#really I haven’t read many fics. he could be going on murderous rampages right under my nose

[bubblegum-gf]

"we should make dan kill more" <--- fanfiction writer call to arms

fanfic writers. kill. 🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨🔨🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️☄️🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫⛓️⛓️⛓️⛓️⛓️🐈💣💣💣💣💣💣💣💣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[ariannjs]

FAKE HAPPY | A SasuSaku FanFic One Shot

So I recorded a cover for Paramore's "Fake Happy" (full vid here) last week and since my initial plan for #SasuSakuTwitFest2020's Day 2 is not yet finished, I thought of writing this fic connected to the song instead😬

For #SasuSakuTwitFest2020 Day 2: Connected

"You see it's easy when I'm stomping on a beat

But no one sees me when I crawl back underneath."

-Fake Happy by Paramore

Disclaimers: 

-I do not own Naruto nor Paramore. 

-Situations stated are based on general possible experiences of some people especially during this time, though most are familiar and personal to me also.

Trigger warnings: Anxiety Attack. Depressive thoughts.

Ending in angst is not my purpose for this, it's actually the other way around❤️ but if you think it would not be helpful for you to continue reading this fic at this time due to the trigger warning, it's definitely okay. 

However, please do NOT miss the author's note in the end🤗 

Much love,

A

P.S. Here's to the #FewButTrue people that see the signs and reach out to us at just the right time even though we look fine on the outside.

––

It was supposedly her rest day, the one thing that she has looked forward to all throughout her jam packed week. Yet much to her dismay, despite her body being rested, her mind had other plans. Sakura could barely remember the number of times she has thrown her phone on the bed in a span of four hours.

It was a lot to take in.

Earlier today, it was announced that the number of positive cases for the pandemic has skyrocketed in Iwa, yet the council has decided to partly lift the quarantine there, increasing the people’s exposure to the virus as they try to go back to their normal lives before all these. It didn’t make sense.

Few moments later, a short video went viral on Twitter, wherein civilians from Ame flocked in front of their Kage’s Tower to complain about the lack of relief goods distributed for them in the past month. A month! To think that all of the Hidden Villages had been under quarantine for three months now and there were so many people in dire need of supply for their basic needs. It didn’t make sense.

There was also a reliable national media company that was shut down by Kiri’s council, at such a time as this wherein a credible source of news and updates was a need for everyone. Sadly, many employees have lost their job in the process, amidst the uncertainty caused by the pandemic which was the main issue their council should’ve focused on to begin with. Again, it didn’t make sense. 

What surprised her was the amount of facebook posts that disclosed irrational killings from members of a huge clan in the Sound, an issue that has been ongoing yet remained an elephant in the room for how many years. It broke her heart seeing the messages of relatives who were screaming for the justice of their murdered family member through typewritten words. Others even had videos of themselves with placards containing their stand on the issue. She couldn’t imagine how terrifying it must be to be there right now, what with the virus still lingering around them and the possibility of being shot on the spot just because you wanted to fight for your people. The Sound’s council continued to wash their hands. And yes, it didn’t make any sense at all.

But the last thing that struck her nerve was the decree that Konoha’s council of elders has released a few minutes ago, wherein any form of appeal or complaint by the people – whether via peaceful protest or a mere social media post – could lead to them being suspected as insurgents, which would then result to authorities having the right to detain them without a warrant of arrest. 

And just like that, the fact that the entire world was facing a deadly pandemic has gone down the drain. Honestly? Sakura didn’t even know what else makes sense right now.

She screamed against her pillow and continued lying on her bed. Her head hurt. Her eyes were puffy. Her heart was palpitating. And her hands began to shake as she breathed heavily in the confines of her bedroom. 

There were pain, frustration, anxiety, fear, anger, guilt, confusion, and so many other emotions bubbling inside her that they started to weigh her down even physically. Besides, it wasn't the first time that Sakura broke down during the twelfth week of quarantine. Everything externally and internally was just too much to bear these days.

She thought it would be nice to return to social media after being away from it for a week, leaving her stuck with the messaging apps that she kept active only because she needed them for work. But she was totally wrong on all levels. 

It was nice that she became informed about the latest news, yet she now learned that indeed, too much exposure on social media wasn't helpful for her at all. She needed to take a break, or maybe lots of them.

It took a while before the tension in her body ebbed, and when it did, it was the best feeling in the world.

Still, extensive exhaustion filled Sakura from the inside out, leaving her with no more tears to shed as she sat up after a 14-minute nap. These days, naps kept her going, though they weren't really enough. She was glad the rampage in her brain paused somehow but she wished it could've been like that for hours. Well, it's better than not being able to sleep at all.

