Chapter Text
Leonard’s eyes opened and everything felt so hazy and groggy. His fingers twitched and his limbs were sore, for the briefest moment he remembered darkness and time. He remembered feeling his body split open in millions of pieces and put back together with a new sense of time raging in his mind. Then he remembered his last words.
“There are no strings on me.”
That’s right, he sacrificed himself to save his friends and all of time. All of free will. He died, or at least thought he died, but being pushed out into the world with who knows how long it’s been, it made sense. The Oculus was a powerful thing, one not many knew of and even to Leonard, it still held its mysteries.
He finally looked around, lips threatening to form in a frown, but he held back and kept it pressed into a thin line. Central City didn’t look like Central City. It held this dark gloom over it, as if the sun hadn’t shined on it in years. He was in an alleyway, head throbbing, but nothing robbed from his body. He still wore the same thing he did when he died, he still held a few important belongings to him when he died, if only he hadn’t given his Cold Gun to Mick, he could have it now.
In this dire need of it.
He was getting a way too eerie vibe to not want his gun. He felt if he walked unprotected, he could die, and he shouldn’t feel that way. Sure, things have changed, he didn’t know how long it’s been, but Barry -Flash- was their hero and protector. He kept everyone safe, Central City shouldn’t be this unsafe.
Leonard pulled himself up, he wasn’t a coward before, he’s not going to start now. His legs were shaky, almost as if he was taking his first steps again, it’d been so long. He didn’t know where he was headed, but it was like his body knew before his mind did. His body knew he had to stick to the shadows, too. Despite not being a coward, he was feeling a weird uncharacteristic like fear, the paranoia was normal.
“Lenny?” He heard a distant voice.
Leonard snapped his gaze around before he was moderately confused. He just started walking wherever, he only felt like he walked just a few steps before stepping in front of a safe house. He was already inside, feeling a warmth spread over him and his fingers twitched for his Cold Gun if only to prove that he could still use it.
He finally looked to the side to see his sister, her eyes a bit wide and glossy. She had her Gold Gun pointed to his neck because he may have made some noise when he entered, which is unusual. But being alive was unusual. Leonard swallowed thickly, his own eyes reflecting Lisa’s.
“Lise…” He said so hoarsely, his throat hurting.
“You’re- you’re supposed…” She couldn’t finish her sentence, fingers trembling and gun lowering.
She wouldn’t cry, not even for a dare. Yet, it’s been over three years, and she was still mourning her brother, Leonard Snart. Her father, Leonard Snart. She was mourning the man who was there to raise her and make her the best version of a Snart she could be. And here was that same man, standing in front of her, not a day older and not a scratch on him.
“I am…. Or I was.” Leonard sighed, rubbing his hands over his face and momentarily losing composure. “I think, I don’t know, Lise. I don’t know why I’m here. I remember dying, my last words and then waking up here.”
Lisa couldn’t help herself; she hugged Leonard tightly. The Snart siblings weren’t one for affection or touch, but this was nice. This was needed. Leonard hugged her back, catching a whiff of her shampoo, and it smelled like Leonard. That pained the older man, his sister using his shampoo, maybe buying it every time it runs out, just to still feel like her brother was there.
He left her, and the guilt was eating him up now that he could feel.
“You’ve been dead for three and a half years.” Lisa whispered, “Lenny you missed so much. You can’t go out anymore, it’s not safe.”
Leonard raised a brow and put her at arm’s length. Lisa has been spooked a lot, but this was just plain fear and worry. First, he assumed it was because he was finally back, but the look in her eyes said it was much deeper.
“Where’s Flash?” Leonard felt himself asking, fearing the worst.
Lisa flinched, “I haven’t heard that name in years.” She whispered so quietly, and Leonard felt his heart stopping for the second time.
Lisa stepped back and led him to the living room. Leonard followed and he was struck with his Rogues. Lisa had been taking care of them, and like she said before, it was much safer here. Mark, Hartley and Axel were on the couch, Shawna sitting on the floor at Mark’s feet and… and Mick.
“Boss?” Mick asked, eyes widening briefly.
Leonard was used to seeing a fiery gaze, anger directed at anyone and anything. Leonard expected Mick to spring up and punch Leonard for leaving him, then hug him and share a drink. Mick can switch emotions, and he was sure Mick was upset with him, but this… this looked like he lost all his fight. Like everyone lost their fight.
“Cold?” Mark asked.
Mark was always the hardest to keep in control, his anger sometimes got the best of him, but he was a good Rogue. Maybe better because of Lisa, but Mark looked like he was hit the hardest. Seeing Leonard alive made Mark look so relieved and happy, that eventually the tension rolled away from everyone.
In the spur of a moment, Leonard was dogpiled into a hug. The Rogues weren’t touchy feely, whatsoever, but three and a half years can change everything. Leonard’s worries softened as he couldn’t help the small smile filter on his face. He hugged back.
“You asked about Flash, right?” Lisa brought the topic back up.
