh right, speaking in French… declaring your undying love for me and what not?"
Felicity rolled her eyes and smiled, "You never cease to amaze me with your cockiness."
Ray smiled slightly, "It's a gift." She sighed, "Things aren't going to be easy between us."
"I know." Ray admitted, "But we're going to make it work. You know why?"
"Why?"
Ray took her hand, "Je suis indéniablement en amour avec vous aussi"
Felicity smiled, "I hope you're going to tell me what that means."
He laughed and leaned in to kiss her before saying, "I'm definitely in love with you too."
By the time Felicity smiled their lips locked. At that moment everything was perfect. As their lips moved in sync against each other's Felicity could feel warmth spreading throughout her body, and from the way Ray kissed her back she could tell he was feeling the exact, same, thing.
This is the second to last major chapter...I will be resuming school sometime around next week. :(
I will try to upload the bonus/final chapter to this story when I have time. Sorry if this story isn't as long as TDOAFO... but if you think about it, this was more of a continuum :)
So any thoughts on Tara .. Raylicity.. the atom suits? Leave a comment! :D
UPDATE!
Ok so, a few people have been messaging me/commenting that I should reconsider on making the story longer like TDOAHO. I've thought about it...and I think I'll try to make it longer... but I have to warn you guys right now, in fact for a long time, I simply wont have the time to write. :( So the chapters will just trickle in slowly...real slow.
Again I'm ssooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry for the wait guys! Thank you for your patience! :)
xxx