Moments later, her eyes widened due to the sudden vibration of her phone. There was an incoming message. And she couldn't help but feel on edge once more as she felt frozen in place. 

Please don't let it be my boss. Please don't let it be about my presentation! Or wait, is it mom? Are they okay?

Sure, she could've stopped herself from getting her phone with her now sweaty hands and checking the SMS considering that it was her rest day, but the nagging guilt inside her about saying no to anything asked of her overpowered her senses. And there was also the thought that it could be an emergency, she didn't want anything to fail just because she didn't respond immediately.

With her decision being final, Sakura took three deep breaths before opening the text that she received, yet what she saw on her screen made fresh tears trickle down her face once again.

Sasuke Uchiha:

I'm just here, okay? Let me know if you want me to call you.

Sakura didn’t expect to receive such a heartwarming message at the exact moment she needed  it. She hasn’t seen Sasuke ever since Konoha imposed a nationwide quarantine and they haven’t even talked online for weeks, but for him to suddenly message her with such reassurance as if he knew that she needed to hear it, it made her feel like they had no distance between them for months. 

She read the message once more, and as she parsed the two sentences like it’s from a language unfamiliar to her, it slowly felt like the dark cloud above her head began dissipating somehow.

A part of her hesitated in responding to him. She didn’t want to sound needy. She didn’t want to be a bother, because for sure, Sasuke also has baggage of his own.

However, she realized that he was not the kind who would ever think of her that way. Never did he look at her with judgmental eyes, only with concerned ones. And that was enough for her to trust that it wasn’t something to be guilty about if she accepted his generous offer of being a listening ear that night.

Sakura didn’t bother typing a message anymore, instead, she scrolled through her contacts and called his number, fingers slightly twitching in nervousness. Because what if he's suddenly busy? What if he's not really interested in what she would say? And what if he would change his mindset about her after whatever she'd be able to share to him tonight?

Her mind was bombarded with tons of "what ifs," but when she heard a gentle "Hello?" on the other line, she was unable to stifle another cry.

"Sakura, how are—?"

Her sobs became a little louder, and she was worried that Sasuke would end up cutting the call.

"It's alright, Sakura. Go on, just release that. I'll stay here."

Yet he surprised her again. She didn't know how many minutes passed by as she just teared up with Sasuke silent on the other line. As her cries kept going, relief slowly entered her system like it was something she had never frlt before. She didn't know she needed to cry with somebody until she called Sasuke. She realized that it was so much different than when she was having a breakdown on her own.

"Are you feeling better somehow?" Sasuke asked when her muffled cries subsided.

"Y-yes. I guess."

"You know you can tell me anything." 

She heaved a sigh, nodding her head as if Sasuke would see her. "Thank you, Sasuke."

"Don't thank me yet. What happened?"

And then Sakura told him everything, from the terrifying news that astounded her that afternoon up to the messy details of her hectic week. 

She told him about how worried she was for her parents who were in the province, wherein the number of those affected by the virus was increasing day by day. And as much as she wanted to help them with their food supply, she felt helpless that she couldn't do much while she was here in the city. 

She also told him about how she felt like she was merely moving in a tiny box instead of flourishing in her profession, how it seemed like she was going nowhere in life despite being at the ripe age of 27. 

She mentioned regarding her presentation that she wasn't really happy about, because it wasn't something that she wanted to do. And even though she tried her best in working on it, she already knew that her boss would not even recommend it to be approved.

Speaking of her boss, she also expressed to Sasuke how the mere presence of her boss made her feel so small, like she was a physical representation of a failure. And just thinking about having no choice but to stay in that company, especially considering the pandemic situation, saps her of the little motivation in life that she has left.

Sakura still had a lot to say. But even she could not express and understand them yet. So she just ended her words with the truth that she has never felt so alone until right now.

That's when Sasuke spoke a full statement again other than his cues that he was listening earlier. "I'm so sorry that you are going through all these, Sakura. You're right, things could've been better so you didn't have to end up feeling the way you do right now. But you know that I'm here, right? And it's not even just me. The dobe is there. Also the rest of Rookie 12. Sakura, it may not feel like it but I want you to remember that I'm here. I never left and I never will."

Another stray tear escaped Sakura's eyes. "That means so much to me, Sasuke. That means so much. Thank you."

"Always." She could hear the smile in his voice. "I'm glad you were able to share all that with me. I hope it was helpful."