Leonard blinked; it seemed time slipped through his fingers again. He was no longer on the floor with everyone on top of him, he was sitting next to Mick at the table. All eyes turned to him, and he nodded, jaw clenching at the sudden shift in everyone’s mood. When they first became a Rogue, they hated Flash, but over time it turned to just anger before a simple deal and judge of character. Barry’s personality pushed through his Flash persona, and he grew on the Rogues. Just as Rogues grew on Barry. It was a type of comrade between them all.
But this mood was dreadful, and depressing.
“What happened to Flash?” Leonard asked again, already hearing his heartbeat in his ears.
Hartley checked his watch, “You’ll know in two minutes.” He spoke.
“It gets played every day for everyone to see daily.” Axel said, “No way to turn it off.”
“What is it?” Leonard asked, counting the seconds for two minutes, he did not want to wait for two minutes. He needed to know now.
“I’m sorry, Lenny. You’ll just have to see.”
Mick squeezed Leonard’s shoulder and then dropped something in his lap. Leonard looked down and he picked up his Cold Gun. It felt so right holding it, feeling the small chill and having it rest comfortably in his fingers. He felt much better, but not complete.
“Kept it in good condition for you, Boss.” Mick said, way too quiet for someone like Mick. “You’ll need it, hope you can still use it.”
Leonard swallowed and could only nod, his throat was dry now. He couldn’t force any words out until he knew what happened to Central’s hero, to his Barry Allen.
Finally, the TV screen flickered on, and so did their phones. Each electronic with a screen began to play the same video, with no way to turn it down or turn it off. And Leonard wished he could turn it off, he felt sick.
“Don’t do this.” Flash said, trying to keep his voice even.
It was hard, there was another Speedster. Dressed in all black, his eyes held that demon monster look, blue electricity circled out of him. In Zoom’s hold was Henry Allen, there were a few other Zoom’s, holding onto Joe West, Iris West, Wally West, Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow. Cisco was the only one with power dampeners on, since he was a Meta.
Joe usually puts up a fight, but the Detective looked so defeated and scared. They all did.
“Flash,” Zoom’s scratchy voice rang. “You’re weak, this love for these people will only lead to your death. I’ll make you just like me.”
“I’ll never be you.” Flash said, yellow electricity rotating around his eyes.
“You will.” Zoom said, throwing Iris off the roof.
“Iris!” Flash shouted, running after her as her screams were loud and echoing around the city.
Flash didn’t even make it to the edge before he was slammed back. Air was gasping out of his mouth as Zoom grabbed his neck and slammed him into the roof, over and over again. Zoom shoved his hand into Flash’s suit and skin, making him bleed uncontrollably, his body twitching as he did his best to fight off Zoom.
Zoom merely cackled.
Next, he threw off Joe and Wally West, but once more all Flash could do was shout their names. Zoom stepped on his neck and another Zoom grabbed Flash’s arm and snapped it behind his back. The crack was loud and Flash bit his lips to not scream, not wanting to seem weaker than he already was.
“You should’ve stayed on my side, Caitlin.” Zoom sneered at the scientist.
In a sick twisted last-minute decision, Zoom kissed Caitlin. Fear wide in her eyes as she looked sick, thrashing in Zoom’s hold. Flash zipped by, faltering because of his wounds, but he punched Zoom. Zoom was thrown back from the force, not expecting Flash to actually land a blow on him with all his injuries.
From the looks of it, Flash really shouldn’t even be standing. One leg was extended all the way out and twisted in a way that was unnatural, blood pouring out of his thigh and shin. The wound on his side showed through the suit, a hole showing the blood and part of his liver was throbbing and showing for all of Central, all of the world, to see. Blood also leaked from his cowl, only assuming there was a head and neck injury.
Flash moved again; all the camera picked up was a flash of lightning before it slowed down. Flash was straddling Zoom, punching him over and over again, limbs shaking from the sheer adrenaline and anger. He grabbed the claw that was coming at him, breaking Zoom’s wrist, the man cried out and was finally able to knock Flash off his body when the hero was distracted.
Flash had heard a soft cry and when he looked, that’s when Zoom played dirty and hit his open liver. Flash cried out, trying to not to sound so desperate and defeated, but his odds weren’t looking good. He gasped and slowly pushed himself up, only to be grabbed by his chin and neck, forced to look at Caitlin, Cisco and his father.
Caitlin was closer to the edge of the roof than the other two, her eyes soft and teary. She gave a weak smile to Flash, “It’s okay.” She whispered, and those words crushed Flash, crushing the ones hearing it on the screen. Because it wasn’t okay, and it never will be okay. “It’s okay, Flash. I know you tried, you’re amazing.” And Caitlin mouthed ‘Barry’ as to not out him to the world in her last moments, because she was just that type of caring friend.
“Caitlin!” Flash almost practically sobbed, twisting his shoulder and snapping it himself.
That distracted Zoom, mainly from shock as Flash got up. He felt too slow as Cisco elbowed the Zoom holding him, giving one last look at Flash and nodding determinedly. Flash started to run after Cisco, wanting to help and save, but Zoom shattered his spine as Cisco jumped off the building.
