CHAPTER 3
(The Flash 1x10 part 1)
Fire & Ice
Leonard soon realized that working with Mick wouldn't be easy. He had trouble keeping calm at first. Sometimes he was like a small child, he didn't concentrate if he got bored. And that was very often. Mick liked the fire since he was a child. Later, he managed to keep his obsession out for several years. But then came... the accident. Well, accidents, in fact. After that his concentration was minimal. But with matches or lighters helped him. Watching the fire for a moment calmed him enough to be operational again. But now Mick would watch the fire all the time. Which was quite dangerous, considering what his weapon is doing. At the same time, however, he saw an advantage in his obsession. He was willing to do anything, and especially to to lure out Streak.
"So what now?" Mick murmured at Leonard, who was just searching the internet for the new information on the speeder. He found good web page, XXX. It was written by Iris West, Detective West's daughter. What irony. She said she'd met him, and he called himself the Flash. A good name, surely the little guy who helped him also named him. Leonard played with this thought for a second, found him and the women, kidnapped them and blackmailing the hero, but he changed his mind. He didn't do kidnapping. But he left it as plan B.
"Now, you will learn to use your gun." Leonard boredly murmured. He had told him it sixth time already. This week. He wasn't sure if Mick was so stupid, or he was playing it. But time learned him not to underestimate his partner. Although you never know with Mick.
"I'm did that. I have been learning with it for more than two weeks. I can shoot." said the big guy.
"But that's not all, Mick. You have to learn how the gun works." Mick looked at him in confusion. Leonard sighed. As always, Mick didn't understand, Leonard had to explain everything as to child. Leonard stood up from the computer and walked around the room. "Her construction, how it works inside, how to fix it when it breaks." He elegantly waved and twisted with his hand. Then, with his bored style, he leaned against the table, watched Mick and waiting for his reaction. He didn't get it. Leonard rolled his eyes. "You have to open it, Mick. Dismantle it to pieces, learn where all of this hoses and screws belongs, and then put it together again."
"Right now?" Mick frowned.
"Yes, Mick, right now. The sooner you learn it, the sooner we can get into action."
"Okay." Mick murmured and Leonard was surprised how easy it was. Then Mick stared in nowhere for a moment. It was his typical thoughtful gaze. "But will I be ableburn things, won't I?" And there was good old Mick and his blind obsession.
"Yeah, Mick, you will." Leonard sighed.
Mick smiled with satisfaction. "Okay." Then he picked up his gun carefully, as if it were a rare treasure. And it was. Perhaps it was the greatest loot in their lives. He rolled it in his hands for a moment and stared at it. Leonard hadn't seen him with such an expression for years. Last time was when- "I'll need a screwdriver." Mick muttered, and walked to the nearby tool table.
"Are you all right, Mick?" Leonard asked after a moment. He had to be sure Mick could handle the action.
"Yeah, why not?" Mick murmured withouth looking at him and poke in the tools to find the right size of a screwdriver.
Leonard walk a tightrope now. He must be careful. "In a few days it will be thirteen years whe-"
"I'm fine!" Mick yelled and hit the table so hard that a few tools fell down on the ground. Then he took a deep breath to calm down, began to rummage through the tools and measure the size of the screwdrivers with the small screws of his gun. "As you have said, it will be thirteen years. I moved on...There it is." He grabed the smallest of a screwdriver in their set of tools, turned back to Leonard again and pointed a screwdriver on him. "And you should to worry about plan more than about me." With these words, he passed Leonard and went to a nearby table where were a few things on it, including empty paper boxes of Chinese food. But all this, Mick brush off it on the ground with a single waving of his big hand, and sat down, on now empty the table. Impulsive as always.
Leonard just sighed and shook his head in disbelief. Some things will never change. "You clean it up later." Leonard commanded to big guy when he grabbed his laptop and went to his "room".
"Yeah, sure." he heard an ironic snort. He wont clean it, it was clear to Leonard. Fortunately, he was used to cleaning after Mick.
The robbery must be quiet, without civilians if it's possible. Actually, it doesn't have to be a robbery, just something which lure Flash out. And when they get him, they'll rule the whole underground of Central City. Then they can steal whatever they want. Leonard took over all possibilities in his head. A quiet places, no civilians, alarm connected to the police. Leonard still wasn't reject idea Flash was listening to their stations. These criteria, however, didn't fulfil the single spot he had in his viewfinder. Banks, museums, currency exchange... too many civilians. Auction warehouses... complex security systems, they would have to have someone inside. Private collections... those richpeople had mostly their own security, and there is definitely no connection to Flash. They call the police when it's over. He wants something else, he wants something he wouldn't think otherwise, he wants something simple, yet elegant, he wants beer...
He returned to their "common living room" where he had left Mick before. Table, couch, TV, fridge and lots of work desks. The only furniture in the room, as well as in every living roon in their shelters, which were mostly warehouses. They didn't need to make any special arrangements for them, they had never lived in them for long. They spent most of their time in safe flats. But this was an exception, both of them had to train with their guns. And it wouldn't work much in the flats.
Mick was still working on his half-dismantled weapon. It was ridiculous to see how the muscle-man dismantled the gun with a miniature screwdriver. And using the magnifying glass.
Leonard walked to the fridge and opened it with the vision of a cold, bitter drink. There was no beer inside, Mick drank everything. Leonard sighed. "Mick." Leonard began, slamming the fridge's door. Be calm, just cool. "I've told you, many times that if you drin all beer, you gotta buy new one."