For the first time that day, Sakura found the urge to smile. "It was, really. I'm sorry it was too lengthy and messy, though. I...I honestly don't really know how to express everything. My mind's just so clouded right now."

"Hn. It doesn't matter, Sakura. It's okay if it's lengthy and messy, as long as you were able to let it out."

There was just silence after that for Sakura didn’t know what else to say. Even silence with Sasuke was comforting, so she just allowed that comfort to consume her continuously, never wanting it to end.

“Sakura?” 

“Hmm?”

“You’re not weak.”

Gasping a bit, Sakura could feel the tears starting to brim her eyes again, but this time, not due to the negativities inside and around her. 

Sasuke continued, “You’re not a physical representation of a failure either. You're made for so much more. I’ve seen you succeed in so many things, Sakura. And we all fail, but our failures don’t define us. Your failures or what you think as shortcomings don’t define you at all, you hear me?”

“Y-yeah.” She sniffed and wiped a tear with the back of her hand. “Sasuke, you’re making me cry again!” Sakura slightly giggled amidst her tears, and Sasuke could imagine that if he was beside her, she had probably slapped him hard enough on his arm while saying this.

He let out a chuckle. “Now look at you, you’re already laughing.”

“Your fault.” She huffed playfully. 

“Not sorry at all, then.” Sasuke grinned on his own. For him, he didn’t even do much, but for Sakura, it felt like Sasuke had pulled her out of a deep trench by simply being there.

There was one question that lingered in her mind ever since she received his text message. And so she asked him before they even ended the call. “Uhm...Sasuke? How did you know? I mean...why did you message me? How did you get the idea that I wasn’t feeling my best this week?”

Quietness filled the other line for a few seconds. “Intuition, I guess. You’re like that with me also, aren’t you?"

It was true, there were instances before that Sakura was the one who reached out first, as if it was a coincidence that he wasn't at ease with something by the time she talked to him. The only difference was that, during those times, they saw each other often, unlike now.

Sasuke added in a softer voice, "This wasn't the first time, Sakura. Maybe – no – I believe it’s because we’re…” 

Realization hit Sakura even though Sasuke didn’t even mention the word. And then she beamed, because honestly, she felt that too. They were connected, and no quarantine could affect that connection that they had.

Sakura muttered with a smile, “I believe that too, Sasuke.”

That night, she was able to sleep with a light feeling for the first time within the week. All thanks to Sasuke for reaching out when she started crawling underneath.

–––

June 2020 (c) AriannJS

–––

Hello. I don't know what this fic made you feel. But if you've made it this far, thank you. I'm proud of you, not only for reaching the end of this fic but also for surviving up until now❤️

I know it hasn't been the best time in the world, literally, but it is my desire and prayer to hopefully bring a bit of comfort to you guys while or after you read my works.

Here, Sakura had the assurance that Sasuke is there for her. For us, it's really amazing if we have a few trusted friends like that whom we could open up to, but sadly, some of us probably don't have anyone we're comfortable to confide with at all. But can I encourage you with this?🤗

Maybe your friends are busy. Or maybe your trust has been broken by so many people that you find it so difficult to open up now, but you also know full well that you kinda need a Sasuke to your Sakura especially these days. So let me share this with you...

"Cast (throw) all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7 ❤️

Here's a thing, God loves you and cares for you so much, and that's the reason why you could throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him. He will listen. He always does, even when at times it doesn't feel like it. And whatever it is that you would tell Him, it wouldn't change the fact that He loves you just the same🥰 So go, throw it all to Him now, I pray that you personally experience the peace that transcends all understanding once you do so❤️

On the other hand, I know some of us have diagnosed conditions and the situations around us are definitely not helping us recover further mentally. I'm not an expert but I really hope we could help one another during this time so here are a few reminders:

If you have medications, take them regularly and make it a priority. If needed, it's even better that you restock early regardless of the quarantine status in your place. I actually almost forgot taking my meds twice this week! Hahahuhu. But thank God I was working on this fic in the middle of the night so I still got to take it before sleeping😅

Make sure to take breaks even short ones within the day, especially during work days. Take a nap. Play an instrument. Eat. Read fics. Watch an episode of an animé. Anything that would fill your tank so you could be pumped up somehow as the day continues.

Lastly, don't hesitate to seek help from your trusted friends. Please, don't. You are loved. You are not a bother. You are worth listening to. You are valuable. You are made for so much more.

