#atwseries

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (13/13)

@audiovizualna​​ has been providing amazing illustrations since the first chapter half a year ago. This epilogue’s illustration is hers too and it could be viewed HERE or click this > https://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/159672933839

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below: 

Against The Wind Series

Epilogue

(Set a few years after. Warning: Extreme fluff.)

“I don’t like her, Len,” Sara said, chopping the vegetables she had just washed.

Leonard chuckled and wiped his hands on the kitchen rag. “You haven’t even met her yet. You already agreed to Luke going on a date with this girl, so let him.”

“She’s not good enough for him.”

“Honey, in your eyes, nobody is ever good enough for Luke. He’s 16. He’s bound to go to dates.”

Sara groaned, making Leonard laugh.

“Is Mom still against my date with Steph?” Luke popped into the kitchen, wearing long sleeves, the scent of cologne filling the air. 

Leonard looked towards his son and had a head-to-toe sweep of how he prepared for his date. He then turned to face Sara, wiggling his eyebrows to tease her.

“I’m not against it, Lucky. I’m just protective of you,” Sara replied, wiping her hands on her apron and walked close to her son. “Sweetie, you look handsome but why are you drowning in cologne? How long is this date going to last? Three weeks?”

“Too protective,” Leonard immediately supplied and winked at Sara. “You have your things ready, kid?”

Luke laughed, fully knowing that his mother could sometimes be irrationally protective of the three of them. Still very sweet of her. “Yup. Where will Uncle Mick pick me up again?”

“STAR Labs parking lot after your date,” Leonard replied, getting a slice of carrot from the chopping board. “Make sure he doesn’t see you with your date or you’ll never hear the end of it.”

Luke nodded and did the same--got a carrot from behind Sara’s back.

“And your Mom has eyes everywhere,” Leonard replied. “For all we know, Mick’s her spy.”

“Yes, he is,” Sara said from afar.

 “Moooooooooooom!”

“No yelling in this house, Lily,” Leonard said from down the staircase. “Come down if you need anything.”

They heard fast footsteps coming down from the second floor of their house and rushing to the kitchen where Sara, Leonard, and Luke are.

“Mom, I think I lost my Judo uniform,” Lily said as she tied her hair into a ponytail. “I looked all over my room but it wasn’t there. I’m already running late for practice.”

“Have you searched for it at Lucy’s room? Maybe I placed it there,” Sara replied, too busy to even look at Lily. “Please hurry up. Your Aunt Lisa texted saying she and your cousin are already on their way to the practice.”

Lily slumped on the stool near the kitchen island. “I don’t know why I still have to go to Judo practice, Mom. You could just teach me and Leona. I’ve seen you do more advanced moves than our instructor.”

“Yes but your Uncle Cisco wants his daughter to have a normal childhood and prefers a mediocre instructor over a real-life ninja,” Sara replied finally facing Lily and tucking in the stray hair that fell on the 14-year old’s angelic face. “And it doesn’t help that his daughter is named after your father. Now go, young lady!”

Lily giggled and hopped off the stool. She then dashed passed them and up to her sister’s room.

 Luke stalled to the living room, checking his phone for the time, and left Leonard and Sara in the kitchen.

“So,” Leonard drawled, leaning onto the kitchen island. “Mick is taking Luke to 1975 and Lisa is picking Lily up after Judo. We’re gonna drive Lucy to their house to join the girls’ sleepover and…where does that leave us?”

“We’re going to clean the house,” Sara jokingly replied.

Leonard raised an eyebrow. “In that case, I’m out. Maybe Mick needs help on the ship…”

“I’m kidding, you idiot. It’s our anniversary. We’ll…”

“Mommy?” 

The couple looked at the doorway and saw their youngest—nine-year old Lucy. Unlike the curious Luke and the fierce Lily, Lucy grew up shy. Being the youngest, the attention of the family all went to her but it never made her grow up spoiled. She’s the sweetest of them all, always giving hugs and kisses to everyone she meets. She speaks softly, always gracious. Born after a crazy moment in the couple’s life, Lucy never seemed to carry the chaos that led to her birth. She became a ray of sunshine for them—a symbol of hope, even.

“Yes, Lulu?”

Lucy walked closer to them slowly. Once at arm’s reach, Leonard lifter the little girl up and sat her on the counter.

The little girl is clutching a folded paper on one hand and handed it to Leonard.

“I made a drawing.”

It was a drawing of their house with the five of them outside, holding hands. Each of the five figures is labeled with their names below them. On the upper right is a disc-like image and underneath it was the name “Uncle Mick”—probably the Waverider.

“This is beautiful, baby. Do you want me to stick it on the fridge?” Sara asked, smoothing the creases on the paper.

Instead of speaking, Lucy just shook her head and pointed on the small brown figure she drew beside her figure. “Please, Mama?”

A dog.

Leonard smirked and looked at Sara. They’ve been asked by Luke and Lily if they can have a dog for the longest time but they haven’t gotten to decide about that. There were other things to take care of back then.

But this time, it was Lucy asking them. And Leonard chuckled at the thought of Luke and Lily manipulating their baby sister into asking him and his wife for a dog.

“You want a puppy, sweet-cheeks?”

The kid’s cheeks blushed and she brought her hands to her face. “Yes, Mama.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, sweet. Your dad has allergies…”

“But we’ll make it work,” Leonard finished Sara’s sentence. In return, Sara’s eyes brightened. “As long as my baby’s happy, right?”

Lucy immediately landed a wet kiss on her father’s cheek, and then to her mother. “Thank you, Daddy. Put me down now, please?”

And Leonard did. He ran his hand through Lucy’s chestnut-colored hair and kissed the top of her head, then asked her to go back to what she’s doing.

 The moment Lucy went out of the kitchen, Luke and Lily were waiting outside, side-by-side.

“Hey Lue, so what did they say?” Lily crouched down to meet Lucy’s eye.

Luke did the same and laid a hand on the little girl’s shoulder. “We’re getting a dog, right?”

To their surprise, Leonard and Sara were looking at them, laughing to themselves.

Lucy bit her lower lip and looked to the floor, making Lily frown.

“Daddy said yes,” Lucy said softly, grinning now.

Cheers from the two older kids erupted and only stopped when Leonard cleared his throat.

“I knew you two were the masterminds,” Len said, grabbing his car keys from his back pocket.

“Lily started it,” Luke said, pointing at his sister, and then grabbed his travel bag.

“And using your baby sister to get what you want? Classic,” Sara responded, removing her apron and placing it on the door handle. “Go on, you three. Take care and come back home safe, okay?”

“Yes, Mom!” Lily said, walking closer to Sara to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I still think you should convince Uncle Cisco that you’ll train us for free.”

“I’ll try. Kick ass, okay? Well, not literally. Please don’t hurt other kids like you did last week with Helen’s daughter.”

“She deserved it!” Lily shouted back as she ran outside to get in their car.

Luke approached Sara next, fidgeting. “Gotta go, Mom. Wish me luck. Don’t worry, I’ll introduce her to you if I get a second date. Steph’s not that bad.”

“I know, Lucky. You wouldn’t like her if she’s not a great girl,” Sara said, placing a kiss on her son’s forehead. “Just have fun, okay? Make her smile. See you in a few days.”

Luke, too, walked outside after kissing the top of Lucy’s head as a goodbye.

It was then Leonard’s turn to say goodbye to Sara before they go. Knowing that Lucy is near them, Leonard settled with a chaste kiss on her lips. Sara snaked an arm around Len’s waist with her free hand stroking his chin, her palm getting tickled by the beard he’s sporting. “Get home fast, alright?”

“Judo practice in the studio in 6th Street, Luke’s date in Jitters, then home. Promise,” Leonard replied and kissed her once more, then Lucy.

---

“Seatbelts,” Leonard said, starting the car.

“Seatbelts on!” both of the kids replied.

The radio is on, reporting how Kid Flash just stopped a robbery. In the middle of the newscast, Lily spoke up.

“Do you miss it, Dad? Going in on missions and kicking bad guys’ asses?”

Leonard looked at the rear-view mirror to see Lily’s bright blue eyes. “Not really,” he answered. “It’s not that much fun since your mom and I had Luke. There’s always the risk of getting hurt or of dying. When you have a family, all that you want is to return home safe and sound. Besides, there’s more thrill in playing Uno with you three and playing cards with your mother than hunting down criminals. The speedsters can take care of them.”

“And Dad seems to enjoy his job at STAR Labs,” Luke added, winking at Lily.

Lily laughed. “Of course he does. He works with his wife and it’s not like a job at all.”

“If your mother hears you two teasing us, you’ll both get grounded. Again.”

It took a few more minutes before they reached the Judo studio. The Snart men dropped Lily off and drove for a couple more minutes to reach Jitters.

 “You ready, bud?” Leonard asked Luke when he saw his son checking his phone again.

Luke smirked and ran his hand through his hair. “Kinda nervous, to be honest.”

“You? Nervous? That rarely happens,” Leonard said. They’re almost at Jitters with 20 more minutes before the time of Luke’s date. Of course they have to arrive early. Leonard parked the car at the roadside, giving time to speak to Luke before he goes in.

“I really like her, dad,” Luke finally spoke. “She’s smart and kind and funny and really, really beautiful. I don’t even know what I did for her to say yes to this date.”

“Look at you, Luke. You look exactly like me when I was younger. You’re as handsome as I am. Any girl would say yes to a date with you,” Leonard joked, the two of them laughing.

“But to be honest,” Len said on a serious note, “that’s exactly how I felt the first time I asked your mom out. She’s beautiful and badass and she can have any man or woman she wants, yet she took a chance on me.”

“Mom really loves you, Dad. That’s why she said yes to you.”

“I know, Lucky. But it took me so long to convince myself that we were bound to be together. Or that I deserve what I have with her. I used to wait for the worst things to happen in replacement for all the happiness she brings in my life. But you’re a good kid, Luke. You deserve happiness and if this girl makes you happy, don’t hesitate,” Leonard said, looking at Luke who just exhaled a heavy breath out of his chest.

“I will, Dad,” Luke said with a familiar smirk. “Any more advice?”

Leonard leaned on the headrest of his seat and lifted a finger to count off the things he wants to remind his son.

“Open doors for her. Help her get into her seat. Offer to pay for her order,” Leonard said as-a-matter-of-factly.

Luke scoffed. “I already know that, Dad. You’ve been telling me pretty much ever since my age became two digits.”

“Just don’t do to her what you don’t want your sisters’ dates to do to them,” Leonard replied. “You know what your mother does to men who make women suffer. We raised you right, although our lives are pretty crazy. I trust you’ll do what’s right. Just make her happy, Lucky.“

“I think I can do the last one,” Luke told his father. “I have seen you make Mom happy for sixteen years. I’ve got some tips.”

“Of course you did,” Leonard replied. “Don’t forget, Mick’s picking you up after. Don’t get in too much trouble, you two. I don’t want to form an elite group of heroes and villains to help me save your asses.”

Luke laughed, “I promise, Dad. And I’ll take good care of the Cold Gun. Promise.”

“If you break that, you’re grounded ‘till you’re 30.”

---

“The recipe says carrots first, then onions and garlic, Mommy,” Lucy said as she read from the recipe book while seated on the kitchen island. “Then oregano and salt and pepper.”

“Okay, I got that going, and the meat is in the pressure cooker,” Sara replied, taking off her apron and placing it on the counter. “And now, we wait.”

Lucy’s feet were dangling on the edge, swinging back and forth. “Question, Mommy. Lily looks like you. And Luke looks like Daddy. Who do I look like?”

Sara brought her hands to the girl’s cheek and caressed it. “You look like the both of us, with a hint of Aunt Lisa. Oh, how pretty my little girl is.”

“Another question!”

“What is it?”

“Why do we all start with ‘L’? Why do you start with ‘S’?” the kid asked curiously, a cute little wrinkle forming on her forehead.

Sara couldn’t help but laugh. Leonard insisted that they don’t need to give their kids names that start with ‘L’, but Sara was too pushy.

“Well, sweet, it started with your daddy and Aunt Lisa. I just thought it would be a start of a tradition to name you three with names starting in that letter. Even Leona starts with ‘L’,” Sara said, wrapping her arms around the little girl. “It is to remind your daddy that he is a very important part of all three of you and that you will always carry something in you that are of Leonard.”

“Is the dinner for Daddy?”

“Mhm. For our anniversary celebration,” Sara replied, finally standing to check on the meal being cooked. “That is why when Daddy gets home, he’ll drive you to Aunt Lisa’s. You’ll spend the night and have sleepover with your sister and cousin.”

Silently, Lucy asked, “Why can’t we join the celebration?”

Sara just wanted to have a night alone with Leonard. She’s wanted to have that for a long time, but of course she doesn’t have the heart to tell her daughter. Instead, she leaned over, kissed the little girl on the forehead and carried on with her cooking.

---

Leonard arrived home with the sight of little Lucy carrying her yellow backpack, all smiles and ready to leave. The kid kissed Sara goodbye and took Leonard’s hand, dragging him to the car.

“20 minutes,” Len mouthed to Sara as he opens the car door. Sara nodded in response.

Ninja skills being put to good use, she swiftly took a bath, put on a Persian blue dress she bought especially for this occasion, put on light make up, set the table, and put on old-school music.

Sara heard the door open and when she welcomed the person entering, she saw Leonard with the playful smirk on his face, holding calla lilies on a bouquet.

“How dashing,” Sara said, taking the flowers from him. “Come on, dinner’s ready.”

“First…” Leonard pulled her in for a kiss that lasted so long that they needed to break away from each other to breathe. “Dinner?”

 ---

The couple spent time talking about many different things over dinner:

“No, you said ‘I love you’ first!”

“You said it first. We were in Germany 1984 and you were drunk. That’s counted.”

 “You wanted to name our kid ‘Jar Jar’ just to annoy me.”

“Maybe we could name our dog that.”

“I totally forgot we agreed to get a dog.”

 “How do you think Luke’s date went?”

“Amazing, for sure. Anyone would be lucky to go on a date with my son.”

 “You remember when Luke was 3 and he saw you use the Cold Gun for the first time ever to make ice and then we just decided to tell him our other job?”

“I didn’t know if he was appalled or impressed.”