Mick didn't even look at him, he continued to work on the gun. "Sorry buddy. I have work now."
Leonard rolled his eyes, it's like talking to a brick wall. He grasped the black coat, ehich was over the chair and dressed him. His blue parka would be noticeable (And, unfortunately, it is his vilain's costume, it isn't for everyday wearing). He turned to leave when Mick shout at him from his chair. "If you're going to shop, take a whiskeys too. And cookies."
Typical Mick always thing by his stomach. "Chocolate-mint?"
Typical Mick always thing by his stomach. "Chocolate-mint?"
"No..." Mick shook his head and stopped working on the gun. For a few seconds he looked in nowhere, each of his muscles tensed, as if he had pain. That's not good. "With chocolate frosting." he said quietly. Shit, this in definately not good.
He has no reason to argue with him. "All right." Leonard replied, as coldly as possible. But in his voice the uncertainty was obvious. Mick said he moved on. But now he wants cookies with chocolate frosting. And he want it only on her anniversary. He didn't move on at all. This is going to be a difficult work.
xxx
When Leonard returned from the store (and thai food), he got the idea how attracting the Flash without endangering innocent lives. He was just passing the road, a paper bag filled with alcohol and cookies in hands, he almost wasn't fast enought to avoiding passing Bentley. Another upstart rich kid who spend hundreds of thousands of dady's dollars for a car that they could finally pull out of the warehouse. Yes, customs warehouse. Lots of expensive, ve~ery expensive cars with minimal security and security system connected to the police. One is at the northern end of the city. The police are far away from it than most of the banks, so they will have enough time to deal with the Flash. But he'll have to plan a lot, count seconds, add all the variables, figure out the best time to do the action, count with any traffics jam or detours... and prepare Mick, of course. So it takes a lot of time.
When Leonard returned he found Mick sitting at the television and watching some horror movie. An Alien, like every year. Why at all? Horror movie had nothing to do with her. Mick laughed at the cheap joke of one of the actors and drank deeply from a bottle of beer. Where did he take it? "I thought you had drank all beers." Leonard spoke boredly as he put his paper bag and Thai food on the table beside the fridge.
"Yeah, I found one on one of the counters." Mick answered without taking his eyes off the screen and drinking again. "Give me a new one." he grunted. With no "please".
Leonard sighed theatrally, trying to calm down himself. Mick's selfishness and silliness could sometimes make him furious. After a few seconds he turned back to him and lean on the table. He crossed his hands against his chest as he began with his reproaches. "You ought to worry about your gun rather than a television. You have to learn inner structure."
"I already did that." Mick murmured, watching television again. Leonard raised his eyebrows. Already did that? "I dismantle it, looked inside, and put it together again. No big deal." Mick said finally, and Leonard shook his head. He knew Mick was good with electronics, and that's why he started working with him at the first time, when thei were kids (even they didn't admit it at that time). Mick mostly didn't know what he was doing, Leonard always had to tell him, but whatever he was doing, he had done it in half time than Leonard had. Mick had talent. But Leonard didn't expect that Mick learned how gun work in so short time. He himself spent an hour and a half over his weapon to learn it. It took Mick for half an hour. Unreliable. "So what that beer?" Mick growled impatiently. Okay, Leonard let him watch that movie and then make him work on the gun again. He bealive that Mick was able to dismate it and put it together in so short time, but he didn't believe that Mick was able to remember the inner composition and circuitry and divorce... He had a gift, but he was not a genius.
He took one of the bottles in one hand, biscuits into other. He walked over to the couch and handed him a bottle. "Thanks, buddy." Mick murmured, and Leonard knew it wasn't from gratitude, but because he had given him an alcohol. Then Leonard handed him a pack of cookies. Mick stared at them for a moment, his gaze darkened. But then he slowly took them from him. As if the movement itself caused the pain to him. "Thanks." he said quietly, this time he was meant it.
A monster appeared on the screen with a terrifying roar, and the "heroes" began firing on all sides.
"Why the Alien?" asked Leonard to relieve the situation. Leonard doesn't like those movies very much. The idea was good, it worked for the first movie, but now it was too much.
"Resurrection." Mick murmured, pulling on the table for beer opener.
"What?"
"Alien: Resurrection." Mick repeated. The beer opener open the bottle with a sigh. Mick glanced at the bottle for a moment, as if he were thinking about drinking it or not. "She liked it. It was the last movie we were watching." he said quietly and drank with determination.
Leonard frowned. Did they look at this? "Were you watch at horror movie with her? She was seven!" screamed Leonard in disbelief.
Mick shrugged. "Don't worry, I told her when to close her eyes. She saw just half of movie."
The main heroine entered at room full of deformed creatures, one still lived.
Leonard frowned and hope Mick wasn't showing this scene to her.
She lit the flame thrower and let everything in the room lie down in ash. Include barely livingcreature whom scream.
Mick laughed loudly. "That's ridiculous. I would have done it with my gun in second." he grined as if he didn't watch at horror movie, but at the best comedy of year.
Leonard shook his head. He will never understand to Mick. He sat down at couch beside him, watching the "heroes're" crossing the floating part of the space ship. None of them had spoken until the end of the film. The only sound in the room was television and Mick's crunching the cookies.
And in Leonard's surprise, Mick rise without a word and returned to the table as soon as the movie ended and began to dismantle the gun again.