I may be a stranger but you can also contact me if you need someone to talk to🤗 I have the same username on IG and Twitter too! Sorry this was such a long author's note, but yeah, let's keep fighting one day at a time, alright?✊🏻

And if indeed you have a diagnosed mental condition, here's what my doctor has told me this week, you are not weak. Your condition is a part of you, but it is NOT all of you😭❤️ 

Thank you for dropping by. God bless!

-A

[arielsojourner]

Vader Strikes Back - Part the Third

Not beta read/really rough/not really proof read/plot holes and OUT of order.  Also spoilers for the original first story in AO3 Back From the Future: Episode VI The Clone Wars.  Check the tag #vader strikes back on my page for the other parts to this mess/fic outline. Again I value feedback and ideas if you have any.

*

Vader’s quarry had gone to ground. He’d left Courscant, fleeing in fear at the mere thought that he may be next on Vader’s list and he was right. Lieutenant Commander Krennic could not be allowed to live. While Vader and Luke had pro-actively dealt with the Death Star plans and prototypes months ago with the help of Hack Squad, Ventress, and Vader infiltrating the Separatists, Krennic himself needed to go before he developed any more abominations that he called peace keeping weapons.

Vader needed a ship and a way to get off world quickly or he would lose the trail. Fortunately he remembered where his other self would have docked the Twilight if she was trying to avoid notice when arriving on Coruscant. With a simple application of the Force, the door to the docking bay slid open and there was the old smugglers’ ship in all its disreputable glory.

“You know, taking this ship is going to cause Ahsoka some trouble. She’s planning to use it to join her Master on Naboo.”

Vader did not turn towards the voice.

Vader knew if he stopped and looked there would be nothing and no one there.

He punched in the key code and strode onto the ship and up to the cockpit. He needed to focus. He needed to find Krennic and deal with him once and for all, and what a pleasure that was going to be.

“This reminds me of the Falcon. You’ve made a lot of special modifications to this ship, haven’t you?”

Vader started prepping for take off, refusing to turn in his seat.

The voice wasn’t real. It was just his guilt tormenting him with dreams of things he could not have. He could not let himself be distracted. He had to focus his rage on appropriate targets and finish what he and his son had started: saving the Force forsaken galaxy from its own idiocy. Vader sent a coded message on to the 501st . The Pioneer and the Dauntless were still in orbit and would ensure that he could leave the planet without any fuss. He started the engines and the ship began to rise.

“Well, I hope Ahsoka isn’t too mad when she realizes you borrowed the ship.”

Vader did not respond. The comm beeped.

“Sir, we have your flight path out of the system taken care of,” Captain Rex said over the commlink. “We’ll follow behind you in half a standard rotation.”

“Good work, Captain,” Vader said, adjusting his speed and vector.

“Was  . . . there anything else, sir?” Rex asked after a moment of silence when Vader did not cut the channel.

“Commander Tano will need transportation off the planet.”

“Yes, sir. We’ll arrange a shuttle to be at her disposal before we leave the system. Dauntless, out.”

Vader spared a glance over to the co pilot’s chair beside him as if to say There, see? Ahsoka will be fine.

But the chair was empty. The chair had always been empty.

Vader was alone.

*

“I’ll see about a shuttle for the Commander myself,” Jesse said with a nod after Rex had cut the connection. “Something not too noticeable and leave it in the hanger.”

“What about resupply?” Captain Rex asked.

“We’re on schedule, sir, and Commander Appo can be ready to start recalling our men from the planet in under three hours.”

“Make sure the men know that the recall is optional. If they want to stay and help our brothers on the planet they are free to do so,” Rex reminded him as he headed towards the office. Luke would have insisted on that, he thought to himself.  “The same is true for everyone aboard ship, even the wounded.”

“Yes sir, I’ll pass the word.” Jesse paused. “Uh, Captain,” the clone began.

“Yes?” Rex replied curtly.

Jesse hesitated and then shook his head. “Nothing, sir. Sorry, I’ll go take care of the Commander’s shuttle.”

Rex did not respond. He went inside the office and sat down. The comm was beeping again with messages from all over the galaxy, from troopers and from Jedi and from contacts Luke had made in dozens of systems over the past year. Vader wasn’t answering them. Vader had refused to set foot in the office since Palpatine’s death. Hells, the man had barely stayed aboard ship long enough for Quick to get in even the most perfunctory physical scan and treatment before he’d returned to Coruscant and started . . . hunting.

The Clone Marshalls had been talking over the past few weeks and Rex knew it was the right decision for the majority of the 501st to stay with Vader, to take out the most severe of threats to the peace and promise of freedom that had been bought with so many lives. But that didn’t mean he was enjoying the mission one bit. A black pall had fallen over the 501st. They had suffered high casualties defending the Jedi Temple and defeating Palpatine had cost them Luke and even though he was just one man, it somehow seemed like too high a price.