“Definitely impressed. He wouldn’t stop asking to borrow your gun for over a month.”

 “I bet you can still drink me under the table.”

“No, we’re not going to a pub this late.”

“Why the hell not?”

“We’re too damn old for hard liquors, Len.”

“Too old? Come on, you still look like thirty.”

 “Wanna dance, Leonard?”

“You go right ahead. I’ll clean the table.”

“Suit yourself.”

 --

Dinner was over and music continued to play. Len brought their plates to the kitchen while Sara swayed to the soft ballad filling their living room.

I met you in the dark, you lit me up You made me feel as though I was enough We danced the night away, we drank too much I held your hair back when You were throwing up

She closed her eyes as she felt his hands sliding on her hips. “Classic James Arthur, 2016. Nice choice,” the deep voice whispered on her ear.

“Am I getting my dance now?” Sara asked, turning around and placing her hands on his shoulders.

“Not letting this pass.”

Then you smiled over your shoulder For a minute, I was stone-cold sober I pulled you closer to my chest And you asked me to stay over I said, I already told ya I think that you should get some rest

Leonard pulled her closer by the waist and so did she with her arms around his neck. Sara could feel both the tickle his beard is giving, as well as his deep breaths.

“You’re not crying, are you?” Sara softly mocked.

I knew I loved you then But you'd never know 'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go

“I’m Captain Cold. I don’t cry,” Leonard replied, chuckling behind her ear.

“Oh really? Let’s see…” Sara stepped away slightly to look at his face. “There’s when you first saw me after we got you from the Legion. When you proposed. When we exchanged vows. When we found out I was pregnant the first time. And the second time. And the third time. During Luke’s first school recognition. Lily’s first injury. Lucy’s singing contest. I could go on forever, you know?”

I know I needed you But I never showed But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old Just say you won't let go Just say you won't let go

“Point taken,” Leonard replied, kissing the crook of her neck. “Happy anniversary.”

“Eighteen years,” Sara said. “Who would’ve thought?”

I'll wake you up with some breakfast in bed I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head

Leonard ran his left hand on Sara’s back, his right massaging the back of her neck.

“Now this is something my father could never take away from me,” he said, chin leaning on her shoulder as she ran circles on his back.

“You’ve lived a life different from the one he lived, Len. I’m proud of you for that. You should take pride in it too. Not everyone gets to be this happy.”

And I'll take the kids to school Wave them goodbye And I'll thank my lucky stars for that night

“You know, Lucky and Lil made a jab on us earlier,” Leonard said, suddenly reminded of the car ride earlier. “Kinda implied that I’m enjoying my job just because I have someone to flirt with at work.”

“It’s true though. You flirt with me so much that even Caitlyn threatened to kick us out of STAR Labs.”

“What’s new? I’ve been flirting with you for two decades now.”

When you looked over your shoulder For a minute, I forget that I'm older I wanna dance with you right now

Sara chuckled. “God, we’ve been together for two decades? I really am growing old with you, aren’t I?”

“Wasn’t that the plan from the very beginning?”

“You got a point there.”

“Of course I do.”

Oh, and you look as beautiful as ever And I swear that everyday you'll get better You make me feel this way somehow

“So now what’s the plan?” Sara asked, swaying with the music and taking him with her.

“Stay married longer. Beat other married couples. Establish dominance. Make other couples feel ashamed that they’re not as in love as we are,” Leonard said flatly, acting serious while Sara struggled to stand straight due to how much laughter she’s doing.

Leonard had to step back and pick her up from her crouching position. Sara then went to swat his arm. “Shut up, old man!”

He chuckled and placed their hands to where they were before Sara had to break away and go hysterical again.

I'm so in love with you And I hope you know Darling your love is more than worth its weight in gold We've come so far my dear

“I’ve always loved your laugh,” Leonard said, lightly pinching Sara’s side.

“I’ve always loved your dark humor,” Sara replied.

Look how we've grown And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old Just say you won't let go Just say you won't let go

Sara pushed Len slightly, pressing her forehead to his. “I don’t have to tell you, right? You already know?”

“Of course. Just like how I don’t need to tell you that I feel the same. It’s never stopped,” Leonard softly said, his hand tracing Sara’s jaw. “I don’t think what I feel will ever stop. I could drop dead right now and my love for you will just go on.”

I wanna live with you Even when we're ghosts 'Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most

Sara closed the space between their lips. As someone who has been kissing the same man for the last twenty years of her life and for some reason, his lips still feel like how they’ve been the first time. She knows in her heart that every kiss she gives him, she’s treating it like it’s their last. It’s been that way since the Oculus and through the years, it’s never changed amidst Leonard convincing her that he’s not going to vanish and leave her—not again.

Leonard stopped her hips from swaying. He removed his hands from her hips and brought both of them to frame her face as they move so perfectly throughout the kiss

I'm gonna love you till My lungs give out I promise till death we part like in our vows

He’s an old man and he knows this. But if this is how he’s going to live the rest of his life—with the woman he loved showing him what love is, his children that are loved and taken care of, and with so much good memories that could replace every single bad one he has throughout his life—then he can say he’s lived a good life.

So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows 'Cause now it's just you and me till we're grey and old Just say you won't let go Just say you won't let go

Just say you won't let go Oh, just say you won't let go

“Just for the record,” Leonard said when the two broke away from their sweet kiss, “I loved you first even before you did.”

“You just admitted it first.”

“Hey, I hit on you first.”

“I checked your butt out the moment you walked away from the rooftop the first night Rip recruited us. When you said, ‘Hero ain’t on my resumé’.”

“Okay, you win.”

“Don’t I always?”

 --end--

I just want to thank everybody who went with PandART and I on this journey. This story was my first multi-chapter fic and I couldn't have a better partner than her. We're both really happy for those who've read and patiently waited and supported this story.

It took us six months to finish this but from PandART and I--and from the Snarts--thank you so, so much.

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (12/13)

Amazing illustration as usual for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna​​ and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/158107644254 

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:

Ch 1     Ch 2     Ch 3     Ch 4      Ch 5      Ch 6

Ch 7     Ch 8     Ch 9     Ch 10     Ch 11

Chapter 12: Fragrant Golden Dews

*Sara’s POV

I felt too tired to open my eyes so I began feeling the things that surround me. The air I’m breathing is cold. Something is covering me—a blanket, maybe. I can feel my feet void of my boots. I can’t feel the heavy leather on my body and was replaced by soft cotton. I tried moving my hands. One did, but my right hand was apparently occupied, being held softly by another calloused hand.

“Len?” I finally opened my eyes and stirred up a bit. I saw him sitting on a chair he must have pulled beside the medbay’s medical bed. He is understandably dozing off all the things that happened within the last 24 hours.

Looking around the room, she spotted a couch that was originally inside the Captain’s study. On it are Luke and Lily sleeping side by side. The crew must have placed the couch inside for my family to look after me.

So this must mean—everything’s over and…I missed the whole thing?!

“Leonard,” I said again, squeezing his hand tighter. “Wake up, honey.”

Len groaned and used his other hand to rub his eyes. “Sara? Are you okay? You’re awake?”

“No.”

I watched him smirk and shake his head slightly before standing up from his seat and moving next to me without taking his hand off of mine. “The snark is an indication that you’re fine. Now, how do you really feel?”

I placed my left hand on his cheek, caressing it. Len closed his eyes and leaned into my palm and kissed it. For the first time in a long time, he doesn’t look stressed. He looks relieved and just…relaxed. “I feel fine,” I replied. “Side doesn’t sting. I’m assuming Gideon healed it. But, god, my muscles are aching. I’m not as limber as I once was.”

“You still kicked ass, hon.” Leonard looked at the sleeping kids and then back to me, giving me a small smile. “It’s done, Sara. We can go home.”

I took that time to close my eyes and breathe. I swear I can see the Scrabble board laid out on our coffee table. I swear I can smell Len’s hot chocolate. I swear I can feel the blanket he draped on my shoulders.

“Tell me everything.”

We both asked Gideon not to inform the heroes about my recovery yet. I needed the time to know what happened. Besides, it seems like all of them are either resting in each other’s quarters, eating in the mess hall, or being complete nerds and discovering the Waverider further.

It took a while for Len to organize his thoughts, starting from the moment he carried me to the Waverider to what he heard from his comms. It also included stories from Ollie, Barry, and Mick which they shared to him while he’s waiting for me to regain consciousness.

He then started:

“Gideon helped in tracking the Legion inside the warehouse. They split themselves in three vantage points and left their minions scattered around to distract the rest of them from ganging up on them. The speedsters took on Thawne. The best possible course of action. Merlyn was already knocked out before I got to you, being taken care of by Oliver. The Legends took on Darhk. The rest of them, the archers, the shooters, all disabled the minion. Pretty neat plan by Mick.”

“He was a thief. Of course he makes the best plans,” I immediately replied with a smile on my face, feeling incredibly proud of one of my best friends.

Len was shortly interrupted by Luke’s light snores. We both turned our heads towards the couch to check on them and sure enough, they’re still deep in their slumber.

He looked at me once more and tilted his head. “According to Barry, which may not be 100% true, he took Thawne down. Finally. Kid Flash went in first, circling Thawne and in every attempt from Thawne to pass through, Jessie would bring him back in the speed circle. I’m not exactly sure if what happened next is true but he claimed that some speed ghosts of some sort detected the high concentration of speed in the location. Turns out, they’re after Thawne. Barry barely had to do anything and poof, one of the Legion gone. He mentioned that it was all for Eddie. You remember when Snow told us about him?”

“Yes. His death was now not done in vain. And Barry helped a lot, hon,” I told him. “You have to admit it at least once.”

“Okay, fine. He deserves a lot of thanks,” Leonard said. “Who’d you want to know about next?”

“Merlyn. You said Ollie had him?”

Len sighed and then continued. “Raymond and Cisco devised a plan to knock down Merlyn. The plan needed me to go head-to-head with him so I could trap him on a dead-end and create an ice wall, so they could pump in gas to knock him out. Queen arrived and told me to just get on with it. Kill the bastard for killing you. I said that isn’t my call to make. It’s theirs. His and his sisters. Queen refused to tell me details so I went to Thea. Her brother put an arrow on Merlyn. She said she made a speech prior to that—telling Merlyn that he was never her father, Robert Queen was.”

“That’s very brave of her,” I replied. Thea has always told me how much she admires how Leonard is to our kids. It was something he never got from Malcolm, but something she received unparalleled from the person she knows is her father.

“The Legends came for Darhk,” Leonard continued. “Raymond and Firestorm got him cornered. Nate knocked him down but it was Mick who killed him. Burned him like he burned Savage…”

Before Leonard could finish, Mick entered the medbay with a box of doughnuts on one hand.

“I did a little speech, too,” the man said, extending his arm for me to be able to take the box from him. “Told him he messed up with my family one too many times. Haircut didn’t even try and stop me. Bastard went out screaming.”

“That’s dark,” Leonard replied, grabbing the box from me and placing it on the bed-side table.

“He deserves it. Now all four of you can go back home and be a normal family.”

When Mick left the medbay, we took time for ourselves to reunite and to assure us that both of us are alive. Leonard was in the middle of telling me an overly-exaggerated version of how he heroically carried me and rushed to the kids to check that they’re safe when we both heard a shuffling from the couch across us.

Lily woke up first, rubbing her eyes with a small pout I adore so much.

“Hey baby.”

“Mommy?”

Lily looked at me, then at Lenny, as if asking if what she’s seeing is true.  

“Come over here, little bird. I think Mommy wants to say hi,” Leonard said, holding my hand and squeezing it.

Lily shook Luke’s shoulder, making our eldest stir. She then removed the jacket Len draped over them, letting it fall on the floor. She took her time walking to the bed I’m in. And from the lights overhead, I can see unshed tears glimmering in her eyes. Her little feet slowly brought her near, her lips shaking, a pout forming.

I had to hold back my tears right then and there. I could only imagine how the last few hours went for the kids from having to leave the ship to waiting whether or not their parents would ever go back to them.

Lil stopped beside Len. He then grabbed her by the sides and lifted her up to sit on my bedside. I followed her eyes to where it landed on my arms, seeing bruises and cuts. There’s warmth in my stomach that crept up to my throat. Tears blurred my vision and all I can feel was Leonard’s hand holding and squeezing mine.

“Are you okay, Mommy?”

And that did it. I stopped trying to hold the tears back. My little girl, asking me if I’m okay. It should be me asking them that.

“We were worried, Mommy,” Luke finally said, rushing to my other side. His eyes are still puffy from sleeping and crying.

“I’m okay, Lucky,” I replied, my free hand running over his dark hair. “You two okay?”

Luke nodded. “Uncle Rip looked after us after Daddy went to get you back. He kept asking Gideon to play movies for us but Lil and I can’t really focus. We were waiting for Daddy to bring you back. I’m glad he did. We were worried, Mommy. But is it done now? Is it finished? Are we gonna go home now?”

I smiled and looked over to Leonard. He’s already looking at me and nodded.

“I still have some people to thank,” I replied, “but I guess, yeah. We’re going home.”

Mick gathered everyone at the Waverider bridge so the heroes could go back to their respective cities. Rip helped Gideon set a shield of some sort to put the effects and harshness to the time-jump since the ship can’t seat all twenty four of us.

People slowly piled in, some of them taking a seat, some just strolling around, leaning on banisters.

“We’re off to Star City first. Your city needs your mayor. Then we’ll go to Central and bring the Snarts home,” Mick typed in the coordinates and turned to face me, giving me a wink. “Legends, we’ll bring Rip back to his fancy white office and I’m taking requests for our next stop. We need a goddamn break from—“

“Words. Kids,” Leonard drawled from behind me.

“Sorry. Ready to roll?”

I stepped up and touched Mick’s arm. “Can I say something before we go?”

Mick nodded and whispered, “Anything for this ship’s previous captain.”

 I stepped up and cleared my throat. My heart is trumping and only when I looked at Leonard did I found my voice again.

“Hey everyone…

I just want to…I really want to, um. Thank you. Just…thank you. All of you. For even coming in and helping us. It’s been years since we thought we took care of the Legion and I know you all have your own lives and problems in your own cities and, um…

Yeah.

Rip, thank you for coming in. Thank you for babysitting the kids, too.