Leonard looked at almost empty box of cookies which Mick had left on the table. There was only one forgotten cookie in it. He left it there. Leonard knew that Mick would never eat it, he always left one behind. It was their habit, she always had the last one. And this was Mick's strange way to honor the memory of her, never eating the last cookie with chocolate icing. Leonard looked at his partner as he flipped with his tiny screwdriver. Parents should never live longer than their children. No, if they love them. And if Leonard had ever been certain in his life, Mick really loved his daughter.
xxx
The whole week had been same. Mick, after a few minutes of back-chat, worked on his gun. Leonard, on the other hand, planned the upcoming action. The police station was about 700 meters from the warehouse, so it would take 180 seconds. Exactly 3 minutes. The watchman is going through the area once per hour. But as the autumn and the outside was beginning to be cold, he spent the time between in the bistro after the corner, where he had a zero chance of seeing things happening in the warehouse. So all what he need is just select, according to the weather forecast, a cool evening and do it ten minutes after any full hour. It's awfully easy. If there was a chance to actually steal the cars, he'd done it a long time ago... Actually, he'd not. It was too easy, no excitement. Even if he could, by some miracle, steal all these expensive cars, he wouldn't do it. The only reason for this action is licking the Flash, that's all. No other interest, it's too boring.
On the way back from the customs warehouse, he decided to buy food in convenience store that was on the way when he saw her. A brunet who helped "save" Flash. How likely is he meet her at the store, a few weeks before the action? He must use this chance.
She was just paying when Leonard came. Just a owner in the box office was looking at the newcomer, fortunately. That gave Leonard enough time to hide behind the shelves and listen. Childish, yes, but effective. She seemed to go shopping here often, though it was usually in the morning.
"I had to stay at work longer today. I'm doing some... productivity and strenth tests with my friend."
Has she mean Flash to be that friend? That would explain a lot.
"What are you still doing in Star Labs? The cleaning had ended a long time ago." said the owner, packing the food into a paper bag.
"A lot of things. At the moment, we're trying to complete the research, find out what exactly went wrong and how to correct the consequences." she sighed tiredly as she pulled out her wallet. Pink, as predictable. "How much?" She smiled innocently.
"$10.54."
She smiled and left. At that moment, Leonard came out of his hiding place, a typical worth of beer for Mick, and something harder for the night.
"That's a lot of alcohol, are you planning a celebration?" an elderly man smiled from the box office.
"The anniversary of death in the family." Leonard murmured sharply enough for the owner to understand that he was not going to talk about it. They were silent for a moment, the owner just ring up the prices. Then Leonard frowned, he have an incredible opportunity to found something about that woman, he should use it. "How the woman, who's just left, name?"
"Caitlin, why?" men mischievous smiled. "Do you like her?"
Leonard's frown deepened. "She just reminded me someone." The name is good, but he needs a surname. "Caitlin Miller."
The owner laughed from the heart. "That's the wrong address, lad." It's been years since someone told Leonard lad. "This was Caitlin Snow." So Snow...
"Oh." Leonard finished and gave him several greenback. He didn't bother to wait for the change and left. Today was a good day. He went to prepare plan A, and he got important information for plan B, or C. Yes, a good day. Very good day.
xxx
After two weeks of planning and continuous training, they were finally ready. They stole a car that day. Of course, Mick was picking him, otherwise he wouldn't go anywhere. Sometimes he was like a small child.
"Let's go, Mick." Leonard said. It was time to go. It was exactly midnight. With the current infrastructure and speed 35 mil per hour, they will be in the warehouse for 14 minutes.
Mick rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's go." He grabbed the old welder's jacket and his gun.
"Seriously, Mick?"
"What?"
"You want to take this dirty old jacket?"
"This isn't a comic book, Snart. Super-villain or not, I won't wear any embarrassing color costume. And if, this is my costume."
Leonard knew there's no reason to argue with Mick, so he didn't comment it. But he couldn't help. "Take a glasses at least, the shots are shining. Blind you would be useless."
Mick turned on all sides wildly, looking for the glasses he could use. He found them. A welder's glasses belongs to the jacket. They could go.
"You drive." said Leonard firmly. He didn't like to drive. He can do that, of course, but he feels better when someone else's driving. Free hands to shoot. And he was definitely better in shoting than Mick.
Mick looked at him in disgust. "I drank."
Leonard rolled his eyes. Mick just has to listen an orders nothing more. "You're drinking all the time. You can manage it."
Mick stared at his partner for a moment. To a normal man, Mick's frowning look should sends a shivers down by his spine. But not to Leonard. He wasn't afraid. "You know it was a drunk driver." Mick murmured at last.
Yes, of course, anniversary. "You will not hit anyone, Mick. You made some immunity to alcohol. "
Mick stared at him for a moment, then nodded and took the keys. He sat down behind the wheel and started. "Seat belts." Leonard said as he sat down. Now it was Mick, who rolled his eyes. But he obved him.
It was a quarter to one. The watchman entered the bistro behind the corner four minutes ago, for another cup of hot coffee. They had forty-five minutes to get started.
Mick stopped in front of the solid metal door of the warehouse, which was actually a large garage of foreign cars. Leonard stepped out, Mick followed him. "How do we get in?" Mick asked.