People died every day, Rex reminded himself. Troopers and Jedi died every day, but still, Luke’s death seemed to have left a gaping hole in the universe and no one was prepared to deal with it, least of all Vader.

Rex sighed. Least of all him.

*

“Where the hell is the Twilight?” Ahsoka exclaimed entering the hanger, hitching up her backpacks and juggling the potted plant in her arms to grab one of her sabers.

The unknown shuttle in front of her opened and she saw familiar armor. “Sorry, Commander, it was . . . requisitioned.”

“Jesse, who took our ship? Anakin hates it when anyone takes the Twilight without permission.”

The clone helped her with the bags and escorted her onto the shuttle. “Uh, well . . .”

“Careful with the bags, they have Obi-Wan’s teapot and mug inside,” Ahsoka said as  she found a place for the plant. “What’s going on? I thought the troops were on stand down.”

“The Twilight was needed as part of a tracking mission. It’ll be returned later, sir.”

“Tracking missing. Look, I’ve had enough with all these secrets and plots. Just spit it out,” she suggested.

“Vader needed the ship to hunt down some scientist who was making doomsday devices for Palpatine,” he said in a rush.

“Vader?” She pursed her lips together. “What about . . . what about Luke? Cody said . . .”

Jesse shook his head. “He died in the fight,” he confirmed softly. “And since then, Vader’s been . . .”

“On a murderous rampage?” she filled in snarkily. “Doing what Sith do?”

“Hey!” he protested. “Vader’s taken out some of the scummiest and worst traitors to the Republic, ones that even if we did arrest them would cause untold damage to the peace before they could be tried,” he argued. “He helped free us. He helped kill the Chancellor.”

“Okay, so maybe he is doing some good, but you’re not a Jedi. You can’t sense him like I can. He’s Dark and he’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous to his enemies,” Jesse said. “He’s really just a big softy with the people he cares about. And who cares if he’s Dark? Nobody’s perfect.”

Ahsoka gave him a Look and then sighed. She was not going to deal with this now. She needed to get to Anakin and make sure he was all right. “I need to get to Naboo and check on my Master. I’m taking the shuttle. I’ll drop you off on the Dauntless and then you can comm General Skywalker and explain that a Sith stole his ship for his murder missions. All right?”

Jesse gulped hard and straightens to attention. “Yes, Commander.”

[stillthewordgirl]

LOT/CC fic: Central City Rendezvous, ch. 12 (of 15)

Rip Hunter never came for the Legends. But maybe some meetings are meant to be. (A CaptainCanary AU.)

This one takes place just before and partly into the Flash episode "Invincible." I think I might have tweaked the timing a bit but, hey, it's an AU. :)

Many thanks to @larielromeniel for the beta! This is now 15 chapters, but that's final... and they're well on their way to being done.

Can also be read here at AO3 and here at FF.net.

Later, they'll call it the "meta-pocalyse."

It starts as… Tuesday.

Leonard hears the first explosion faintly, muffled by what turns out to be some distance and the curtain of Sara's hair, which has fallen over his face as she's wrapped herself around him, there in the king bed in the safe house. He sighs into her neck as she mutters, then brushes her hair away and rolls over, listening.

Boom. Boom.

OK, not his imagination. He sits up, catching Sara's hand (not without regret) as it slides down his chest.

"Trouble," he tells her as he swings his legs over the side of the bed. "Maybe not our kind of trouble, but... hear that?"

"Mmhmm." Sara rises, stretching, and damn, is that a sight he’d like to wake up to every day. But it’s neither the time nor place for thoughts like that, and he rips his away with regret, turning to look for his cold gun and parka.

They emerge, dressed and armed, only minutes later. Sara's sorting through the comm units left discarded on the desk when a door bangs open at the other end of the safe house and Mick comes stalking out, also ready to fight with his gun right at hand. Leonard sighs, but turns to face him.

“Maybe you should stay here.”

“Like hell.” Mick sounds pissed. “I wanna know what the hell’s going on, Snart.”

“Frankly, Mick, I haven’t the faintest fuckin’ idea!” But he does. He does have a pretty good idea. He pays attention, after all.

And a moment later, Sara confirms it.

"Metas," she says tersely, listening in on a comm. "All over the city. No sign of Zoom, but Wells says he's doubtless behind it. CIsco says Barry's doing his best and the CCPD is out in force, but..."