(“I looked after them, not babysit…”)

Barry, thank you for doing this for us. Len still won’t admit it but we’re really thankful. We couldn’t do this without you. You had to leave Iris with the twins and that’s a huge sacrifice to make. Thank you.

Caitlyn, I know you’ve been trying to control your powers for the longest time and you used them to help us.

Cisco. You and my husband have been annoying each other for as long as I remember but you’re still willing to help us.

(“I did it for the kids…”)

No, you did it for Lisa. She would kick you out of your house if you didn’t help her niece and nephew and her brother and his wife. She’d probably call off your wedding, too.

(“That’s 100% true.”)

Wally and Jessie, thank you to the both of you. It would be Wells and not the Legion who’d kill me and Len if we don’t bring you back safe.

Rene, Rory, Eve, you have been too kind to our family. As much as Star City needs you, you three still came to help.

Curtis, thank you for sharing your brain. You, too, Felicity. You probably didn’t want to leave your kids with Lyla but I know you. You can’t resist a good adventure.

Dig. Remember the first time we argued? I told you I didn’t need your back-up. I told you that your training is like kindergarten compared to the League. But from then until now, you keep proving me wrong. How can I even start thanking you?

(“Anything for you, Sara.”)

Thea, I know you’re busy, being Mayor and all, and that you’ve long been retired from this action...I mean, most of us are…but you’re still here, wearing the same red leathers. I know my kids will look up to you. I know I do.

(“I need a break from the office anyways. This is a great change.”)

And Ollie…

(“I know.”)

I know you do. I also know my husband has plans of drinking with you. Now, you’re a tough guy and all but like Mick, I could easily drink you under the table. Len could pretty much do the same. Just saying. He has is ways of saying thank you. This is mine.

And my dear Legends. Oh, where would we be without all of you.

Nate, not once have you said no to us. You know by now that Len and I are very much ready to return the favor anytime.

(“No biggie.”)

God, Amaya, if you were ever hurt while saving my ass, Mick would never let me on the Waverider again. Thank you.

(“Mick would never do that, you know.”)

Martin. You haven’t been on board since we figured out how Jax could become Firestorm on his own. I know you said you want to spend all of your days with Lily and Clarissa and that your days as time-traveller has ran its course but you’re still here. Doing it again for us. My kids adore you, you know? For that alone, Len and I are incredibly thankful. But for the both of us to find friendship with you and your wife is extremely beyond me. We haven’t had our Saturday dinner ritual ever since chaos began again. I promise we’ll host this time.

(“There’s nothing more I look forward to than that, dear.”)

Ray, you’re a hero. You’ve always been a hero from the moment I met you and I will always look at you as the hero who helped saved my family.

(“Are you seriously crying, Haircut?”)

I am incredibly proud of you, Jax. Do you know that Len used to talk about you all the time? He’d tell me how proud he is of you. How much he has learned from you and how much you taught him things he wished he had known at your age. And the little kids clinging on to you now are proof of how grateful our family is.

(“Anything for these little ones.”)

And Mick…

(“It’s nothing, Blondie.”)

No, it’s not nothing, Mick. You’ve always said you’re helping us because you owe Leonard and I a lot but that has long been repaid. Long before we even got married. Now we owe you our lives. We’re here because of you. Because you took care of us, you called all of them in, you hid us and fought for us. You fought with us. I’ll forever be indebted to you and please know that if the day comes you want to hang your Heatgun…there’s a room in Central City waiting for you with fresh sheets and six-pack of beer on the bedside table. We love you, Mick.

(“Of course I’d do that for all of ya. You’re my family.”)

(“Everybody knows you’re an honorary Snart,” Leonard said.)

Thank you, everyone.

Len, hon, I love you with all that I have. And kids, how does going back to Central sound like?”

Windows were shattered and the doors were left unlocked. The inside isn’t really that different. Picture frames were knocked down and the TV was on the floor. My first reaction was maybe we were mugged while we’re away but then Len saw boot tracks of what appears to be similar to what the Legion’s minions wore.

Of course they dropped by our house.

The only thing that keeps my cool at the sight of our trashed house is the fact that I know we got out before the Legion arrived here. That would’ve been the end of the four of us.

“What the f---“, Mick exclaimed upon coming out of the jumpship.

“Rory, language,” I had to swat his arm upon his cussing.

“To be honest,” Len said as he scanned the house, “I’m not really bothered. We’re all safe, that’s all that counts.”

Lily tugged my right arm and I lifted her up to let her position herself on my hips. “How about our stuff, Mommy?”

“Do we have to but new things?” Luke peered beneath Len, scanning the inside the house as well.

“No need,” Mick said, kicking a throw-pillow that somehow landed on the porch. “We have a replicator in the ship. I can’t necessarily ask Gideon to build you a house but it could make all the materials you need to renovate this. Appliances, too. Well, 2100s appliances, if you’re into holograms and shi—“

“Cuss in front of the kids one more time, I’ll cut your tongue.”

“Sorry,” he replied to me unapologetically. “That or you could just…I don’t know…get a new house?”

“But Daddy and I planted flowers around the yard,” Lily replied to Mick. “We can’t move them. I’m staying here!”

“You heard the boss,” Leonard chuckled. “When will we start?”

Having speedster friends come in handy when you need a fast clean-up of the mess a bunch of idiotic bad guys ruin your home. In a flash, slight pun intended, every single thing we have on our house was already on the yard and all the broken glass and broken things disposed.

Ray and Nate helped carry the plywood and the glass and metals from the ship to our yard. The kids were too hands-on on choosing their new things and all that could replace the stuff we lost and broke. Jax and Amaya are helping them out, making sure they stick to the grey-blue-white theme our house has.

It’s early in the day and I’m already feeling exhausted. Must be the tiresome day that went before this. I did got shot on the side not twenty four hours ago. Although it was just a graze of the bullet it still drained me. My age betraying me. I could usually handle a gunshot easily, but then again, it’s been so long since I’ve been on a fight. The last time I’ve had bullets raining on me, I wasn’t a Snart yet. The last time I’ve felt this weak was when I had Lily. But I’m not pregnant. We’ve been too preoccupied with running and hiding that we didn’t really have time to…oh. Christmas at New Zealand under the aurora. But then again, I might be over-thinking things.

I went straight from the fabrication room to the Medbay, wanting something for the intense headache I’m having.

“Gideon, aspirin please.”

“I’m afraid I can’t give them to you, Mrs. Snart,” Gideon chimed in from the overhead. “Aspirin could be dangerous to your child.”

Feeling wuzzy, I sat down on one of the medbay beds I was in yesterday. “It’s not for Luke or Lily, Gideon. It’s for me.”

“I’m well aware, Mrs. Snart. That is why I’m not giving it to you. Pregnant women can’t take aspirin.”

Wait. Hold on.

“Am I...?”

“Yes. Congratulations,” Gideon greeted me flatly.

“But I was shot, Gideon. I was here yesterday. You patched me up. Len was here. You didn’t tell us anything the whole time we were here…”

“You just came from a battle. I don’t think that’s a good time to announce that you’re carrying a human being inside you. You don’t need to worry. The embryo isn’t harmed. You are just a month into your pregnancy and I’ve already given you…”

“We’re gonna have a baby…”

“…vitamins to strengthen the child’s hold, similar to the one I gave you when you were carrying Mr. Luke…”

“Oh, the kids are gonna freak out…”

“…and this is your third child. I don’t need to remind you of what to eat and what not to eat…”

“Leonard is gonna cry…”

“Do you want me to do anything else?”

“Nothing else. Thank you Gideon.”

 I didn’t hear what she said next. I was already rushing to the fabrication room to get Luke and Lily. I remember just briefly asking them to come with me back to the house Jax and Amaya just shrugged, so did Nate who was on his way inside the room we just vacated.

With Lily’s hand on mine and Luke’s footsteps after own, we journeyed outside the front hatch of the cloaked Waverider onto our yard where I see Ray installing security cameras on the lawn.

“Where’s Len?” I asked, panting.

“He’s inside with Mick. They’re painting. Is everything okay?”

The kids looked at me for answer, too. I could feel the rush from inside me—my cheeks getting flushed. “Peachy. I’ll see ya!”

 I walked in, wincing as I smell the fresh paint around me. The two were in the middle of their loud conversation when Leonard saw me. I squeezed Lily’s hand and let go and rushed over to Leonard with a huge smile on my face.

“You’re acting weird, hon. Everything okay?” Len said as he puts down the paint roller and wrapped his arms around my waist.

I nodded, biting my lower lip.

I can’t wait to kiss him.

But first…

“Mick,” I said without tearing my gaze at Leonard, “could you step out for a while?”

Mick continued painting over the wall.

“I know you heard me, Mick.”

He sighed heavily. “You want Lenny to yourself? Do I need to take the kids? Damn, Sara, can’t you at least wait till we leave?”

I rolled my eyes annoyingly and I saw a flicker of fear and uncertainty in Leonard’s eyes.

“Snart family meeting,” I said sharply, finally turning my head to my amused friend. “Anyone not married to me and didn’t come out of my womb could step out now.”

Of course I know he was making it difficult for me. Mick did eventually stepped out, grumbling about how we’re never gonna finish anything, but left with a wink.

“Okay,” Len said, testing the waters. “What’s the family meeting for?”

I smiled at him and let my hands work their way up to the back of his head, massaging his scalp. The kids are too stunned and too confused to even say a single word.

“Len…”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I placed a hand on his chest and another trailing his jaw. “I have a favor to ask you.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. His right hand drawing circles on the small of my back—a classic Leonard fidget. “And what would that be?”

“I just need you…to love another Snart.”

“W-what? Who?”

“I know I don’t have to ask this from you because you’re gonna love this one anyways but we’ll have to wait eight months to know who this is…”

“Are you telling me…”

“…because I’m only a month along…”

“Sara…”

“…but I think the kinds wouldn’t mind having another sibling…”

“Mommy?”,

“Is this real?!”

“…and we finally have a use for that spare room beside Lucky’s room…”

Leonard lifted me up off the ground and had my feet swinging. I framed his face with my hands and kissed him, slowly deepening it and only stopping when I heard giggles from behind me.

Leonard finally puts me down, without removing his forehead from mine. He pulled me closer, almost hugging me. He’s beginning to breathe deeply. “This is amazing news, Sara.”

“Ready to change diapers again?”, I asked, hands roaming on his chest and shoulders.

“Only if it’s with you.”

And the news is sealed with a kiss. As every important thing is.

—post-script—

*Third-person POV

Mick and the rest of the Legends immediately found out when Lily announced the good news aloud even before her parents got out of their house.

“Mommy’s having a baby!” Lily rushed outside, hugging Mick when she bumped into him. “Uncle Mick, we’re having a baby!”

“I heard you, little bird.”

“I’m gonna be a big sister, Luke-y!”

Luke high-fived Ray and Nate who were both cheering. “I got two little ones to look after now.”

 Not much was done after the announcement. Everyone stopped Sara from helping out despite her arguments that she’s done this twice already and that she’s not even big yet. But none of them were taking their chances. The Legends promised to come back everyday just to help the Snarts build their home again.

That night, the couple was looking for their kids, wanting to kiss them goodnight. Unfortunately, both of them weren’t in their respective rooms.

“Where did they go?” Leonard asked as he closed Luke’s door. “They didn’t jump in the Waverider at the last minute, right?”

“No. I helped Lily clean herself up a while ago.”

Just like fate, they heard muffles of whispers from two small voices coming from the vacant room beside Luke’s.

 “I hope the baby is a girl so I could play with her,” Lily said, lying down on the carpeted floor with a pillow beneath her head.

Luke was also lying down beside her, hands on the back of his head. “I want a boy,” he said, “but a girl is not too bad either. You’re a good sister. Maybe the baby will be a good sister too.”

“Are you happy that we’re back home, Luke-y?”

“I am,” the boy replied. “I missed my friends. I miss school. But what I miss the most is seeing Mommy and Daddy happy.”

“Me too,” Lily said after a yawn. “My classmates would never believe me when I tell them this story.”

“You could tell it to Dawn.”

 From outside the door, Len had his arm wrapped around Sara’s waist.

“You know you have to carry them back to their rooms, right?” Sara whispered.

Leonard chuckled and held her closer. “I know. Let’s just let them sleep first.”

 “Why are we sleeping here, Luke-y? It’s empty. Mommy said we have to wait eight months more. That’s a long time,” Lily moped, teary-eyed from her series of yawning.

“We need to make sure, Lil.”

“Make sure that what?”

“That the room doesn’t have monsters in it so that the baby can sleep,” Luke answered. “Now that you’re a big girl, I need to tell you what Daddy told me before.”

“And what is that?”

“We always look after each other. We look after Mommy and Daddy. We look after our family. Soon, we’ll look after the baby.”

 Sara can’t help but place a kiss on her husband’s cheek. Leonard was walking Sara back to their room when a thought hit her.

They’ve lived most of their lives in regret. They’ve had their fair share of mistakes and bad moments they could never forget even if they tried. But after the death of the Legion, after spending months away, and having another child, one realization hit her: Destiny must have taken pity on her for once and gave her the life she only used to dream about.

 ---epilogue soon---

I know we initially plan a 12-chapter long story but a fun and fluffy epilogue came to mind upon talking to my partner. We *had* to make another one. The entire story is far from perfect but as my first multi-chapter fic, I’m pretty proud of it. I hope this gives me confidence to write more multi-chapters. I just want to thank everyone who hang on to this despite the delayed updates and typos and all the issues that came with it. I’m so, so grateful. Enough for now. The rest of the thank yous would go after the epilogue.

Thanks again. Y’all are gems.

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (11/12)

Amazing illustration as usual for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna​ and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/157649416029

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:

Ch 1     Ch 2     Ch 3     Ch 4      Ch 5

Ch 6     Ch 7     Ch 8     Ch 9     Ch 10

Chapter 11: Melting Snowdrifts

*Third Person POV

The jumpship is floating amidst the Temporal Zone with its current pilot not knowing where to land and where to go. Inside, from the control seat, Leonard unbuckles his seatbelt and leans his elbows on his knees, hands clutched together and up to his forehead.

“Daddy?”

He looked up only to see the watery blue eyes of his little girl. “When is mommy coming?”