Leonard stared at him and sly smiled. He put on his glasses. Mick, when he saw him, did the same. He was lucky, because Leonard turned back to the door and fired emediately. In three seconds, the door was covered with solid ice.
Mick moved his glasses on his forehead and stared at the frozen door for a moment before waving his hand on it. "Great, you frozen the door. What now?"
"We'll go through them." Leonard said simply, pulling his glasses loosely around his neck.
Mick's eyes widened. "Are you crazy?"
"No. I mean it very serious." Leonard snapped almost offendedly and retired back in the car. "They'll break up. Let's go."
Mick just waved his arms and sat behind the wheel. He gripped it firmly, silently praying, without even being a believer, and stamping on the pedal. He closed his eyes when the car was right before the door. He didn't want to see this. He had never thought about a suicide, even after all what had happened to him, what he lost. And now he will die like suicide. There was a clattering noise around the car. Mick didn't think it was glass of a car. No shards hit him so he opened his eyes. The car was inside. He stamped on the brake quickly and stopped the car with a tug.
Leonard was the first who get out, the coldgun still in his hand, ready for shooting, and with a winning expression on his face. Mick followed him. "Told you it would break." Leonard sneered as he lowered his weapon.
"And the shrink says I'm crazy." Mick murmured to himself, looking around for possible valuables. He didn't ask to Leonard what they will steal, and he probably should. There was nothing, just large objects hidden beneath white sails. "What is this place?"
"Customs warehouse." Leonard replied boredly. He looked back at Mick, who was standing by one of the white sails. "Imported cars from Europe." He continued as Mick began to pull the sail and revealed the brightly colored Lamborgini under it. How cheesy. Mick stopped, this will be an quarrel. "All worth a fortune." Leonard said, almost miserable, but no matter, Mick didn't listen.
"Question." Mick said quickly, with angry expression on his face. "How do you suggest you and I drive all these cars out of here?"
"We're not." Leonard snarled, looking directly at Mick. And Mick didn't understand him, what's not a surprise. "We're not stealing anything." explained Leonard.
Mick's frown deepened. He began slowly to come closer to Leonard. "What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice deeper and more threatening than usual. The only thing what had separated two men from the fight now was the car that Mick leaned on.
"Our entrance set off the silent alarms." Leonard explained, looking around the high walls. When they arrived they had three minutes. "The cops will be arriving in 2 minutes and..." He looked at his watch. 45 seconds passed. "...14 seconds."
"Bring them." Mick snorted, opening the back door of the escape car, and pulling out the metal case with his gun. The car rumbled when he laid it down on it. He was about to open it when Leonard stopped him.
"That's not for the cops." Mick paused. He pushed a metal case out a little by his big hand and burn Leonard by his angry glance. "As we discussed." Leonard slowly, with his typical unobtrusive elegance, walked past the space between the cars and his cold gun, which he held loosely along his body a few second ago now ready again for immediate shooting. "He'll be here." he added, staring at the broken frozen door. The only entrance to werehouse.
"Who?" Mick frowned, looking between the metal case and Leonard. His fingers roared and the unconscious pushed him to obey his partner's orders and pull out the gun. Eventually, he should be ready, right?
Leonard was silent, now there was no time to tell Mick about the Flash. He had to concentrate. And so he continued to pay attention to the broken door.
This was Mick's chance. He was already opening the case when he heard the sirens. He stopped. Cops.
"You do hear that, right?" Mick muttered angrily, and Leonard can clearly heard: I told you, in his voice.
"He's not coming." Leonard said, disappointed. There was a problem somewhere. Maybe Flash didn't listen to the police radio. Or is there not only a theft of interest to him to stop them. But when he wanted to steal the diamond, Flash stopped him, so what's the problem? What's missing here? Both clashes played Leonard in his head. What did he missed? And then he get it. People. Civilians. The victims who would Flash protected here. The armored car had guard. The museum had just a watchman and he escaped, so Flash didn't appear there. But there were passengers on the train. Flash only appears when someone's live in at risk. A true hero, Leonard's subconscious sneered.
They could start shooing at the police in escape, but that was risky. He didn't know how many cops would come. In the warehouse they are at a disadvantage, there is only one exit and they are blocked. The only option would be to fight out. That would mean wounded, or dead. Just no killing, Leonard. No, if it is not necessary. And this would be necessary. It would be necessary to get out. But he couldn't force himself to attack. Imagine of a disappointed expression in turquoise eyes flashed through his head. He didn't want to see it anymore. He didn't want to disappoint.
"We're leaving." said Leonard, and turned back to their car.
"This better make sense real fast, buddy." Mick's voice sounded threatening, and Leonard knew he would have to give him some information. If he wants Mick to cooperate with him.
"It will. Let's go." Leonard snapped as he stepped into the car. Mick threw his case at the back seat and sat after the wheel. But he didn't start.
"You promised me I'd get to do my thing." complained the big guy, like a small child who hadn't got promised sweetness.
"I always keep my promises." Leonard said. He wasn't in the mood for this. "Seat belt." he said, ending the conversation. Mick claped the belt, and finally started. Leonard took a breath. The fight was staved off. For now.
xxx
"What the hell was that mean?" Mick shouted as the door of their warehouse closed behind them, and the case with his gun was safely laid on one of the tables.
"Calm down, Mick." Leonard said lazily, watching his partner pull his shabby jacket and throw it angrily in the corner.