"They could use help." He can't help a sigh. "What about..."

"FIrestorm, Hawkgirl... don't look at me, that's a Cisco Ramon special... and the Atom are heading out too."  The corner of her mouth lifts. "But Barry says they'd probably do better with some sort of coordination..."

"Peachy." He sighs again. "Well, then... let's go."

The rundown Central City neighborhood where the safe house is located hasn’t drawn any trouble yet, but they don’t make it very far toward city center when trouble finds them. A snarling figure that screams “werewolf” more than anything else bounds toward them, murder in its eyes, and Leonard takes aim, motioning both Sara and Mick back… only to have a red-and-gold blur zip between him and creature, which vanishes as the Flash sweeps it off to parts unknown.

A few seconds later, Barry Allen is back, pausing for a moment with hands on his knees, looking like a man who already needs a break. His eyes are wide and a trifle shell-shocked, and Leonard can’t restrain a twinge of sympathy for the kid.

(In another place, another time, Barry Allen might be a little more cocky about dealing with hundreds of rampaging metas. In a world where Leonard Snart is around to take him down a peg or two… well, he’s just not.)

“Hey,” the speedster finally breathes out, “I’m glad to see you guys. Could use some help.”

“How bad?” Sara comes up beside them, her voice terse. Barry just shakes his head.

“Bad,” he says. “I’m trying, but... the cops aren’t prepared… and I can’t be everywhere at once…”

Sara holds out a hand. “We’ll help,” she says firmly. “We might not be metas, but we’ve dealt with some strange shit.” She glances at Leonard, who doesn’t even try to deny that he’s in, not at this point, although he does throw an eyeroll in for plausible deniability. “But… Zoom…”

“He’s not actually here, as far as we can tell.” Barry glances over his shoulder at a ruckus nearby. “They’re… unorganized. It’s just, just carnage, not any kind of orchestrated assault. Not yet.”

“Then all the better if we get organized,” Leonard observes drily. “Where’re big bird, fire guy and the incredible shrinking schmuck?”

Barry gives him a look that isn’t sure if it wants to be wounded, appalled or amused. “Heading for S.T.A.R. Labs, last I knew. Cisco was going to give them comms.” He taps his. “Cisco? You hear that?”

Sara gives Leonard a pointed look, which earns another eyeroll as he pops his own comm into his ear, just in time to hear Cisco Ramon confirming that, yes, the three had checked in and headed for city center. Sara nods and murmurs an acknowledgment and shoulders her bo, but before they can move, Barry takes another deep breath.

I… I mean, I’m trying to take all the metas I can back to S.T.A.R. Labs to be locked up, but I can’t get everyone,” he rushes to get out. “But this… it’s not normal, such as it is, even for dealing with metas. These people are all working for Zoom, we can’t… I mean, they won’t hesitate… this is…”

Leonard takes pity on him.

“It’s war,” he finishes. “Don’t worry, kid. We won’t kill anyone we don’t have to, but we won’t shy away either. You know the… the three of us… can do what needs to be done.”

Mick, who up to this point has spent more time investigating the security cameras on a nearby jewelry shop (whose glass windows have cracked but not yet shattered), grunts from behind him. But despite Barry’s startled look, he doesn’t say anything more, just falls into step with Leonard and Sara as they start into the war zone.

It doesn’t take Leonard long to realize he might have made a tactical error.

But at first, the confusion is simply so bad that it’s easy to disregard. He uses the cold gun to freeze the pavement under what resembles nothing so much as an actual screaming banshee, whose cry turns into a strangled gurgle as it loses its footing and slides into a Sara Lance on the rampage. Spinning, he takes out an indistinct figure crackling with electricity, then takes a few steps to ice the feet of a… human-sized turtle? Really?... that’s threatening a young cop whose hands are actually shaking as she aims her gun at it.

With a moment to breathe, he does so, looking for Sara and seeing her leaning on her bo and watching him in return. The corners of her mouth lift as she sees him and, after a moment, he lets an answering smile cross his own face, knowing, in that instant, exactly what she’s thinking.

Imagine what we can do with all this adrenaline later…

But that’s later and this is now, and standing there daydreaming is bound to get them into trouble. He turns to check on Mick, whom he’d seen holding off what seemed to be a man made of wood a few minutes ago.

It only takes one good look around for him to regret not knocking Mick out back at the safe house.

Because the city is burning.

Oh, not in its entirety. Not yet. But there are patches here and there, and they’re growing by the minute, even as the sound of sirens grows in unison. The flames from the city are reflected in Mick Rory's eyes, and there's a sort of manic glee there, too. Leonard's seen that look before.