Leonard ignored her question and faced the console. “Gideon,” he sharply said, “what is happening in the battlefield?”

Almost immediately, the AI answered: “I only have the view of the Waverider, Mr. Snart, and from the moment the jumpship took off, the ship’s surveillance cameras have recorded some of the heroes go inside the warehouse after disabling all the men attacking the ship. Ms. Snow was forced to use her powers when men entered the ship. I could detect fighting continuing from the inside of the warehouse. Not more than half an hour ago, a futuristic sphere landed, carrying Merlyn, Darhk, and Thawne. All headed towards the warehouse.”

Snart sighed, refusing to think about all the possibilities that could happen with all the heroes stuck inside a warehouse with the Legion and their remaining men. “Where’s Sara? Can you connect me to her comms?”

“I’m afraid I can’t, Mr. Snart,” Gideon replied. “It would appear that Mrs. Snart’s comms have been knocked out of her when she was in the middle of the ambush.”

Leonard almost slammed his hands on the console when the AI immediately added—“but I can hear Captain Rory talk to Mrs. Snart from his comms. I believe that they’re together.”

Luke stood up from his seat and went over to his father to hold his hand. As young as he is, he understood how difficult this situation is. He understood his father. And neither of them have the heart to tell little Lily that their mom won’t come to them anytime soon.

The kid then remembered what his father used to tell him all the time: “Be a big boy. Think smart. Protect the family.”

“Gideon?” Luke softly spoke. “Is there a chance we could fly the jumpship back to the Waverider instead of waiting for Mommy and the others to find us? Is it safe?”

Gideon answered. “There are no immediate threats surrounding the Waverider, but its defenses are down since no one is controlling from the inside.”

“Fly us there, Gideon,” Leonard said, regaining his composure. “I know someone who could help.”

---

It took longer than it usually does for the Waverider to pull in the jumpship but the door lit up, signaling that the jumpship is attached to the main ship. Leonard removed the kids’ seatbelts and immediately opened the bolt door.

“Missed me, Mr. Snart?”

Rip welcomed the man and the kids with a hand on his hips. Luke already gave him a high-five and Lily is currently wrapping her arms around her Uncle Rip’s waist.

“No. You killed my wife once,” Leonard said walking past Rip, not really meaning the harshness in his voice. He then lifted Lily up for him to carry.

Rip groaned and followed Snart. “That wasn’t me! I was under the influence…”

“I know, Rip. I was just kidding. Come on, we’ve known each other for years. If I really hated you for killing Sara, you’d be long dead.”

After releasing a deep breath, Rip immediately followed Leonard to the bridge. The former captain once again stood at the Captain’s seat and tinkered with the console.

“So you called me from the Vanishing Point to, what, fix the ship and get the guns ready and the ship running once all twenty one of you are out?” Rip asked, finally standing to grab the tools from a hidden compartment and eyeing the kids who quietly slid onto the vacant seats.

“And take care of the kids,” Leonard supplied, checking his Cold Gun’s energy.

“Seriously? I travelled all the way to babysit?”

“Stop complaining, Hunter,” Leonard said. “I died trying to save your family. Babysitting isn’t that hard. You two will behave, won’t you?”

His question was met by an intense nodding from a small girl and raised thumbs up from the boy. Once Leonard turned back, Rip saw Lily made a silly face, mocking him. A Snart, indeed.

  “Are you ready to go?” Rip said, still tinkering with the fallen panels and fried wires around the ship.

“In a bit,” Leonard replied. He then walked towards the kids who are currently lying on the couches of the captain’s study.

He sighed, moved his Cold Gun out of the way to crouch down. “You two keep safe, okay? I’ll go get your mom and we’ll be back.”

Leonard ran his hand through Lily’s hair, “Don’t give Uncle Rip too much trouble, okay?”

“And you’ll come back?” a small voice crept on him.

“Of course.”

---

With a deep breath he opened the metal doors of the warehouse, just to see an actual fight that’s as if it came straight from Star Wars. But instead of white troopers, there were dozens of black ones--all of them were ready to blindly sacrifice their lives for Darhk’s stupid plan of building a brand new world.

“Not today you bastard,” he thought to himself before shooting the first blast from his Cold Gun. After a few minutes of chasing the targets, his attention was caught by two geeks sneaking out of the main hall--Raymond and Cisco. His instinct told him to follow the two.

Leonard found them kneeling in front of some kind of device, lying on the floor next to protective masks.

“Nerds! What you’re up to?”

A low drawl could be heard from another end of the room, which of course made the two of them jump the moment they heard it. They relaxed shortly after seeing familiar face.

“Shh! No one followed you here, Cold? Please tell me you didn’t leave a trail!” Cisco pleaded.

“What are you doing here anyway? You were supposed to protect your kids!” Ray seemed quite worried saying that, but patiently waited for the response of the man in question.

“No, Cisco,” Leonard said, almost in a growl. “As far as I know, I’m alone. I left my kids in good hands, Raymond. Period. I came back for my wife. Now…where is she?” His glare became serious, almost scary because Ray swallowed loudly, before he answered.

“We lost sight of her when she got shot and ran inside the warehouse. Rory escorted her in. The wound was bad, but from what I saw, she could walk.”

He spoke faster and louder with every word to assure Snart that his wife was alive when he last saw her. Seeing that Leonard took a breath of relief, Ray came back to connect the last wires of the device beside him. As they were about to finish, Ray stopped and asked, staring at his hands, “Wait. None of us are left on the ship. Cisco and Felicity are both on the field and Caitlyn had no choice but to fight.  With whom did you leave the kids?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The only person who is not here is Rip. So I called our busy Time-dad from the future to move his ass here,” Leonard explain, annoyed that Raymond would even think he left his kids alone.

“We need him more than ever. I explained to him what’s happening and after a few minutes, he showed up. Now he’s trying to control situation from the ship,” Leonard seemed quite pleased with this smart move. It temporary solved the problem. “Now gentlemen, you didn’t answer my question. What is this?” he asked, grabbing the masks.

“That’s one part of our plan to trap Merlyn about three corridors from here,” Cisco proudly said pushing the time button, clock ticking audibly.

“And since you are here, we’re gonna need your help,” Ray finished, giving Len one of the masks. “Will you help us, Captain Cold?”

As much as he was concerned about where Sara is and how she’s holding up, he couldn’t say no to accomplish this one first. One step at a time.

Snart exchanged the looks with both men and said, “Fine. What do you need me to do?”

 The plan was simple but extremely dangerous. Since it was him who the Legion wanted the most, Leonard agreed to be used as bait. He had to lure the Dark Archer to a dead end of a certain hall and cut the other way, creating an ice wall with his cold gun. That would leave him and Malcolm one-on-one and pray that the sleeping gas device will work, as the nerds planned.

Then the crook had to put the protective mask and wait until Merlyn fall on his knees, without killing him in the process.

“I can’t believe I trust those idiots,” he spoke silently while splitting up with the nerds. “When did I become so soft and hopeful?”

It didn’t take long to find Malcolm Merlyn in the middle of the fight. It took less effort to grab his attention, fighting with some minions next to the door.

The archer waded through the crowd as fast as shadow, but he wasn’t fast enough to reach Len disappearing behind the metal door.

“You want to play it one-on-one, Snart? Very well! It would still be an honor to kill you even without an audience.”

Just like he expected, the former member of the Legion tried to play cat-and-mouse in this labyrinth. He was willing to play, counting on Len’s eventual mistake.

“There’s nowhere to hide Cold! We’ll find you anywhere, anytime! First, I want to hurt you physically and then I’m going to tell Darhk to take your beautiful wife right here, for you to see her die slowly and in pain.” He did not know why he said that, but the rage Malcolm felt that at moment fizzled his senses.

The explanation for this behavior wasn’t surprising at all. Damien managed to manipulate his mind and getting rid of the humanity, just in case Merlyn decided to leave the Snarts be.

It was a huge mistake because chasing Leonard through the maze of dark corridors, kept his mind only busy, but not prudent enough.

When men finally reached the destination Cisco showed before, the master thief turned around slowly, successfully pretending to be a bit scared of another man’s actions, tightening his grip on the Cold Gun.

“Now, where were we, Leonard? Is this the part where you’re going to beg for mercy? Because from what I see, you’re all alone, pinned to the wall like a helpless kid from juvie, waiting to be beaten to death by the big boys.”

Those cruel words froze the blood in Len’s veins for a moment and were ended with creepy laugh from his opponent. He had to act fast if he wanted to survive.

“Since when did Darhk start controlling your mind, Merlyn? This maniac turned you into a puppet! You can cut the strings that he and Thawne put on you. Deep down you’re still human. I know because some time ago, you let my children go. I want to know why! Why didn’t you kill them when you had a chance?”

There was a flicker in Malcolm’s blue eyes, like he remembered the reason why--like he remembered seeing Thea and Tommy in Lily and Luke Snart, though it seemed brief.

“Enough with the games, Snart! This ends today and my mistakes will be fixed quicker than you can imagine. Besides...I remember you used to like being our puppet, didn’t you?” A wide smile disappeared from his face when he prepared bow and arrow, ready to shoot any moment.

“You’re correct. This ends today.” Len whispered loud enough for Malcolm to hear and threw himself on the floor to avoid being shot. With the most powerful blast from the Cold Gun, he formed an ice wall behind archer, cutting his way out, just like Ramon said.

Distracted and blinded, Merlyn tried to clear his vision from bright blue light which stroke him a moment ago. That was Leonard’s chance to give Cisco a sign to release the gas.

“Now would be a perfect time, guys!” the crook shouted, putting his mask on. Malcolm was able to catch him and started strangling his neck.

Breathlessly, Leonard tried to push him away of his body, but there was a second, when his blue eyes shone with fear and finality, and his thoughts swirling.

“That’s it Snart. You probably won’t make it but you’re hero, buddy. You saved your family, as you promised. They know how important they are for you. You told them so many times.”

His eyes opened forcefully when he felt archer’s flaccid body on his own. He also heard Ray’s voice behind the frozen wall and a loud sound of explosion, like glass broken in million pieces. Len felt strong arms helping him to stand up and followed by a ‘congratulations’ from his friends.

It took him half a minute to adjust his lungs to the damp air in the basement but when Leonard saw the Legion member on the floor and figured the plan worked out, he immediately touched his right ear.

“Queen!” Leonard yelled through the comms.

“Snart? What’s wrong? Where are you?” Oliver responded in the middle of a fight, a bit surprised with Captain Cold’s voice.

“We were able to set a trap on Merlyn in the west part of warehouse basement. You should be just above us right now, so move your sorry ass and come here before this one wakes up!” Len answered breathing out.

“I’m on my way. Hold on there,” Green Arrow said, making his way through Legion’s minions until he reached the stairs leading him down.

What he saw a couple of minutes later was shocking even for him. Leonard Snart, Cisco Ramon and Ray Palmer were standing next to the unconscious Malcolm Merlyn, taking off the gas masks off of their faces.

When he appeared, Len stepped forward and gave him the archer’s black bow and a quiver of arrows.

‘Why are you giving me this? You had every right to kill this man, Snart,” Oliver’s voice almost concerned.

“Well Queen, there was a time I would have done it, but... maybe today should be about justice, not cold blooded murder. From what I’ve heard you’re trying to be specialist on that matter. He’s all yours,” the tall man stated kicking Malcolm’s side almost lightly. After that, he gave two men behind him a sign to help other heroes.

“Snart. He’s responsible for hypnotizing Thea and telling her to kill Sara--your wife, for God’s sake!” Oliver could not understand why the man standing beside him is holding back from this task.

“That’s why she should do it,” Leonard finally conceded. “But Sara’s not here, is she? I have to find her, right now. She can still be in danger, so I’m asking YOU to do what you think is right. You’re the only person who’s worthy to decide about his fate. He partly ruined your life too, after all.”

Leonard then slowly but decisively stretched his hand towards the guy in a green hood, breath held and eyebrows furrowed.

Oliver didn’t even resisted and willingly shook tall man’s hand. He even wanted to say something, but Snart already headed in opposite direction.

Opening the door, Cold turned around and drawled.

“You know, Robin Hood, there might come a day that I’ll start asking you to join me in a bar somewhere for a drink or two,” he smirked putting back his goggles.

“I can say the same about you Snart. Now go get your girl back and bring her home safe. The last time I saw her, they were at the back of the warehouse with Firestorm and Rory assisting her.”

Leonard couldn’t even hear archer’s last words, because he started running, where Arrow told him.

---

Jumping three steps up, Leonard reached heavy door leading to east side of a huge building, avoiding the main fight area. Sara was his priority, even if he saw Kid Flash got hit by Thawne and Vixen was wounded as well.

“Mick’s going to be pissed about Amaya being knocked down,” Len thought, passing large metal boxes, scattered all over the place.

He saw tiny movements from behind one of them and sharpened his senses. This could be anyone--an enemy or a friend--so he tried not to make a sound as he came closer.

The next few seconds were a blur. Mick and Firestorm wanting to burn him from both sides. Sara screaming at them to stop. Apologies from his partner and the burning man. Len running to his injured wife—her side still covered in blood. Sara asking questions about Luke and Lily. The man reassuring her that the kids are left in good hands, while giving her a long hug and stroking her hair.

“You don’t have much time, lovebirds,” Mick interrupted. “There’s an exit at the end of this hall, opening to the base but I don’t know if there are any minions waiting outside. I assure you that I landed the Waverider just across. You have to be careful and I suggest Firestorm to come with you two.”

The couple nodded in agreement and Len took Sara and placed her arm over his shoulder, prompting her to lean on him as they walk out. When the crook stood up, he said to Rory with soft voice. “Thank you for taking care of my girl, Mick. Now you have to save yours. She’s hurt and needs your help. Go!”

“Urgh!” Mick growled quietly. “Pretty boy is supposed to cover her. He’s so screwed up.” With those words, the broad-shouldered man ran towards the main hall to, indeed, save his girl.

Leonard saw Firestorm’s worried face, so was Sara, who calmed him down with small smile.

“I’ll be fine Jax. I always am. We’ll follow you. Now go and check if we have free pass outside.”

The man lightly touched his friend’s  shoulder and did what she said with a quick “Okay” on his mouth.

