"No, I mean better."
Ray could hear Mick's gruff voice from just beyond the warehouse door where he was hiding and waiting. The familiar sound of his new tech being put to work let's him know that it's done. Leonard's memories are gone. Mick appears at his side only moments later with a grim expression on his already grim features.
"You sure about this, Haircut?"
"He has an eidetic memory. If someone can beat my tech its him. We don't want remnants of events sticking around. He needs to get on the ship with us. The team wouldn't be the same without him." Ray recited the answer he's been giving everyone when asked about his decision to stay in 2014 playing henchman to Captain Cold.
Mick patted Ray on the shoulder, a rare physical gesture, obviously strategic. "Which is the bullshit you fed the team. What's your angle?"
Unable to resist looking at Mick when the pyromaniac initiated contact, Ray was the cause of his own undoing. He was a horrible liar at the best of times, and Mick knew something more was at play here. Had known for a while, just didn't call Ray out on it. Sighing deeply, Ray let his gaze drift over to where Len was standing still looking so uncharacteristically confused. "I just want to know him," he admitted quietly.
Mick shook his head. "He ain't the guy from the Waverider, Haircut. He's cruel and guarded. He'll hate you more than he did the first time."
Ray nodded, "I know."
"Moron, then why you doing this?" demanded Mick.
"Because he changed my fate, Mick," Ray boldly declared. "I was supposed to die. Yes, you intervened, but ultimately it's Len's fate that was cut short so mine could be altered. I just… I just want to do the same for him."
Mick dropped his hand away from Ray's shoulder and nodded. He left him to it then. Confident that if anyone could melt the icy heart of Captain Cold, it was the boy scout.
No one was willing to change fate with the spear, but maybe fate would let them have this one gimme for being so good about that. There had to be a loop hole somewhere, and Ray would find it with the time he bought himself. At Len's side he would find a way to save the man's future.
Taking a deep breath, Ray steadied himself. He pushed off the wall, then entered the room currently occupied by one Leonard Snart. He took another deep breath and ran his hand over his newly shaven head. Ray had drastically changed his look so he could convince anyone who noticed that he only closely resembled Ray Palmer. A buzz cut and a thick coat of stubble, nearing full on beard territory, gave him a rougher look. His already toned body and broad shoulders helped as well. He at least looked the part.
"Heya! Leonard Snart, right? I was told I could find you here. Name's Lucky." Too bad that all goes to shit as soon as he opens his mouth.