It doesn't mean anything good.

"This is beautiful," Mick whispers, leaning his gun against his shoulder.

"Mick..."

"Snart. Why are we fighting this?” He turns, taking in the chaos with a rapt expression. “Think of the potential. No one would be paying attention to a pair of the baddest thieves out there. We could be kings."

“Maybe for a bit. And then, when the dust settles, you’d wind up working for Zoom. Or dead.” He keeps his tone flat. Factual. “You don’t take orders well.”

Mick frowns and, almost casually, brings his gun down to firing position. Leonard sees Sara take a step toward them, then stop. He keeps his eyes on Mick, though, and she seems to sense they need to hash this out themselves.

Mick is looking at him again, his expression unreadable. “I take the orders I like.”

Leonard snorts. “Don’t I know it. So…what? You figure he’ll just keep telling you to steal and burn and cause mayhem? Because I don’t think so. He wants to rule, after all, and I can’t imagine it’s much fun to rule a wasteland.” He takes a step closer, watching the other man. “And if you don't work for him, if you just accept his boot on your neck…”

It’s Mick’s turn to snort, now, and Len accepts the unlikelihood of that with a tip of his head.

“And if you leave the city,” he points out, “eventually they'll be nowhere left to run. And you’re back to square one.”

He can tell Mick’s listening… if he wasn’t, he’d have already flown off the handle and Leonard would be fighting his friend in addition to dozens of random metas. (A turtle? Really?)

“Come on,” Leonard says, turning the persuasion a little higher. “You hate taking orders and you like busting heads. Help us do the latter and you won’t have to do the former.”

That gets a grunt and a grudging head tip of its own, but the look on Mick’s face is almost… betrayed?

“What happened to you?” the bigger man says finally, sounding a bit bewildered. “Since when have you wanted to save the world?”

The answer bubbles up unbidden.

Since I knew it contained Sara Lance.

But it’s not just that, and he’s simply not up for more introspection right now. In self-defense, he simply snaps back his next words. “Tell me anything I said isn’t true!”

It’s a misstep. Mick’s eyes harden… and the next few minutes could have gone very differently if the universe hadn’t, apparently, decided that they’ve all had enough of a “break.” A howl makes them all start and turn to the sky, heat gun and cold gun pointed toward the figure trailing green fire that’s hurtling toward them….

…only to be smashed out of the air by a figure wreathed in red-gold fire, as Firestorm makes an appearance at last. And with him, Kendra Saunders and Ray Palmer, who alight near the trio as a fresh wave of chaos erupts.

“I mean, I lived in Star City. But this,” says Palmer, staring at the oncoming rush of metas, “is nuts.”

“Standing around talking? Really?” “Hawkgirl” asks with an air of amusement, looking at them. “And here Barry was saying you’d be helping us.”

Leonard doesn’t dignify that with a response. “Incoming, people,” he says shortly, readying his gun and giving Mick one more long look. But the blow-up has apparently passed for now, and his old friend shrugs, moving his own gun from one hand to another before stepping up to his right side.

Sara steps to Leonard’s other side, meeting his eyes briefly before looking at Kendra and Ray. (Firestorm still tussling with the unknown meta in the wreckage of a minivan the next block over.) “If you provide some air cover, we’ll take the ground,” she says. “Just knock ‘em down here if you can.”

Kendra nods, then, readying what seems to be a… mace? … launches herself into the air again, arrowing toward another winged figure that screams in rage. Ray gives them another look, but hesitates for a moment to aim his suit’s weapons at one of the 6-foot-tall insect-like things that are scrabbling toward the group.

Mick steps up to fire his gun at the other, grinning when its exoskeleton proves to be quite flammable. "Hey, Haircut! You still payin' me?"

"Uh. Watch out! Sure? Same rate?" Ray pauses before shooting a dark shape that’s about to launch itself at Mick’s back.

"Dunno. Might need hazard pay."

Sara and Leonard have fallen into the same easy rhythm in which they’ve gotten used to working over the past few weeks, and although he knows the situation is dire, he can't help grinning as they do so.

They just move so well together.

And then the time for thinking about such things is over, and all they can do is survive.

Eventually, they lose track of how long they’ve been fighting. Hours? Days? Weeks? Gradually, the group straggles back to S.T.A.R. Labs for a break and a meal, but Sara can't persuade Leonard to do so until he nearly rolls his ankle again despite the brace, at which point he acquiesces.