"Don't tell me to calm down and start explaining. Very quickly, Snart!" Mick turned to him, wildly pointing by his forefinger at Leonard. Now Leonard must to tell a truth and hope that Mick will not just believe him but support him.
"We have a new hero in town." Leonard began simply.
"Something like the Arrows with the bow and tha chick in black in Starling City?" Laughed Mick, and opened the beer from their again thinning supplies.
"It's Star City now, it've been renamed." Leonard corrected, and Mick frowned at him. He hated to be correct. "But yes, something like them. Except he has powers, he's fast, super fast." Mick raised his eyebrows and drank. "He is that blur, Mick, the one who run in the streets and rescues people, prevents crime. He called himself the Flash. "
"Yeah? And what's with him?" Mick shrugged his shoulders and sat on the sofa. At least, he believed him.
"He has spoild the robbery of the Kahqdaq diamond." Leonard explained, removing his blue parka, and throwing it over one of the chairs at the table.
"But you get it, right?"
"Yes, but in the second try. If i didn't have a cold gun and moment of surprised, I couldn't get it." Leonard walked to one of the work desks and turned on the laptop. Time for Plan B, he just have to choose the theft of something that attracts Mick's attention while having a limited number of wounded civilians. At the same time, however, they need to have enough hostage to lure the Flash. "It can't happen again." he murmured almost absently as he began to look for the closest social events and news to find the target. He had no problem with possible injury or death of one of Rich members of Central City's citisens. "But next time, he will be ready on me and my gun." Benefits actions, parties, reading to childrens in a children's home (selfish bastards, as if they raly care about that children, they care just about publicity), stock exchanges... that might be interesting. There are expensive things there, and patrols who could be taken as hostages, with a good plan. Or go right in the auction hall. Maybe he could say some very high ridiculous amount on his arrival, as his funny announcement. All villains needs a good phrase to be remembered for. "We have to surprise him again, and this time it will be you who surprise him, Mick." Another auction is a month later, it's too late, Mick is impatient for action, if they don't do it soon, it's going to be bad. But wait a minute... Leonard's view fell on the article "Fire & Ice" fetches $25m from Central City's Rathaways. Just the fact that is Rathaways and even that price will interested Mick. And the fitting name of painting... he clicted at the article. "This robbery was just about to lure him into a trap, to stop him." It was an painting, nothing extra beautiful, modern art, nothing for him. But the art experts loved it, an abstract modern-day masterpiece blah, blah, blah.
"God, you're beautiful." said Mick suddenly, and Leonard looked at him. He played with the lighter, stared at its flame and didn't take attention to what Leonard said. Great.
"Mick." said Leonard and get Micks attention again. Mick snapped the lid of his gas lighter and hide it in his pocket.
"This is a joke." said Mick, and Leonard continued to research about the painting. He needs more informations. "How do you know this Flash didn't skip town, hmm? Maybe that's why he didn't show up." And here it is, reproaches. Leonard stepped nervously. The action must be as soon as possible. Rathaways will arrive tonight at Central City's private airport, which will be almost empty, due to security. Timing is better than the auction house. "Or maybe he's dead. Or maybe someone smarter than you iced him."
"He's not dead, and he didn't leave town." Leonard replied with a bored voice, clicked on the keypad and searched for more and more articles. But in his voiva was heard anger. This Mick has been overdo. There's not much things what can Leonard take offence, but everyone knows he's the smartest on the crime scene in Central City, and maybe even in the country. Nobody ever surpassed him. And as soon as he defeats the Flash, he will show it to the whole world.
Mick knew that Leonard already had a plan. He knew him well enough. "You will tell me what we're stealing this time." he said more calmly. It wasn't a request, it was an ultimatum. You tell me or I'm leaving. "We are partners, after all." said the big guy, looking directly at Leonard.
"This is what we came for." Leonard said proudly, turning his laptop with an open link and a picture of the image directly on Mick. Mick got up and walked over to the laptop to check the screen. Leonard watched him with a gentle smile, but that smile reflected considerable pride. He waited for enthusiasm from the man in front of him, but Mick looked at him confused, without any joy in his eyes.
"That's worth money?"
How else, Mick just looked at the picture and didn't read the title that explained everything. It was just that article "Fire & Ice" fetches $25m from Central City's Rathaways what Leonard had open. Telling Mick to read the headline would just make Mick angry, Leonard'd have to explain it. And he also couldn't miss the opportunity to boast his genius in choosing a goal.
"It's called Fire & Ice, an abstract modern-day masterpiece, said to represent the dichotomy of being." Leonard said, what experts wrote about the painting, by memory.
"It represents to me that people with lots of money buy dumb stuff." Mick said angrily. He didn't understand what Leonard had told him and started to leave. But Leonard left his pre-prepared speech about his brilliant plan be and pull the aces in his sleeve immediately to keep Mick's attention.
"Osgood and Rachel Rathaway," ... the first ace. "...one of the richest couples in Central City..." he reminded, only to be sure. "pPaid 25 million for it in Paris." And the last ace. Mick looked at him with an expression that said clearly: If you're kidding me, I'll kill you. "They're flying home with it today." Leonard said, pointing out that he meant it realy serious.