Len finally decided to carry her bridal style all the way to the door, careful not to widen the wound. All the things they wanted to say to each other were visible in their eyes and heard in heavy breaths.

Finally Sara spoke almost crying.

“You came for me. You came back despite of what I told you about taking care of our babies. Where are they now?” Her voice weaker with every word she said.

“I’ll always come back for you Sara. You know I wouldn’t come if Lily and Lucky were not safe. I’m going to take you to them. They’re on the Waverider with Rip.”

He hesitated saying the last words, not knowing what her reaction would be, given she still sometimes dream of when Rip shot her and crushed her windpipe.

“How so? How did you even manage to contact him?” Her breath caught in her lungs for a moment from shock and relief.

“I know my ways, besides he owed me. Rip owed all of us. Now hush, little bird. We’re almost there.”

Firestorm came back to let them know they’re clear and led them out.

“Be careful, you two,” Leonard said, addressing both Jax and Stein. “Go back safe. All of you, do you hear me?”

Firestorm nodded an agreement, before flying back to the others.

Leonard saw a clear opening towards the where the Waverider was originally landed. A couple of steps away from the hatch and that’s when Sara’s strength left her and she fainted completely in her husband’s arms.

--to be continued--

Just one chapter left and an epilogue (and probably a deleted scene) because the next chapters are fluff--my favorite--and PANDArt and I got a little too excited <3

Thanks to those who are still holding on to this story. My first ever multi-chapter fic and first ever collab with someone so amazing. It was a blast. <3

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (10/12)

Amazing illustration as usual for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna​ and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/156580258309

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story! 

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:

Ch 1     Ch 2     Ch 3     Ch 4      Ch 5

Ch 6     Ch 7     Ch 8     Ch 9

Chapter 10: Unexpected Avalanche

*Third Person POV

One call from the Waverider.

Mick and the rest of the crew discovered a beginning of a time aberration created by the Legion. They were jumping through time, attempting to go back to when Snart was in the Legion, before the Legends could get back to him. They were trying to catch him prior to his conversion as to erase anything else that follows...erasing his reunion with the Legends, erasing his time with Sara, erasing his children.

They’re always so close, but always interrupted with their lack of resources to do so. Or maybe even time itself is against them. Even the Legion were in a trial-and-error process after losing all their source of power the last time they were beaten by the heroes.

But that one call from Captain Rory shook them. One final trial. One last fight arranged by the Legion of Doom. An all out war between the good and the bad and everything in between.

Mick suggested hiding the Snarts and letting the Legends, the Team Arrow and Team Flash deal with the three psychopaths and their minions. Leonard almost agreed. But both former rogues know that Sara isn’t one to back out from a fight, not when the advisories have done so much to hurt her. She needed to be there to see the light from their eyes fade. No one could convince her not to.

It was like the battle with the Dominators all over again. All the leather-clad fighters gathered in the huge Star City parking lot, waiting to be picked up by the remaining third of their bigger team aboard the Waverider.

“This is still insane, you guys know that?”, Diggle said, wide-eyed, as the time ship landed.

Oliver, minus the green hood, was the first to approach the ship. Before the hatch could open he looked back at the superheroes and vigilantes in front of him and said, “We’re not only doing this for our cities. We’re doing this because we love their family. And I will do everything in my power to protect them. I hope all of you will do the same.”

Ever the positive, Barry spoke. “The entire ruckus will end tonight. And we’ll be going back to our cities alive.”

“I’m not doing this for Snart. I’m doing this for the cute little kids,” Cisco said, dragging Felicity to the ship he enjoyed during his last visit.

---

All three teams were gathered in the Waverider’s bridge, all of them throwing out ideas into the table, calculating each move so that they could do the most efficient way of defeating the Legion with the least numbers of casualties from the civilians, as well as from them.

Sara is perched on the center console, leaning on it and listening intently to every course of action. Leonard, however, has his mind far away from what was happening.

He turned on his comm, as it’s all connected to Gideon, and softly said, “Gideon, where could you place your full maximum security? The most impenetrable part of the ship?”

“That would be the brig, Mr. Snart,” the AI said through the man’s earpiece.

Without excusing himself from the group, he strode away from the bridge and towards the room he once shared with Sara, and upon opening it, he saw the kids watching an animated movie being shown from the wall.

The moment he stepped in, Luke carefully sat up from where he was lying, careful not to wake his sleeping sister, and asked Gideon to pause the film.

“Daddy?”, Luke said, waiting for Leonard to sit on the head of the bed. “I have a lot of questions.”

Leonard chuckled at the kid’s statement. “Of course you do. Fire away, bud.”

“Ok-ok, first, why is everyone here?”, Luke said, bright-eyed. “Uncle Ollie is here, and Uncle Barry, and we’re back with Uncle Mick?”

Before Leonard could answer, Luke immediately followed up with another set of questions.

“Are they back, Daddy? The fast man and the two other evil guys? Are you all gonna fight them? Or are we hiding again?”

Allowing Luke to catch his breath, Len spoke in response to his son’s questions. “Okay, hold on, Lucky. Let me answer some of them before you add a bunch more.”

The kid nodded, allowing Leonard to take a deep breath and formulate his answer. “Yes, the Legion is back. Your aunts and uncles are here because, well, the bad guys asked for us. One final battle.”

“Battle? With all of you? You’re gonna win, right Daddy? You’re gonna kill all of them?”

Wincing at the boy’s mention of killing, Leonard ran his hand through his son’s hair. “We’ll do what we can to defeat them. I’ll do what I can to protect you and your sister.”

Luke tilted his head. “And mommy?”

With a smirk, Len replied, “We both know Mommy can defend herself,” earning the smug smile of his son, “but yes, of course. I’ll protect her too.”

---

Sara entered the mess hall, where Gideon said Leonard currently is in. She saw him open a bottle of beer and when Len’s eyes caught Sara, he grabbed another bottle and slid it across the table, fast enough for her to catch it.

“Nice reflexes. You a ninja?” Leonard said with a smirk. “Are you a single ninja though, because I’d like to take you out.”

Sara chuckled before sitting on the mess table, feet on the seat beside Leonard’s seat. “Sorry,” she said, raising her left hand and showing him the ring on her ring finger.

“Damn,” Leonard replied.

The two of them sat in silence, drinking their beer and Leonard finishing his first after two big gulps. He then leaned his forehead on Sara’s thighs, silently sighing.

She placed the beer down and ran her hands through his short-buzzed hair.

“The kids are in the brig,” he said. “Gideon said that’s the most secure place. They’re watching a movie.”

Sara smiled. “I bet it’s Zootopia.”

“Oh yeah. The cute bunny and the criminal fox,” Leonard murmured.

“That’s basically us,” Sara chuckled, and so does her husband. He finally stood up from his seat and took Sara’s hands on his.

“You’re not cute. You’re scary,” Leonard replied, earning Sara’s glare. “Okay, kinda cute.”

They both stared at their joined hands and after a moment of stillness, Leonard spoke. “I didn’t really listen to the plan. Can’t seem to focus.”

“I know. I did tell them I need you backing me up so you’ll just have to go wherever I am,” Sara said without looking at him.

Tilting her chin upwards, Leonard said, “The summary of our marriage.”

Sara laughed at that and pulled him in. She then wrapped her arms around his torso, her head resting on the crook of his neck. “This is gonna be easy.” she said, feeling his hand massaging her nape. “There’s like, a hundred of us out there, ready to send the Legion back to hell.”

“Twenty one,” he replied.

Sara broke away from the hug and stared at Leonard questioningly.

The man sighed and started reciting. “Queen. Glasses. Spartan. Girl Arrow in Red. Girl Arrow in Black. Hockey Mask. Rags. Terrific. Allen. Frost. Ramon. Kid Flash. Kid Flash’s girlfriend. Jax. Professor. Mick. Mick’s girlfriend. Boyscout. Boyscout’s boyfriend. Me. And you. Twenty one. Not a hundred. There’s just 21 of us.”

Grinning, Sara lightly shoved Leonard. “They’re our friends, hon. Use their names when they’re around, at least.”

“They’re gonna save the kids,” he said, turning serious. “I’m gonna call them whatever they want me to call them. I’d finally allow Cisco to marry my sister if he finally pulls his head out of his ass. And if we survive this.”

“We will. We always survive the worst.”

“I hope. Don’t die out there, Snart,” Leonard said, pulling her in for a kiss.

---

Pristina, Kosovo 1984

The battle was at night-time and in attempt to have a good vantage point, they decided to arrive early.

They should’ve known better because the moment the hatch opened, armed men from all sides of the Waverider appeared in front of them, firing at any direction possible. All plans were thrown out of the window and everybody just instinctively surrounded the timeship. The only part of the plan that they executed at that moment was to divide themselves equally according to each of their capabilities. With none of the three Legions in sight, the first course of action is to eliminate the armed men, which is most likely fighting them under the control of Darhk.

The immediate response of the three speedsters they have on their team is to sneak behind the shooters, especially the snipers, and knock them out. The three of them went separate ways, all guarding the front hatch, and the right and left wing of the ship.

The archers also divided themselves in the same sides of the Waverider. Oliver fought alongside Jessie on the front hatch, shooting an arrow or two at the men attempting to gun down his friends. His hits weren’t fatal, but enough to stop them from shooting again. Wild Dog is alongside them, trying to control himself from fatal shots, failing.

Thea was on the left wing with Wally, Diggle, and Ragman. The latter covering the three, Rory tries to get near the men shooting them, so both Diggle and Thea can approach their advisories closer, too.

Felicity and Cisco remained on the ship, with Curtis along with them to protect them just in case some of the Legion’s men got inside. Caitlyn is working on the Medbay for the same reason, and also just in case they need medical attention. She agreed to use her powers only as last resort.

Barry was situated in the right wing, assisting Evelyn as she tends to still give deadly arrow shots. With them is Mick with his Heat Gun at its maximum power, firing large at the men closest to them. The man felt a burst of ice by his side. He turned around and saw his old friend turning his back against him, icing every man that attempts to shoot at them.

“Aren’t you supposed to be with your wife?”, Mick turned his head back and yelled at Leonard. “You’re supposed to be backing her up.”

“Yeah, the plan went to shit and now she’s in the middle of the crossfire with Heywood covering her,” Leonard grunted. “She can handle herself. You need me more here.”

Sara is, indeed, in the middle of the crossfire with Nate and Amaya. All three of them breaking every arm of the enemy, grunting, punching, and kicking their way out of the mess.

“Where the hell is the Legion?!”, Sara yelled as she got her way out of being attacked by three men.

In full metal body, Nate went to cover Sara from the stray bullets and replied, “We should’ve expected this. They would know that we’re bringing everyone. Of course they wouldn’t risk being caught.”

Heat was felt from above them as Firestorm searched the grounds for the Legion, blasting enemy weaponry along the way, together with the ATOM. From the duo’s view, they’ve sent almost all of their advisories down, but a few still kept pouring in.

The fight has been going on for a long stretch of time. Soon enough, they’re gonna get tired and rest will be needed.

They still have a long way to go.

---

“Luke-y!”, Lily whimpered as she scoots closer to her brother.

The sound of the crossfire from outside the ship softly resonates inside the brig. Gideon attempts to cover the sound of gun shots and explosions with increasing the sound of the movie they’re watching. But that has long been forgotten.

“Hey,” Luke said, draping his arms over the little girl’s shoulders. “That’s just noise from the movie, Lil. That’s just the movie…”

“It’s not!” Lily started crying, her fear of explosions triggered. “It’s not the movie! It’s happening outside! Mommy and Daddy are outside, Luke-y. We need to go help them, please, we need to!”

“Daddy asked us to stay here until they come and get us,” the older kid calmly explained. “We just need to trust them.”

“But I’m really scared,” Lily pouts, covering her ears with her brother’s hands. “Will they come soon?”

“Soon. I promise.”

---

The crowd of armed men thinned, giving time for some of the heroes to take a breather. Sara, as soon as her hands were free, left Amaya and Nate and searched the grounds for Leonard. They had a long time fighting and if her assumption is right, her husband’s Cold Gun would be running out of charge soon. Scanning the field, she saw the glare of the Heat Gun a few yards from where she’s standing.

It was as if time slowed down around her. She doesn’t know it it’s because she’s tired or if things are just happening very fast.

She can see Wally transfer the destination of one of Diggle’s bullets from the chest to just the thigh, making less damage. On her far left was Amaya, tackling a group of men like it was nothing. The blast of Ray’s laser beams surrounded her ears. In front of her is Mick, trying to cover Snart as the latter fought with a hand gun, his famous weapon hanging on its leg holster.

She walked towards the former rogues, remembering their earlier days of fighting. Forgetting the fight that’s happening around her, she walked a little bit faster, trying to reach Leonard as soon as she can but still taking her time. Wandering.

“Hey Len,” she whispered, trying to walk faster but then she felt a small sting on her side. She ignored it and kept walking.

Maybe Leonard heard her because he turned his head towards her. His eyes narrowed and his gaze landed on her side. Sara glanced where the man was staring and she saw her leather suit turning crimson red.

“Len,” she said, failing to tell him that she got shot all because they both know it.

All the fuzziness in her brain cleared. Her assassin way of thinking kicked back. Mick covers Leonard’s path as he ran towards her, meeting her halfway.

---

"Sara!" Len said, running towards his injured wife, "get behind my back, I'll cover you.”

He cocked his hand gun back to its original place, replacing his weapon with the Cold Gun and powering it up to use its remaining power.

Sara glanced around and counted the men pouring in. How the hell did the Legion get so many men? Were they promised a good score? Were they recruited or forced into this?

She then turned to Leonard. “No, Len. Go back to the ship,” Sara firmly said.

“You’ve just been shot!,” he replied, gripping her arms tightly.

“I can handle a hit, Leonard,” she responded, her eyes fixated on his. “Go back to the kids, please. Defend them. Don’t let them get hurt. We’ll ward them off from here.”

His hands went from her arm to her bloody side, warm and sticky, staining his gloves. “I’m not leaving you alone here.”

Sara sighed, her hand dropping one of her boe staffs and reaching Leonard’s cheeks. “I’m fighting with every hero we know. I’m not alone. Get Luke and Lily to the jumpship fast. Please. Tell Gideon where you’ll go and I’ll follow you after, I promise. Just make sure they’re safe. Do everything in your power to get them out of this hell-hole if hell breaks loose.”