They’re both stunned to see Caitlin Snow back from Zoom’s clutches, and Sara, beaming, throws her arms around her friend. Leonard, watching, can’t help but see the way the other woman flinches, and his jaw tightens.

Another reason, he thinks, that this Zoom needs to go down.

They trade a situation report with an exhausted-looking Barry and Cisco, then scarf down a sandwich each (Sara later can't even remember what kind) and a quantity of coffee, followed by a cat nap sprawled together in the same bed Leonard had been stuck in when he’d first woken up at S.T.A.R. Labs.

There’s a strong temptation to burn off nervous energy when they awake, but given the cameras both know are scattered throughout the facility, they abstain. They settle for a quick wash and a weapons inventory before heading down the corridor to the elevator to the Cortex.

But before they can make it there, the elevator rumbles, just a little, and the doors open... and they’re met, not by Barry Allen or one of the rest of “their” little team, but by Harrison Wells.

The older man stops in his tracks and studies them for a long moment, then sighs. "We need to talk."

Leonard lifts an eyebrow and looks past him to the elevator. "So, talk. We got places to be."

"No... really." Wells sighs again. "And it might be better if you sit down."

How do you respond to that? They grudging allow themselves to be herded back to the medical room, although both stubbornly refuse to sit, Leonard parking a hip against the bedframe and Sara leaning next to him, tossing a knife from hand to hand in a judicious show of annoyance.

Wells seems unfazed by the weaponry, but he's definitely uneasy in general. He looks about the room another moment or two before meeting their eyes.

"Before you go back out there... and I'm not going to try to stop you... there's something... a few things, really... you should know. I've told you, through Barry anyway, that Zoom would love to get his hands on you..." He nods at Leonard. "… and I’ve told you why, to some extent. But…”

His eyes flick to Sara, who frowns.

“Spill it,” she says in a low, dangerous voice, tucking the knife away. “And don’t think I… we… haven’t noticed you've left a lot out. But you’re right. Now… now it might really be a problem. We need to know.”

Wells but nods in agreement. He glances away again, then back at them.

“Look,” he says. “I didn't want to tell you this, but... the two of you.” He motions from Leonard to Sara, back. “Well. Your counterparts. They were together. In Earth-2.”

She hears Leonard’s slight intake of breath, but doesn’t look at him. She can’t. Not yet.

"Like... Barry and Iris."

"Very like.” Wells’ gaze is steady, and not without compassion. “There are people who simply seem to find each other in all the worlds we know. I can't say you're two of them. But... I can't say you're not."

He shrugs. "It was one thing, however unnerving, to see Sara here. But when she returned with you, that night... I've learned to pay attention to those patterns. Told Barry he should keep you together, if he could, and help you out." The look in his eyes is distant. "You were each other's balance, on my Earth. I thought it might be the same, here."

All three of them are quiet a long moment before Leonard, ripping his gaze away from Sara, looks back at Wells.

“So, I’m the mayor there. Or my counterpart is.” His voice is quiet. “And Sara? And I did notice you said ‘were.’ ”

Wells sighs, shaking his head, and studies the ground a moment before setting his jaw and lifting his eyes.

"She died. Not long before I came here. She wasn't a fighter, there, at least not anywhere on the same level that you're at," he nods to Sara, "and... she... she was killed.

"And Leo... you don't go by that at all here, do you?" he asks Leonard, who gives a brief, jerky shake of his head. "Well, her death didn't break him, it... galvanized him. Made it so he would never, ever bow to Zoom, not in any time, not in any circumstance.

"And if Zoom gets you..." He points at Leonard. "… he'll try to make you pose as Leo to wipe out the remaining resistance. And if he gets you..." He points at Sara. "... he'll use you to tempt Leo. It would be hard... beyond hard... for him to stand back and let you die, even if he knows you're really not his wife. It all happened so fast before... to see you again..."

He lets his voice trail off. "Well. Better he not get his hands on you, either of you, to begin with."

Sara takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "If Zoom's so willing to use me as leverage... why did he kill... I mean, Earth-2's Sara..."

Wells leaps to the correct conclusion. "Oh, he's not the one who killed her. He'd have much preferred to use her. I'm pretty sure that was the plan.  

"Your counterpart's death... it was a mistake, made by a person who's still working for Zoom. She'd be dead now herself if she weren't so valuable to him, and she's going to have something to prove. And she's really why I'm telling you this now."

He takes another deep breath and looks directly at Sara, and she somehow knows what's coming, has suspected some part of it all along.

"It's the Earth-2 version of your sister. And she's already here."