For a moment, Mick looked at Leonard with such a cold look that Leonard envied him. Now Mick didn't look like the deranged loony how he had been in the last few years. Then Mick's gaze fell on the screen again. "Hmmm... Attack on their money, it's gonna hurt them." Then he smiled badly, and looked like a deranged loony again. "I like it." He said it so darkly that it sent Leonard shivers down his spine. Apelling on Mick's vengefulness may not have been the best idea.
xxx
It took a few hours to prepare, the airport had little protection. And Rathaway decided to fly at night, when there is as few people as possible, paradoxically for safety. Idiots. All they had to do was remove security and dispatcher and wait for their landing. It would be best if Mick was hiding somewhere inside while Leonard cut off the escape route. If they are lucky, and no one will play a hero unnecessarily, Mick will remain hidden until the Flash's arrival and surprise him.
The articles just told they'll arrive tonight, but nowhere was written when exactly. So now Leonard sat alone in the car while Mick was hidden in the hangar and waited for Rathaway's arrival. They cared for the security, made up of two inexperienced fools and a chubby dispatcher, an hour ago. Now they were tied up in the locked closet. Leonard couldn't kill them, that voice did not let him. And to convince Mike that tieding them would be better, wasn't as difficult as he ecpected. A well-done robbery is when no one has to die. And they do only well-done robberies.
They waited another hour. Every five minutes Leonard listening through their radio Mick's never ending complaining how he's boring, when finally getting a message from the pilot to the second radio station where he had redirected communications from the tower. He asked for a landing permit. And Leonard thanked for another example of the stupidity of today's society, opened the notebook where the dispatcher had all the notes and codes for communication, and allowed the landing without any suspicion.
As soon as he had finished the talk with the pilot, he took the first radio to alert Mick. "Prepare Mick, they're coming."
"Finally." muttered Mick.
As soon as he had finished communicating with his partner, a black SUV and a white van arrived and ride directly in the hangar and parked on the side to not prevent the landing. From SUV came asian man suit, personal driver and bodyguard of Rathaways. Out of the van came a man and a blonde woman in expensive suits who immediately started to put on rubber gloves. The Asian nodded to the pair, without one of them noticing the suspected car on the corner in which Leonard crouched to not see him. And after another three minutes, a small passenger plane arrived with a very expensive cargo... And a pair of annoying rich idiots.
Time for the action.
Leonard stepped out of the car and felt the addictive excitement that he hadn't felt for years. Maybe it will be a shame to get rid of Flash. He will miss this feeling.
Even so, Leonard walked into the hangar and fired at the air, only for warning. The kickback forced him to tug with his arm a little, but he didn't shown it. No, at this moment he's not Leonard Snart, he is Cold now. And as such, he must keep his face. Now his introduction. A funny line. Something like: "Someone better call 911." Yes, that's it. Rachel Rathaway fidgeted in horror and hide behind the driver, while Osgood Rathaway burned Leonard down with a devastating gaze that frightened not only his own children but also everyone in his neighborhood (including all members of his board of directors). All axcept Leonard, all except Cold. Leonard grinned at him as if he had just won a million. More specifically, twenty-five million in the form of Fire & Ice. And soon Flash.
"If you don't want to end up like an ice sculpture, do what I say." said Leonard coldly. And he began to circumvent his hostages like a beast his prey. "My name is Leonard Snatr, but you can call me Cold." he continued, then looked at Osgood with a cold glance. How he hated this man. "And you..." he grinned disgustedly at Osgood, as if he were the greatest scum. "... you call me Mr. Cold." His face twisted in contempt, as he said it, and looked at the place where Mick was hiding. Then he looked again at his prisoners. "Madam, if you will so kind and put the panting on the ground." He gestured to blonde with his gun. She visibly shuddered and hurriedly start laid the picture on the ground. "Careful." he said coldly, and the blonde stopped. She blinked three times and looked at him in horror. Then she carefully leaned the painting on the SUV. Leonard gestured her to go to the others. The blonde quickly ran away, hiding behind her colleague who was shaking even more than she was. Leonard almost felt sorry. Almost. But the fact was they didn't need all of them. He sighed. "You two." He pointed to the art experts. "And the pilot, get out." he whispered to the man crouched in the cabin. He snapped and slowly stood out. As he stood beside the art experts, Leonard grimaced. "Now, get out of here." he said, and they all start running. Even Rathaway. "Stop!" Leonard shouted and all of them stopped and stared at their prisoner. "Rathaway's stay, the rest can go." he said darkly.
There was terror in Rathaway's faces, while the pilot and the art experts fled. The bodyguard, however, stood before Rachel Rathaway. "I'm staying here." he said resolutely, and Rachel blushed behind him.
"Your choice." Leonard shrugged. Then the soun of police sirens came in, and Leonard frowned. No Flash again. What a disappointment. The police cars stopped at the entrance of the hangar. Plan B. "Go." ordered Leonard to Rathaway's and the bodyguard. They stared at him in confusion. "I said, go'" he repeated more emphatically, pointing cold gun at them . Rachel began to shake. Both men grabbed her arms and dragged her to the hangar door, right into the police shoot way. And, just as Leonard thought, they didn't shoot. He had enough time to get out behind the cars and aim. The police officers lined to him. There was detective West too. Leonard had luck for him recenly.
"Snart, freeze." detective West shouted at him, quite confidently, like he didn'd notice he had just run into Leonard's wound. And what are the strange shields?
Leonard hadn't thought about it for a long time, and fired. The long ice flame hit directly on the shields. Nothing, ot even a little frost on them. He tried it again. The gun flashed wildly, and his forefinger pulsed with pain as he clamped the trigger. But nothing again. That's why the detective was so confident. The shields functioned perfectly as a defense against his gun. He couldn't do anything. Time for Plan C. "Mick." he shouted to his partner, and Mick came out of his hiding place immediately.