“No,” he said straight and sternly, staring her down. His jaw tightened, wanting to be as selfish as he can, wanting to just grab Sara with him.

Before he could do so, she replied.

“Just do it.”

So he kissed her. Just like how she kissed him the first time at the Vanishing Point. Except this time, he believes they will see each other again in no time. Everybody is pulling every muscle to try to at least get to the Waverider alive and unhurt. He has to believe it.

He looked at her deeply after they broke away from the kiss. Sara gave him a little smile and he ran. He ran towards the front hatch, asking Gideon from his comms to open it up. Leonard ignored Cisco and Felicity’s questions and ran straight to the brig.

When he got to the brig, he saw the kids hugging each other, waiting for either him or Sara—or ideally, both of them. Luke was whispering something to Lily, blocking the sound aroung them, knowing how much his sister hates it.

“Kids,” he said as he opened the brig. “Let’s go to the jumpship. We need to hide.”

Lily stood first, running towards Leonard and hugging him, “How about mommy?”

“We’ll wait for her there, then we’ll leave,” he said, distracted by his fear of everything that’s happening. “Don’t worry, she’ll follow.”

He carried Lily, kissing her on top of her head as she cowered onto her father, and took Luke’s hand on his’. They made evasive steps in running to the jumphip and as soon as they got inside the jumpship, Gideon locked the bolt door.

Because the jumpship is at the edge, attached to the Waverider, the sound of explosions are sounding nearer and nearer. Leonard was panicking and there’s no way he could hide it.

“Mr. Snart,” Gideon said, interrupting the man from his task of putting on seatbelts on both the kids, “some troops are approaching the Waverider from the right wing, west entrance. Nobody is guarding that entrance at the moment. They’re all situated at the front hatch, preventing a larger crowd from entering. Captain Rory is already informed and is asking you to leave with the jumpship immediately.”

“We will wait for Sara!”, he annoyingly said, strapping himself in between the kids.

“Mrs. Snart is down, Mr. Snart,” the AI added. “You don’t have much time. Captain’s orders are to get the kids safe.”

His right arm was tugged with a small force. “We can’t leave Mommy here, Daddy. There are too many bad guys,” Lily’s big blue eyes tore his heart apart.

“You only have three minutes before they reach the jumpship, Mr. Snart.”

Leonard screams in rage and unstrapped his seatbelt to walk over to the console. He flies his ship anyways, away from the Waverider. Away from the chaos. His kids crying, longing for their mother.

---

Sara is lying on the ground, beaten up and bleeding. The sound of chaos turning into a minimum.

Mick is kneeling by her side, trying to stop the wound from bleeding. Ray and Nate surround them, covering them from whatever may hit the two.

She then sees the jumpship fly away from the timeship and smiles as a tear dropped from her eyes.“Protect them, Len. Keep them safe."

She then turns to Mick.  "Too bad I don’t have super powers, huh?”

“Shut up, Blondie,” Mick said harshly, the gentleness on his voice showing. “We all know you don’t need powers or fancy guns to kick ass.”

She chuckled but then became serious immediately after. "Mick, once this is over, track them please. Make sure they're okay, will you?"

Mick gripped on her hand, squeezing it tightly. "Shut up Sara, you're not dying. This is just a gunshot. You’ve survived a lot worse. I watched you go into labor for Lucky. That was hell. This is just a gun shot. Live for your family. Your kids are too young to lose you. You know that.”

She knows. But she also knows she has lost a lot of blood. Still, Mick is right. She’s survived a lot worse. Hell, she gave birth twice.

She squeezed Mick’s hand.

"I’ve been in this position for too many times, Mick,” Sara said, using her upper body strength to get up. “This almost-dying situation is getting boring. And to be honest? I’m so sick of this. Help me up. Let’s find the Legion and let’s kill them before they get to my family.”

---to be continued---

It’s been almost two month since the last update. This chapter took so much time for me to finish and I apologize for that. Mental block and holidays and university stuff got in the way. 

PANDArt has been the best, the most patient and understanding partner ever. I love you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (9/12)

Amazing and heartbreaking illustration for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/153900748534!

This illustration is immensely heartbreaking. 

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:

Ch 1     Ch 2     Ch 3     Ch 4

Ch 5     Ch 6     Ch 7     Ch 8

Chapter 9: Phantom Thunder

*Third Person POV

Leonard opened his eyes, feeling the painful throbbing of his temples. It was painful for his eyes to determine what was around him because of the bright light that shone on him. As his eyes got used to the light, it was his sense of hearing that became active next.

Cries. That’s all he could hear. There are background noises like footsteps and men murmuring, but the cries were the one he was focused on.

These cries were the same ones that woke him up in the middle of the night every time bad dreams came. The same cries that were meant to call him for every cut and every bruise.

Once his eyes focused, he saw his children tied together facing him.

And a few feet to their right is his wife.

And lingering behind them, with a gun on his hand, is Damien Darhk.

“This specific scenario,” Darhk said, “is quite familiar to your wife, as you know. Once upon a time, the man who saved her from drowning made Oliver Queen choose who should live. Her, or another woman they met on the island. Well, luckily, she survived back then when the Arrow chose her. But I’m not sure if she’ll survive now.”

“You let go of all of them right now!,” Leonard screamed at him, furious that his Cold Gun isn’t with him.

“Or what? Or you’ll kill me?”, Darhk laughed, his voice coming from the depths of his core. “With what Snart? With your stare?”

Leonard snarled at the man. “Let them go and kill me if that’s what you want. Leave them be!”

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you, Snart. I’m going to kill either your wife or your kids and I’ll do it in front of you but to kill you? Oh no. I’m not that evil. I just want you to watch me while I do it. I want to watch you scream and beg for the lives of your family,” Darhk replied calmly.

After a short pause, Damien added, “And…you know what’s funny, Snart? That your current situation is not actually your fault,” turning around quickly towards Leonard.

“What do you mean?”, Leonard said, perplexed. “I escaped the Legion. I’ve never wanted to be an engineer of your diabolical plan. I’ve never thought of participating in building a brand new world. You tricked me to do it. That’s me who you’ve haunted all these years.”

He was far from calm with a piercing feeling of panic in his body, though he knew, he couldn’t show it to Darkh. Not when he’s unsure of what the dark magician could do with his finger on the trigger.

“Oh no. You’re mistaken, Mr. Snart. I had a switch far before that, ” the white haired man smiled mischievously. Continuing his thought, he said, “See Mr Snart, your wife was quite useful in 1987. Where was it? Ahhh, Washington D.C.”

Sara opened her mouth, looking even more terrified than a few minutes ago. Tears were forming in her eyes, ready to fall with Damien’s next words.

“The truth is, Ms Lance changed my destiny. Do you know why that is?”, his eyes were wide open and he was shaking with excitement while asking the question. Leonard, still not moving from his position. “She told me MY future! I have to admit I hadn’t been so scared for a long time until that moment but then I realized--that’s  my chance to change it. When I found out I was going to lose everything and die alone, imagine what happened?”

Darkh sentence was finished by Sara, now sobbing quietly with pain in her chest. ���You came back in time with Thawne and formed the Legion of Doom, to help you accomplish your vision.”

“Excellent answer Sara!” Damien exclaimed with enthusiasm. “Though the thing I didn’t know was your relationship with Captain Cold when I recruited him. I wasn’t prepared for someone having stronger influence on his mind, than my magic. You, Sara, restored Leonard’s soul, like Laurel did with  yours, except without the Lazarus Pit.”

They all froze for one moment to gather their swirling thoughts, but Damien brought back Snart family into senses with one simple movement of his hand.

“Enough of that. Story time is over. Let’s get back to business.”

Leonard snarled. He’d attack Darhk ferociously if not only for the gun he’s pointing at the back of Sara’s head.

“Choose,” Darhk said, his voice void of any emotion except darkness.

That’s when his strength left Leonard and he fell on his knees in front of three people he love the most. With longing eyes he looked at Sara, who stared back with softness in her eyes and a smirk. “This shouldn’t be a hard choice, love. It’s okay.”

“I can’t lose you, Sara,” he said as his only response.

The cries of his children seemed far away from them and the only thing he could focus on is her. “I know. But I won’t forgive you if you let my kids die. Please, Len.”

Hiding a face in his hands he waited, before looking back at his beautiful wife.

All he gave was a nod.

 Darhk didn’t even count. As soon as Leonard bowed down his head, a gun shot was heard.

---

Sara felt Leonard struggle in his sleep. She observed for a while, but a few seconds after, he was moaning and grunting.

She laid a hand on his chest and ran circles on it. “Leonard,” she whispered, “honey, wake up. You’re dreaming.”

Len continued to tussle. His chest rising up and falling down fast. A sweat breaking on his forehead. Sara got up and sat down beside him as she vigorously shook him to wake him up. “Len! You’re having a nightmare!”

He suddenly opened his eyes, frantically searching the room for Darhk. He looked around as he came to his senses, then he felt Sara squeezing his hand. “Hey,” she said.

Leonard swiftly grabbed Sara and held her close to him with no plan of letting her go. “Sara, don’t leave me,” he said, his voice hoarse.

Sara, buried on the crook of his neck, moved to kiss his jaw. “I’m never leaving you.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise you, Len. I’m not leaving.”

Leonard slowly broke away from the hug, attempting to stand up. Sara grabbed his hand before he could do so. “Where are you going?”

“I need to check the kids.”

“They’re safe. They’re sleeping next door, hon. They’re okay.”

 Leonard gave out a deep sigh, then went back to bed, tucking his legs inside their shared blanket. “He made me choose,” he whispered.

Without prying, Sara kissed his shoulders, giving him time to continue.

“Darhk, he...he had you. And the kids. And he made me choose.”

Sara bit her lower lip, running her hands on his back. “And you chose the kids?”

He nodded.

“You made the right choice.”

“Can I ask you a question, Sara?” Leonard asked inhaling the scent of her hair. “Because before Damien pointed a gun on you in my dream, I remember having a… conversation.”

“What’s that?”

“Is that true, you told Damien Darhk back in 1987 that he’s destined to die in Star City?”, he said; in his voice Sara couldn’t hear anything but soft curiosity, so she replied calmly against Leonard’s chest.

“Yes. I did, but I was so obsessed with revenge for killing Laurel, I’ve never thought about consequences. Are you mad at me?” She turned her head with the last question to see his facial expression and relieved that what she saw was his primal instinct to protect, along with gratitude for telling the truth.

“No Sara. I can’t be mad knowing if the same thing could have happened to Lisa, I would’ve want to hurt Damien just the same. And honestly, I can’t be more grateful.” Len added with a small smile forming on his lips.

“How so?”

With a deep sigh, Leonard replied, “If Darhk hadn’t wanted to change his fate, he wouldn’t send Merlyn to search for recruits. Not to mention I’d still be considered dead, arranging plan to escape from Corto Maltese, probably without success.”

Sara wanted to say something about this long sequence of events, but before she started her husband put a finger on her lips and continued.

“If all of those things hadn’t  happened, I would have no chance in seeing you ever again. And that’s something I couldn’t stand on this or any other Earth. You saved my life Sara. You saved my soul and brought me back to you, my sister and our friends. Thanks to your mistake I have amazing kids and a life I’ve never dared to dream about. I am so scared of tomorrow and the day after that, but I believe we are stronger together and we can face them once more. We’ll fight and we’ll win. Just don’t leave me.” Leonard was shaking underneath his skin, though his breathing equalized fast.

 After a moment of silence, Sara laid a hand on his chest, pushing him back to lie down. She moved his arm away and slipped herself in, resting her head on his chest. Sara then started humming the lullaby they used to sing to Luke and Lily when they were babies.

Leonard closed his eyes, allowing himself to be lulled by his wife. He was used to nightmares. He had them for almost his whole life.

But he has never been happier that this one was just a nightmare.

And he’s eager to let this one become only a nightmare.

 Because if it were to happen in front of him, he’d shoot himself first.

---end---

A huge chunk of this chapter is written by PANDART herself. I’m super proud of her <3 Give her some sweet lovin’!

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (8/12)

Amazing illustration for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/153471815799

Another one with the family <3

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:

Ch 1     Ch 2     Ch 3     Ch 4

Ch 5     Ch 6     Ch 7

Chapter 8: Frozen Whispers

*Mixed POVs

---Luke’s POV---

It was the day before Christmas when Uncle Mick dropped us off. I don’t know where or what time we are in. But Lily isn’t happy. I remember Daddy’s reminder before everything happened. I need to look after my sister. Aunt Lisa always tells me stories of when Daddy took care of her when she was young. I want to be like that to Lily. I want to tell her that everything will be okay, but I know we’re far from okay.

Mommy still looks at me like I’m a little boy. I may be small, but I can understand what’s happening. After being taken by evil men who wants to hurt my parents, it’s hard not to get worried about everything. But I trust them. They’ll get us safe. Even if that means spending Christmas in this small house.

“How about you two stay here and get warm while Mommy and I inspect the place?”, Daddy looked at us and asked.

Lily remained quiet and I noticed her eyes scanning the place. I nodded at Daddy. He went on further inside with Mommy behind her, also silent.

In my head, I was counting the days of how long we’ve been away from home so I didn’t notice Lily coming closer to me. She tugged my arm and said, “Luke-y, I don’t want to stay here.”

Mommy has been holding Lily more than ever after the bad men took us. I hear her saying sorry to my sister. I didn’t know what happened and I don’t really want to ask. But everything has made Lily more scared. It made her want to go home even more.

Another tug. Lily repeated to me, “I don’t like to be here. I want to go back home.”

“We just have to wait, Lil. Just a few more days.”

Lily then made a few stomps to the ground. She always does this whenever she’s upset. Daddy usually carries her and whisper things that make her giggle. But for now, there’s just me. I wonder if this is what Daddy does to Aunt Lisa when they were little.

Before I could say anything else, Lily said lowly: “I don’t want to spend Christmas here. I miss Central City. Isn’t Christmas supposed to be happy? We don’t have a Christmas tree, no gifts. This is the worst Christmas ever!”