The crack echoed loudly, the camera making the sickening sound play over and over. Flash gasped, eyes wide and mouth parted open with blood pouring out of his mouth. He was still gasping as he fell to his knees and landed on his stomach, fingers twitching to move, but nothing was working. He was staring at the camera, fear now showing on the hero. Something no one should see.
Zoom laughed, walking oh so slowly to Flash. Taunting him with such vigor and pleasure. He grabbed Flash by his neck again, Flash’s eyes hazy and body limp and powerless. He turned Flash’s body to Henry who was the last alive.
“Look at that,” Zoom began, grabbing Flash’s chin and forcing him to look further into Henry’s reassuring and loving eyes. “You’re going to be just like me. Say something if you want your father to live.”
Flash couldn’t, his neck was grabbed so harshly, his airway was cut off. He was barely wheezing to breath. His eyes were almost closed, he looked so desperate for someone to save him now.
Zoom laughed again, relishing in his win. “That’s what I thought.” He sneered.
The Zoom holding onto Henry began to vibrate his hand. Flash twisted his head, but that was all he could do, nothing else seemed to work or matter. The hand was circling around Henry’s body, waving it in front to show Flash just how weak he truly was.
Henry smiled, “I love you, Slugger. Remember that.” He said so clearly, not an ounce of fear, but all acceptance.
Zoom then slammed his vibrating hand through Henry’s heart. Henry’s eyes went white as Zoom pulled his hand out and dropped the dead body. A gaping hole anyone could see through Henry’s body showed, but not the beautiful heart Henry had.
Flash’s eyes teared up as a gasping sob wretched out of him. Zoom kicked Henry off the building just to show off, and Flash could only watch as his spine was shattered, and he was just so tired now. Zoom dropped Flash and the male landed with a thud, then Zoom left, but came back a second later with some type of gun with a needle.
He stuck the needle into Flash’s neck, all they could hear was pain as the vile began to fill up with yellow and white. Flash couldn't even thrash around and put up a fight, it was useless, and Flash hated every second of it.
Zoom then stuck the needle into his own arm, triggering it as the yellow and white disappeared into his bloodstream. Zoom’s eyes flashed blue before going back to his usual pitch-black eyes. Zoom grinned, picking Flash up again.
“Your speed was delicious; it won’t be going to waste.” He then turned to face the camera, ripping Flash’s cowl off, revealing Barry Allen. “Your pathetic hero will never save you again. He will die here and everyone else will. This Earth belongs to me now,” He then looked at Barry and cooed. “You’re nothing Barry Allen, you’re no God of speed. You never will be.” He looked back at the camera. “No one will be able to stop me.” With that he dropped Barry, running off as the camera cut off.
Leonard clenched his gun so hard he thought he was about to break it. His eyes were wide and there was a dangerous cold gaze over it, like what Lewis beat into him when he was younger. Lisa looked at her brother and knew something was spinning in his head. She grew weary and immediately went to her brother, putting her hands on his shoulders and looking him over. Leonard tilted his head and just stared back.
“No, Lenny, please.” She whispered, “You can’t stop him.”
“I know someone who can.” Leonard said, looking back at the T.V. “Flash can, Barry can.”
“His speed was taken.” Mark said, his thumbs rubbing over Shawna’s shoulders if only to ease himself.
“And anyways, he’s dead.” Hartley said, shrinking when Leonard’s glare was on him.
“He isn’t.” Leonard said.
“How do you know?” Shawna asked, lips quivering. “We all saw-”
“It cut out before he supposedly died.” Leonard cut her off, squaring his shoulders and straightening his posture. “Last second in the right corner, there was a weird blue and white circle forming before it cut out. Barry was still gasping when the video stopped too, and… and I can feel it, him. I can feel him alive, I don’t know why, but I can.” This was the most Leonard has spoken, even before he knew Flash.
Leonard stood up, holstering his gun to his thigh. It felt weird to have it back to its rightful place, but the weight was so welcomed. He just needed the last piece of his missing puzzle, and it didn’t click until he watched the video. He needed Barry. His personal ticking clock was practically counting down on its own timer, and Leonard had a feeling when that time hit zero, he’d see Barry.
“Where are you going?” Lisa grabbed his wrist before he could walk any further.
Leonard hummed, cocking his head towards her. He looked exhausted and determined, like he would put up a fight against his own sister to leave. After he just got back, too.
“I’m going to the one place I know where he’ll be.” Leonard drawled; a calculating look overtook his features. “You can either come with me or not, but I’m going.”
“Then I’m going too.” Lisa automatically said, letting his wrist go and straightening up.
Leonard cocked a brow as everyone else seemed to stand up and gather around him. Something swelled in his chest at seeing that fiery fight back in their eyes, a bit of a twinkle. Their looks no longer defeated and sad, only determined and a bit of hope sprinkled in there too. Leonard easily persuaded them to follow, he was their natural leader, and he went back into his role quite nicely.
“Let’s go, then.” Leonard said.