"Why do they call you people the heat?" Mick cried as his arms swelled wildly. "I'm the Heat." He screamed and fired at the police officers who immediately began to retreat. Leonard just rolled his eyes. He could have thought that Mick would want an introductory announcement too. But he had to admit Mick was surprised, it wasn't so stupid line. And Mick's gun apparently worked, police officers began to retreat. Their shields may have been cold-proof, but they don't work against the fire. Some men began falling to the ground as the fire touched their feet, and the trousers started burning. Mick lost his mind again. There was a wide grin on his face and he looked like a madman.
"Forget them, Mick." Leonard shouted, starting to shoot from cold gun. He didn't even know if he did it for helping Mick to put officers down, or perhaps in an effort to keep the cops out of that unbearable heat of fire. "Get ready for him."
"It's beautiful." Was the only thing Mick said. He was completely out.
"Mick." Leonard called again. If he doesn't stop him as soon as possible, then Mick will kill them. "Mick." Again nothing. Mick was in his own little fire world. But this little world will soon collapse. Leonard saw detective West push his hand from behind the shield and strode blindly. Directly on Mick. "Mick!" Leonard shouted, trying to warn him. In vain. The bullet, fortunately, just hit Mick's gun, which stopped fire, sparkled, and then the lights went off for good. Mick hit by his hand at gun to make it work again. Doesn't work. They have to get out of here. "We go, now!" ordered Leonard, and continued firing from cold gun to cover Mick's fleeing. When he turned and saw Mick far behind, he stopped the fire and ran after him. Leonard didn't comment the fact that Mick focused at the painting he held in his hands more then on their own freedom . Instead of comment he fired on the metal wall of the back
part of the hangar, which was immediately covered with ice. The wall was not too strong before, so now it was enough just to slam to it by the grip of the cold gun and wall shatter. "Get the car."
And Mick did. He broke the window of the first car by his hand and opened the door. He reached for the passenger's door and open them to Leonard whoom waiting outside a weapon ready for potential defenses. Before Leonard could get in, Mick had already started by the wires. They go.
They were on the main way when they heard another siren from the distance. "Go to back alley and turn off the engine." Leonard said.
"What?"
"Just do it!" He shouted. Mick shrugged and obeyed his orders again. A barely Mick pulled into a narrow dead end and turned off the engine, rode out from behind a corner five police cars and drove around them, even noticed them. Fools.
Leonard waited until the cars disappeared around the corner, counting two hundred before he motioned for Mick to go on. And then they was silent all the way to the warehouse. It was obvious to Mick that he's in trouble.
When they stopped at the warehouse and stepped out, Leonard told him only two words. "Go in." He didn't even look at Mick when he said it. Just sat behind the wheel and left. He had to get rid of the car. He would usually leave it to Mick, he didn't like to drive. But he needed to be alone and think. Mick lost control, didn't listen to him, and almost killed the cops. And if Leonard didn't intervened, they would both end up behind bars. Again. Mick was useless, incompetent, uncontrollable, insane...
Leonard stepped out of the car, weight down the accelerator pedal, released the handbrake and watched the old stolen buick disappears in the dark waters of the river. Then he crossed two streets and stole another car to get back into the warehouse. He stopped a little further, in a public parking lot. Among the dozens of cars, one stolen car will be lost. And before the dunces from Police office can find it, they'll be gone.
But what worried Leonard was Mick. If it was someone else, Leonard had got rid of him long time ago, same as the old buick. But this was Mick, his friend, so if Leonard was ever willing to admit he had any. They've known each other for twenty-eight years. And when times was tough, they always covered each others back. Mick believe him, or at least believed. Cruelty, he believed him in the most important thing in his life, his daughter. But she's gone now, and Mick has failed. And Leonard knew very well what to do with those who disappointed him.
With a new resolve, Leonard stepped into the warehouse, took off the jacket, and grasped the cold gun firmly. Time to get rid of the problem.
"The cop's bullet ruptured the secondary internal fuel chamber." Mick began as he heard Leonard come in. The solder sealing the last wire from the already repaired weapon. "It could've been worse. You were right to get me
to learn every part and circuit of this thing. Repairing it was..." Leonard would have felt proud that Mick was finally admit he'd right. But now there was no time for pride, right now he was pointing on Mick's head. But Mick heard the unmistakable screaming of Leonard's gun and he grabbed his own fixed gun. "...a snap." Mick hissed, even as he pointing at Leonard. It was a pitiful situation.
But Leonard couldn't force himself to pull the trigger. Another deja-vu flashed before his eyes, Mick's chest pierced by ice. Leonard felt an inexplicable guilt. He didn't do it yet, it didn't happen. So why did his forefinger tremble at the trigger so much that he couldn't push it? He had to get the time to get together before Mick fired. "Give me one reason I don't kill you right now."
"It's gonna be hard to find someone else to listen to your winning speeches." Mick said. Did he make fun of him?
"You lost it out there, just like the last job. You lost focus, became obsessed." Leonard said, and began to approach Mick slowly to he understand that Leonard was serious. If Mick didn't play with a lighter that day that accident would never happen. Because of his obsession, he broke the whole action, and Leonard would not let it happen again.