I wanted to tell her that it isn’t. I wanted to tell my sister that we could still make this Christmas happy. But I don’t know if I believe that anymore.

Just as I was about to tell those things to Lily, I heard Mommy shouting from one room. I had to know why.

The door was slightly open when Lily and I got there and…

---Third Person POV---

“But I heard the kids, Len! This isn’t the Christmas they’ve expected to have. This is not the life they deserve!” Sara frustratingly pointed out as Leonard ran his hands through his face.

After a heavy sigh, Leonard tried to calmly reply. “We don’t have any choice, Sara. The Legion’s got a lead on us.”

“Then tell me when this will end!”, Sara gritted through her teeth. “I can live through all of this, Len. I can live with all the running and hiding, but can they?! We barely got out of that psychiatric hospital. Merlyn had Lily by the throat! What’s next? Their lifeless bodies dangling in front of us??”

With his instincts at play, his right hand went down to his leg holster, fingers grazing the handle of his Cold Gun.

Sara flinched at the ministration, but stood her ground. “What now, Snart?”, her voice firm and cold. “You’re gonna pull your gun on me again?”

Leonard’s world paused at what she said. His eyes focused on her face. Clenched jaws. Deep breaths. He searched her eyes and expected to see fury but that emotion wasn’t there. He’s known her long enough to know that it wasn’t anger that was in her eyes. It was both pain and apology.

He then remembered all the times he promised her that he’ll always make her happy. He remembered the first night they spent together, and him promising her that all their nights after that will be spent as happy as their first. He remembered her thanking him for remembering what they have yet to explore after getting him back from the Legion’s manipulation.

He failed. The unshed tears that are making her eyes glimmer tells him he failed her.

Sara immediately took a sharp inhale after realizing what she just said. The emotion on her husband’s face only screams pain. He has always been scared of the thought of becoming like his father. He cried to her about that the moment the pregnancy test told her she’d bear his child. Sara assured him everyday that he’ll never hurt her, nor her kids.

She knows that he’ll never pull out that gun, even before when the two of them were left in the Waverider to save the rest of the Legends during their first mission.

The sound of sobbing stopped them and caught their attention.

Their children heard everything, and they were standing side by side, hands together. Little Lily was rubbing her eyes as she continued to sob, while Luke just stood still.

---Luke’s POV---

I have never heard them fight. And I wish I never hear them like this again.

I have seen both my mom and my dad angry, but never at each other.

The next thing I know, Lily is storming off, running and crying to get away from the shouting.

I found Lily on the floor of the small kitchen of the house, leaning against the wall. She looks so small curled up and crying.

“Lily?”

“Why are they fighting, Lukey? Is it because I said this is worst Christmas ever?”, Lily said with her shaky voice. “I don’t really mean it, I promise!”

“Of course it’s not because of what you said. Mommy and Daddy just…don’t know what to do, that’s all.”

Lily finally looked up to me. “But they always know what to do. They’re smart and they plan everything, right?”

“Not all the time, Lily. Sometimes they get confused, too.”

My sister pouted—her famous Lily pout—and whispered, “What I want for Christmas is for Mommy and Daddy to be okay. I don’t even like to have gifts anymore. I just don’t want them to fight.”

She finally stood up and grabbed my hand to help me get up too.

“Then you would just have to go and tell them that, Lil.”

Lily ran back to the room where Mommy and Daddy were. I followed her only to see the two of them leaning on the small table in the room, Daddy’s arm around Mommy’s shoulders. She’s leaning on to him and I can tell that they made up immediately after. Daddy wouldn’t let Mommy stay mad at him for long. And Mommy would forgive him in a heartbeat.

Daddy stood away from the table to welcome Lily in his arms. My sister wrapped her legs around Daddy and let her head rest on his shoulders. Mommy then took my hand, helping me sit on the table with her.

We stayed silent for a bit.

My eyes were falling a bit and I was leaning against Mommy when I heard Lily sing a familiar tune she sang during our school’s Winter recital last year, but muffled.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light.

From now on your troubles will be out of sight.”

She then moved herself out of the crook of daddy’s neck to look at all of us. She smiled at me and I know she wanted me to sing along.

So I did.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Make the Yuletide gay.

From now on your troubles will be miles away.”

“Mommy!”, Lily said, extending her arm to grab Mommy’s hand. “We could just celebrate Christmas next year. We don’t need gifts anyway. We’re already happy if you are.”

“Here we are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore,”

“Daddy can sing?!”, Lily whispered towards Mommy, making Mommy giggle and nod.

Daddy placed a kiss on Lily’s cheek.

“You know, Lil, Daddy sings to us after they tuck us to bed. You’re just asleep so you don’t hear it.”

Daddy hugged Lily and continued:

“Luke and Lil who are dear to us,

They gather near to us once more.”

Mommy stood behind Daddy and kissed him on his shoulder, then turning to me to give me a kiss on top of my head.

Through the years we all will be together

And if the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bow

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

---end---

Sorry this update was a week late. It’s been a rough week. Y’all take care <3

Thank you Kinga for standing by me through this. Love you.

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (7/12)

Amazing illustration for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/152688649639

A fluffy one!!

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:

Chapter 1     Chapter 2     Chapter 3

Chapter 4     Chapter 5     Chapter 6

Chapter 7: Northern Lights

*Third Person POV

The couple specifically asked Mick to drop them off somewhere in the past in southern New Zealand in an abandoned cabin atop a hill. It was winter from where they landed and both were relieved that Gideon provided them clothes fit for the time, place, and weather.

What the family faced last time was too much for them. Their children has seen so much that staying in the Waverider, where the Legends fight Time Pirates every single day, isn’t also the best environment for them. They already had to sacrifice their school and their friends. For once in weeks of hiding, they at least deserve some peace--at least before the Legion finds them again. If one thing is for sure, they’re not planning to run from them forever.

 “I’ve put the kids to sleep, hon,” Sara said as she emerged from the only room in the cabin--one which they all have to share, not that the couple minded.

When Leonard didn’t answer, Sara looked around the house, only to seem him gazing outside from the window. “Len?”

“Help me,” Leonard answered, heading towards the sofa in the small living room.

“Hm?”

He grabbed one end of the sofa and nodded towards her. “Get the other end and let’s bring it outside.”

Confused, Sara furrowed her eyebrow and asked, “And why are we doing that?”

“Have you seen an aurora?”, he asked, wide-eyed.

Sara smiled, remembering one time during her League days wherein they were assigned in Alaska. It was the first time she’s ever seen a polar light as such. That was one of the times she’s felt hope. One of the very few moments of that chapter in her life where she felt that there could be more for her than just being as assassin.

Her eyes went back to Leonard. “Before, yeah.”

“Well, I haven’t,” he replied, trying to hide the excitement in his eyes but failed. “And there’s one outside.”

Sara laughed at her husband’s excitement. “Okay? I don’t get the part why we need to carry the sofa.”

Leonard placed down the sofa again and went closer to her, holding her hand. “Sara, wanna go out on a date?”

Sara lets go of his hand and brought it to his face. “Yes.”

After a chaste kiss on her lips, Leonard went back to the end of the sofa, tilting his head as if asking her to do the same.

“We’re taking the going out literally, aren’t we?”

---

Sara and Leonard were able to bring the sofa outside, throwing flirtatious glances at each other on their way out just like before they got together. Throwing looks that would’ve made Jax uncomfortable once again if he could see this.

“Just right here,” Leonard said, “facing the aurora,” then dropping down to sit down on the couch.

Still standing in front of him, she placed both hands on her hips. “I’ve always liked the color green.”

Leonard faked cough behind her, making her rephrase what she said: “I like blue more now, thought.”

He laughed at her response as he pulled her to his lap and hugged her from behind and kissed her shoulders. “I miss times like this,” he admitted, whispering to her.

“Me too,” her short response, letting herself melt in his arms.

The cold breeze brushed through her and Leonard felt the goosebumps on her skin. “Wait here,” he said. “I’ll get blankets.”

He waited for Sara to move from his lap so he could stand up and head back to the cabin.

“Bring some hot chocolate!”, Sara yelled before he disappears inside.

---

While waiting for Leonard, Sara took this moment to take a deep breath. She imagined that she and her family are here on a much-deserved vacation. She imagined that when they go back to Central City, they’ll be living their lives normally again. That there will be no Legion looking for them, wanting to kill her husband. They both deserve better. Or their kids, at least.

 A few moments later, Leonard arrived wearing his winter parka, two mugs of hot chocolate on one hand, and pillows and blankets on another. “It’d be great if you help me carry some of them,” he called out as soon as he’s outside.

“You can handle that alone,” Sara snarkily replied, earning a chuckle out of him.

She took both mugs from him and stood up, allowing him to arrange the pillows the way he wants it. She was about to sit down when Leonard stripped off his parka. He grabbed the mugs and placed in on the ground, then he helped Sara wear the parka.

“Thank you,” she replied, grabbing both mugs, lying down and settling beside him, giving him one.

Sara took a sip, enjoying the warmth of it as it passed through her throat. “Mmm. This is wonderful.”

“Just like what you made for us during game night, just before Mick called about the...Legion.”

Her face went from gleeful to gloomy.

“I’m sorry to remind you,” Leonard immediately answered back.

Sara took his cup and placed both of theirs on the ground, allowing him to hug her a little tighter.

Len allowed a few minutes of silence between them before speaking again. “After this is all done, how about we go out on a real date?”

“Like a real, real date?,” Sara answered softly, melting again in his comforting arms.

He buried his face on her hair and replied, “Yes. Like our first real date.”

“You took me to Saints and Sinners,” Sara laughed.

Leonard tickled her side and she giggles like how Lily did.

“I know that’s your favorite among all our dates,” he said.

Shrugging, she said, “That’s the only date we had, idiot.”

“Hey, we had dinner in Italy one time!”, Len defended.

“We were doing a recon and the mark was in the restaurant we ate at,” Sara reminded him.

They both smiled at the memory. Even though that was a mission, they spent time preparing for it. She wore a beautiful dress; he put on his nicest perfume. They held hands on their way there and kicked ass together. They went back to the Waverider, still holding hands, and leaving each other kisses before entering each other’s room.

“Oh,” Leonard added, “after this, how about we rob a bank? For old times’ sake?”

“Let’s do it!”

 Sara shivered as another gust of wind passed by them. Leonard rubbed her arms, attempting to provide some warmth. Beginning to be more serious, he softly uttered, “I’m sorry about this, Sara.”

“About this beautiful sight?”, Sara replied, pointing at the green aurora above them.

Looking at Sara, he slightly forgot his line of thought. “A beautiful sight indeed.”

“Sorry about what?”, Sara asked him again, bringing him back to the conversation after the obvious blushing of her cheeks--something he still manages to bring out of her after six years of marriage.

He held her chin, prompting her to look at him. “Sorry for this mess,” he faintly said.

Noticing her sudden silence, he continued. “I’m a crook who promised you a good life. A peaceful one. You don’t deserve to be in this mess. Our children, too. They don’t deserve a life of running and hiding. I promised you happiness, Sara.”

“And that’s what you gave me,” she replied almost immediately, interrupting him from the rest of the things he wants to apologize for.

He looked down, apologetic. Sara kissed his cheek, making him look at her once again. “I’ve got two beautiful children because of you. Once we get rid of the Legion, there’s a warm home waiting for us back in Central City, where we will be welcomed by Lisa and my mom who are being watched over by Barry and his team. And we’ll be seeing Dad in Star City, safe and sound.”

“I don’t know how long we have to wait until that,” Leonard admitted. He was never one to show weakness in unfortunate moments. He has seen and experienced enough to know that in situations like these, he needs to be the strong one. But he allowed this moment of vulnerability.

“It’s okay,” she said. She lets her forehead touch his’. “I don’t mind waiting as long as coming home is worth it.”

For the first time tonight, Leonard kissed Sara. Not the usual peck they’ve settled on when in front of the kids. It was a passionate one, mimicking the times they’ve kissed whenever they’re alone.

In that moment, both of them mutually decided to just forget the situation they’re in. Deep in the kiss, they feel safe. They feel secure. And after a long time of watching their backs for unusual movements, or checking whether or not the kids are safe, they decided to just let it all go.

At least for now.

 They then broke away from the kiss. Panting, Sara asked: “You know what I want to do after all of this?”

“What’s that?”, Leonard said, closing his eyes, slowly falling into slumber.

She yawned, letting the breeze lull her. “I want to marry you again.”

And with a final kiss, Len replied: “Anytime, any place. I promise.”

-end-

A fluffy one to make up for the last two chapters <3 

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (6/12)

Amazing illustration for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/152382946104

Once again, she did *amazing* with the illustration AND she wrote a huge chunk of this fic!!

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:

Chapter 1: Falling Leaves

Chapter 2: Storm Clouds

Chapter 3: Cool Breeze

Chapter 4: Violent Blizzard

Chapter 5: Hurricane Duo

Chapter 6: Foggy Pathway

*Third Person POV

“Daddy!”

The last goon is down and the Cold Gun’s charge is at it’s lowest. Before he could even put his weapon at its leg holster, Leonard heard his little girl’s voice, screaming and searching for him. He ran towards the sound and rushed to where Lily was.

“Lily!”, he exclaimed, crouching down to meet the kid at eye level. Her blue eyes are filled with tears. Dirt is smeared all over her arms and her cheeks. Len hugged his startled daughter as she continued to sob at her father’s chest.

As Lily was pouring her heart out, Leonard looked at the hallway Lily emerged from. If she’s now free, Sara should be following her. She wouldn’t leave her daughter alone. But then again, he knows that his wife’s priority is her daughter. The only reason Leonard thought of about Sara’s absence was because she’s caught up beating the Legion’s men. If so, then she’ll need help.

Leonard looked back at his weeping child and noticed the white leather clutched in her little hands.

Oh god, Sara.

“Sweetie,” Leonard calmly said, trying to keep himself calm and steering away any negative thoughts he has, “where’s Mommy?”

Barely able to breathe through her tears,  Lily still tried. “Mom--mommy told me to run, daddy. The bad guy has a-an arrow. He lets me go but--but mommy stayed there, daddy. I’m scared.”

Leonard went still for a moment, trying to process what he just heard.