"I'm obsessed? What about you? You're usually counting the seconds, got the whole thing planned out, dotting "t"s, crossing "I"s. But all you care about now is the Flash." Mick said. Perhaps he was right. Leonard could justify the seconds, with his calculations always leading the robbery to a successful end. But he was inexplicably obsessed by Flash. That deja-vu led him to madness.
"We have to put him down." Leonard replied, hoping that Mick would not want to know why.
But Leonard has never too luck. "Why?" Now he has to find an excuse. "We got the finger painting. It's worth millions. It's ours. We're rich. Job done."
"And what about the next job, Mick? And the job after that?
With weapons like these, no one can stand against us,
no one except the Flash." Leonard said first thing that had come to his mind. But Mick never wanted a big score, he didn't care for fame, he didn't want to overcome his father, he wasn't as Leonard. There was only one thing Mick wanted and she was gone. So Leonard reached for the only thing he could use, her memory. And so with a sigh, he lifted the gun in the air to show the peace, and continued. "If you want out, take the painting and go." Mick paused and lowered his gun to the ground. "But if you want Central City to be our home where we can do and take whatever we want... This is our chance." He slowly approached Mick, tactically. If Mick refuses to what he want, he will be able to take off his gun and fire. But it was the last possibility, he had to push harder. "Your chance."
Yes, it was unfair to use the words of his dead daughter against him. Every time she has a problem, she says Central City is her home, and she can do whatever she wants at home. And it seemed to these words affected Mick better than the vision of fame, because he grinned and turned the gun on to the painting which he had just lit. Leonard took a breath and lowered the cold gun that he was leaning against his shoulder, where Mick could not possibly pull it out of his hands.
"Very motivational." Mick murmured as he watched the flames. Then he look away from them and give all attention to Leonard. "How do we get him?" He seemed to be interested if even the flames couldn't keep his attention. Leonard suddenly felt guilty about using her words like that. But the end justifies the means.
"The Flash isn't so different from us. He's got partners too." Leonard sneered at Mick, then turned his indifferent gaze back to the several-million-worth Fire & Ice, which slowly burned out.
"And you know who?"
"Of course." Leonard snapped. "Her name is Caitlin Snow."
"Cold and Heat are looking for Caitlin Snow. That sounds funny." Mick said as he walked to the laptop at table. He opened it and tapped Caitlin Snow, Central City. "Something else about her?"
Leonard just shook his head, Mick Rory was actually preparing himself. "Brunette, around twenty-five, a scientist, works at Star Labs." Leonard said, all the information he had found two weeks ago at store. He didn't expect to them use them so soon.
"I got it, facebook, phone, address. These scientists are not very smart about privacy." Mick laughed, tapping the keyboard. "So, surprise her at home, kidnap and blackmailed the Flash?"
"No." Mick looked up curiously at his partner. "Impractical. We don't know if she will go home. Look for her phone. Where is she now?"
Mick looked back to the laptop again and clicked. "She just came to Jitters on the fifth."
"So what are we waiting for?" Leonard smirked, a faint smile on his face.
They took the car what Leonard stole once and left in the parking lot. The lock was already broken and it was easy to get inside. Mick again, sitting automatically behind the wheel, unlocking Leonard's passenger door. With the help of the wires he started and went out.
"And what's that name?" Leonard asked on what had been his head since the airport. Mick said there I am the Heat. "Heat."
"You're Cold, I wannabe Heat." Mick replied simply without breaking his eyes from the road. He didn't want to hit anyone.
"Seriously, Mick?" Leonard rolled his eyes. It was stupid to choose a name by someone else's name.
"Better than Fire, do not you think?" Mick snapped.
That was true. Nobody would really take in a wold of crime seriously a man what's called as a stip-bar. Fire, how stupid. Heat sounded better. Heatwave whispered his subconscious, and Leonard felt deja-vu again. He didn't even realize that he spoke that name out loud.
"Heatwave? I like that, I'll be Heatwave."
xxx
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AUTOR'S NOTE: Yes, Mick had a daughter. In the comic he was married and had a daughter, more precisely in comic Earth 3. He mentioned them when he and Leonard were captured by Jonathan Allen and Rhonda Pineda (who also killed him). But their names have never been told. But I thought it would be interesting to use them in the story. Show you Mick not just as a complete madman, but also as a broken but explosive man who lost everything when his daughter died.
And for those even more observant: In this story, a drunken driver hit her. I didn't want anything complicated like if someone killed her because of Mick's "job". In that case I had to convey Mick's revenge or depression he would fall to, and after that he certainly would not want to be a thief anymore (because it was a reason of her death). So just a car accident, something he could't have prevented, and it has nothing to do with his career.
Detective West: The reason why I call Joe West as detective West is that Leonard calls him so. It's his story, so I'd call the characters as Leonard calls them, for example Streak in the previous chapter, or professor Stein when he becomes a Legend later. It's his special way to show a respect for these men. And that's also why Leonard call Rip Hunter just Rip, not capitain or Hunter (not directly at least). There's no respekt for him.
They know each other for 28 years: In LoT 1x07, Leonard mentions that he met Mick in a juvie when he was fourteen. Leonard was born in 1972, so he's forty-two in the Flash 1x04. So he knows Mick for twenty-eight years.
Hunting of Caitlin: A while efore Theky kidnapped Caitlin, she has meeting in Jitters with Jason Rush, a scientist working on Firestorm project.