Back in the day when he and Mick were still Central City’s most wanted thieves, he had a system which he follows whenever an emergency comes up that would make him lose his focus. First, run through the facts. Second, figure out what’s wrong and what’s out of place. Lastly, figure a way to get out of the situation. Alive.

 With Lily still shaking in his arms, his mind went to a different place.

 Think fast, Snart, he told himself.

 Facts.

Lily and Luke were taken. They’re in an abandoned asylum. He killed men. Some of them acting ferally. Darhk’s powers, probably.

Where is Luke? Safe. With Mick. My son is safe. I took him from Thawne and made him run.

Lily. She’s here. Man with arrow? Merlyn. Definitely. But he let my little girl go.

He let her go.

She’s with me now. Crying, but safe.

 What’s out of place? How to solve it?

Darhk isn’t here. Probably some place else, conjuring magic in this place. Cursing this place. Cursing the people inside.

The goons stopped coming. Their job is done. What finished their job? What happened?

Sara.

Maybe the goons are after her. Maybe she’s fighting Merlyn.

 Think faster, Len.

 The white leather. What is it?

 “What are you holding, Lily?”, Len said, snapping out of his thoughts for a moment. He needs answers.

Instead of answering, Lily held them out to him.

 White and red. Her gloves. Blood. No blood on the inside. Not from her. Not from Lily. But blood.

Both of them. Not forcefully removed.

She removed it.

Why?

 “Why did mommy give you this?”

“Mommy said it was for me and Luke-y. She told me to tell Luke-y she loves the two of us.”

 Not a goodbye.

This isn’t a goodbye.

She always tells our kids she loves them. This isn’t different.

This is not a goodbye.

She’s fighting.

 Lily once again snapping him out of his thoughts by gently touching his face.

“Daddy, mommy wants t-to tell you she’s s-sorry,” her breathing unsteady.

 Sorry for what?

 Lily held out her fists. She opened it and alas, it was a ring.

The same wedding band that could be seen on his ring finger if you remove his black gloves.

 Leonard. Focus. Facts. This is hers. You placed it on her fingers many years ago. You have her wedding vow etched in your memory. She said ‘I do’. She kissed you. She never removed it again.

Fact. She never removes her ring.

Fact. She’s sorry. She’s sorry for something. FOR WHAT.

 LEONARD. THINK.

Don’t shove away what you don’t want to hear. Just think.

 Fact.

Sara is saying goodbye.

Her gloves. Her ring.

 He placed it on his pocket.

 A tap on his shoulder. Lily.

“Daddy. Before I left, after the sorry, mommy tried to say another thing but she stopped,” her doll-eyes glimmering with tears. “Mommy said you already know.”

 I already know?

Oh.

Of course.

Fact. Sara loves me. That is why her ring is here.

 Shake it off, Leonard. Think. Make a run down of the facts. Use that wonderful brain of yours.

 Fact.

Lily escaped. No. She was freed.

Sara stayed.

 Fact.

Earlier this evening he promised her something.

“They took the kids. I’ll take their lives. I’ll do everything to save them, I promise you.”

 Fact.

Sara promised, too. And she said something.

“It’s either that or I’ll die trying.”

 Fact.

He told her that no Snart is going to die tonight.

 What’s out of place?

Sara isn’t here. My wife isn’t here.

 Fact.

She might--oh god please no--but she might be dead.

She sacrificed herself.

Of course.

“It’s either that or I’ll die trying.”

 His mind is back.

Lily still clutched to him.

He carried her in his arms and he ran fast towards the entrance of the ward.

Mick is outside. Waiting for them with worry on his face. Alexa.

 His partner opened his arms, ready to receive the little girl.

“Where’s Blondie?”, Mick almost growled as the scared blonde girl clung on to him.

The former arsonist doesn’t really need an answer. Alexa.

 “Prepare to take the jump,” Leonard ordered. “I’ll look for Sara.”

 ---

Minutes after Lily left Sara and Merlyn

 Malcolm held the arrow as he walked closer to the weeping assassin. The same weapon he mastered during his time in the League of Assassins. He knows the impact it can give and where it would hurt more if it were to be shot at someone. He tought thea how to couse extreme pain. Make people suffer most horrible way for a long time. It was such a long time ago though and many things have changed.

His usually calm thoughts were interrupted by the presence of Darhk. The black-magician stayed in their hideout, away from the chaos, to manipulate their men from there. Sensing that the number of soldiers they have are depleting, Darhk went straight to hijack the mind of another Legion member. It was harder than usual, but not impossible to do because the Dark Archer, at the moment, is preoccupied.

“Kill her. Kill her now. It will break Snart immediately,” Merlyn heard from the back of his mind. He tried shaking the voice off but he was distracted. He could never control his mind now. “Do it, Merlyn.”

He took Sara by her chin and pointed the arrow directly above her heart. The master assassin didn’t budge, like promised. Instead, Merlyn heard her murmur the names of her children. “Luke. Lily.”

Malcolm took one look at Sara again. Gone was the fierceness and the bloodlust. She was off the edge, acting like she’s not herself and tormented by the thought of dying again and leaving the people she loves. It looked like she couldn’t see his face, but her whole family instead. She was almost calm.

His mind went back to that day in Gotham when he first saw Luke and Lily. It reminded him of when he remembered Tommy and Thea. His own children. He has failed them countless of times. He lost both of them in different ways--one because of death, and one because he failed to become a father.

Merlyn couldn’t do it. He walked away, leaving Sara on the floor.

And Darhk sensed it. “You coward! If Sara can’t die, then I’ll make her suffer.”

 Sara’s weak mind made it easy for Darhk to corrupt her mind. Anyone who is unguarded, unfocused, and distracted could easily fall into his spell. He could see her thoughts. She’s thinking of nothing but coming to terms with her death.

Make her think she’s dead and soon, she’ll believe it enough that she’ll lose her grip on reality. I have something special for you Mrs. Snart.

She was able to stand up as soon as she’d seen Malcolm walking away from her. “Was she dead already? She never felt any pain. What’s the difference anyway? This is lost cause for her, but at least Len and children are safe.”  So she walks to the door, but her moves are not only her own. She heard his voice. Unknown man. Stranger, but... so familiar. Then it struck her. Her brain was burning from multitude of thoughts, though she kept walking.

She’s feeling a cold handle under her fingers and opens the door with one sharp pull. The person behind it was the least expected of all.

“Laurel. How? Why?”

“Come Sara. You’re safe with me” said Sara’s beloved sister with her hand outstretched  and a small smile on her lips.

At she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even breathe - if dead people can breathe at all, but finally she was able to smile back at her. This was so real. Laurel’s fingers were so cold, but Sara could feel them anyway. She followed her sister through creepy corridors of the psychiatric hospital, though they were different than she remembered. Something was wrong.

“Where are the bodies? Where are broken windows and bullet holes? Where are we going Laurel?”  growing panic in her voice was more and more frustrating for Darkh who was focused on creating those foggy visions she’s seeing

“Don’t worry honey. You are with me and we can go together to a better place. We’ll wait for them together.”

“We will wait for who? Len and…my kids. Dad and mom. They are safe. They have to be safe!”  That’s when former assassin let go of Laurel’s hand and she ran. She ran screaming, not wanting to hear a fake voice in her head. Somehow she reached the staircase. There were no scratched walls, no rusted railings, no broken tiles. This is not the same place she entered. Too clean, too white and fuzzy.

“No no no no! I… I can’t be dead! They need me! Stop! How can this be heaven? Or maybe it’s hell or… something in between? Laurel’s here. She is here! I saw her so clearly! If she’s here than… I. Am. Dead. This is how it looks like.”

With those mirage images Sara reached an old fire exit. Behind that door she saw only one thing, blurred white light. She never felt her body weight falling on the damp ground.

----

 “Sara! Sara, are you in here?!”

As soon as Leonard walked back inside the hospital, the first place he went to was the lobby where he saw Lily running back to him. He then went straight to the hall that his daughter came from and from there, he looked at what surrounds him. There were men lying on the floor, unconscious. Blood was spilt everywhere and his tiny flame of hope started to flicker.

He didn’t know it by then but he wasn’t calling Sara’s attention anymore to remind her that he’s still here and he’s looking for her. No. He was looking for a lifeless body. If she died, he needs to know. He needs to bring home her body, at least. The idea has crossed his mind as he was scanning the big hall but he kept trying to shove the thought away.

Leonard kept searching upon the dead and the immobile, hoping that one of them was his wife.

Upon further inspection, he saw a single arrow lying on the ground. He picked it up and saw that there was no trace of blood. Feeling hopeful, he yelled again. “Sara! I’m here! Where are you?”

His gaze fell upon the bloodied hand mark on the wall, as if the person brushed his or her hand on it to help them get up and walk. He followed the mark and it led him to the fire exit of the west wing of the hospital. He rushed towards it, finding it opened slightly ajar. “Sara! Please answer me!”

Leonard pushed the door open, activating the cold gun as he did so. He’s now willing to use the last burst of ice just in case Sara is being held captive. But there were no goons around.

And Sara was there--lying on the ground in a fetal position.

He approached her immediately. Len sat on the steps and cradled Sara, who is speaking gibberish. Murmuring to herself. The only words he can make out were the names of their kids. The name of her late sister.

Sara opened her eyes and once she saw Leonard staring at her worriedly, she was startled. “You shouldn’t be here,” the shaking woman said. “I’m dead. You shouldn’t be here. You should be alive. With the kids. Who would take care of them?!”

Her voice started becoming raspy, as if tired and overused. Worry set on Leonard’s face. “Sara, you’re not dead. You’re okay. I’m here now.”

But Sara wasn’t taking any of it. “This isn’t real This couldn’t be real. You’re not supposed to be dead, Leonard. Only  am. No.”

Leonard pulled Sara closer to him, kissing her on the forehead. “You’re not dead, love. You’re okay. Tell me what’s wrong---”

His voice faded in Sara’s mind and was replaced by the same menacing voice of Darhk: “I’m going to take you, Sara. And I’m going to take your children and kill them in front of you. Then I’ll bring you to Snart, and I’ll kill you in front of him.”

“Shut up!”, Sara hoarsely screamed. “Shut up, Darhk, I’m gonna kill you!”

And Leonard figured it out. He has seen Darhk do this during his time serving the Legion. He remembers the first time he saw the man perform this spell. It reminded him of the Imperius Curse in Harry Potter back then. But just like in the books he has read, he knows Sara can survive this if she as strong will. And he knows that after everything she’s been through, a strong will is exactly what she has. He just needs to assure her that she’s safe. And alive.

“Focus on me, Sara”, Leonard said, shaking her. “I’m real. This is what’s real, okay? You are okay.”

She kept shaking her head and Len isn’t sure if she’s rejecting Darhk or if she’s rejecting what he’s saying. Either way, he needs to continue.

“The kids are with Mick. He won’t let anything happen to them; we both know that, right? They’re aboard the jumpship and they’re waiting for us.”

“But Merlyn killed me, Len. I felt the pain in my head,” Sara replied, faint and unbelieving. “My head is bursting in pain. Help me, please.”

Sara then found the strength to wrap her hands around Leonard’s waist. Both of them still lying on the ground as Sara finds comfort in the heartbeat she’s hearing against her husband’s chest.

“This is real,” Leonard repeated. “Listen to my voice.” He then slowly rubbed her back, reassuring her. “You are Sara Snart. Married. With two beautiful children. Both of them are safe. They’re waiting for you and they love you.”

“The next time I’ll see you, I will end you. All of you.”

The next voice she heard was Leonard. “You were once an assassin. Then a vigilante, then a legend. You’re a hero. And a wife. And a mother. And that’s real.”

“No. No, it can’t be,” Sara said, pleading. Unsure of what is transpiring around her. Unsure, still.

“I’m quite sure I’m real, Sara,” Leonard chuckled. If she’s still responding, then she is aware that he’s there. “I’m not just another voice in your head. I’m here.”

Sara, unresponsive, clutched onto him as if he’s going to disappear if she lets go.

Leonard held her still, with one hand caressing her face, as he recited the last lines of her wedding vow from his memory: “This wasn’t supposed to happen--me and you. The universe has thrown a lot of things at us to try to keep us away. But this love was destined, Len. We were meant to find each other again and again. I love you, and I can’t believe I’m this lucky to be called your wife.”

“I’m the lucky one, Sara,” Leonard said after the spoken vow. “Now focus on me and keep your mind off of Darhk.”

She’s trying. Darhk’s cold voice seemed more distant by the second. She’s safe. She’s okay. She’s alive. And Leonard is with her.

Darhk can’t do anything anymore. The connection has been broken. Frustrated, he ordered Merlyn and Thawne to regroup. He shall be seeing the Snarts soon and the next time he does, there’s no stopping him from taking them all out.

---

Leonard carried Sara off to the jumpship. He helped her put on her seatbelt. She was still disoriented from the mental excruciation she was in, so he asked the kids to give her some space until they can get back to the Waverider.

The family sat still as Mick piloted the jumpship. Leonard was just holding Sara’s hand, rubbing it to remind her of the reality.

Softly, she looked at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I remember the vow.”

“Of course you do,” Leonard answered. “You wrote it,” he said with a smirk.

Sara managed to let out a small laugh.

 Back on the Waverider, Jax and Ray took the kids and made them busy to allow Sara to rest for a bit before they go off with the running again.

Inside their room, Sara was lying down on the bed they used to share, with Len sitting on the edge.

He retrieved something from his pockets and held Sara’s right hand. “Don’t ever take this off again,” he said as he puts the ring back on her finger.

“I thought I was never gonna see you again,” Sara started. “When I thought I was gonna die for real, I tried remembering the least time I told you I love you.”

“You tell me everyday,” Leonard said with softness in his eyes.

She smiled, although weakly, it was sincere. “But that was different. I thought I’d never get to say it again.”

Leonard closed the distance between them and murmured to her lips: “I love you, Sara.”

“I love you more,” she whispered back.

Leonard smirked. His usual one that made Sara fall for him. “That’s impossible.”

-end-

Some fluff to cover up for last chapter! Treat this chapter as a ‘midseason finale’. Part 1 of the chasing is done. Up comes more hiding and family drama and more fluff. 

Thank you for waiting and for reading.

Much love. See ya next week <3