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Except that if your intentions are as you say, there is no issue.

[...And it's so hard to tell. Why did Rip think it was a good idea to recruit criminals again?]

Then why the suspicion, Rip? Go help your friend.

Be very helpful.

[Who can tell, really?]

[Nope, not justifying this any further. HE SEES WHAT YOU'RE DOING SNART, even if you deny it.]

As said, that is my intention.

[Then, after a brief pause.]

You know her as well: Doctor Caitlin Snow. One of the Flash's comrades.

I'm aware. She was something like a sister during an event here.

So you better be nice.

Said as if you're expecting me to do something nefarious instead.

[Come on Leonard; Rip's not that terrible of a person. ...Usually.]

I'm sure you'd not think of it as nefarious.

[Whatever that's supposed to mean.]

[Oh ye of so little faith--or so Rip assumes. It's warranted in some ways, but Rip would like to believe that in others, he has redeemed himself, at least a little.]

Well, at least it seems that the conflicts of your past won't be an issue. I'm glad there aren't any grudges being held.

You shouldn't have worried about that, captain. I'm a people person.

[As emphasised by two out of three members of their team not talking to him.]

Oh, quite.

You know, I'm rather used to being the one everyone's ticked off at. [Usually for good reason, but that's beside the point.] It's a bit strange seeing someone else taking that center role.

Come on. It can't surprise you that much. I know that you took an instant liking to me, but shockingly that's not the most common reaction.

Yes; it's hard to believe that not everyone falls for your particular brand of charm.

[Just as Rip had done; after all, Leonard sneaking off the ship and engaging in a bar brawl in the 1970's had made such a wonderful impression.]

Still, I do have to wonder. While I'm well aware of what's gone on with you and Mr. Rory, it's not so much like Dr. Palmer to hold a grudge.

Raymond has a grudge against anyone that doesn't fit his morality. He's just not always aware of it.

It's not easy, thinking your way out of boxes. Especially when you can be small enough to fit the narrow ones.

[It is true that Raymond does tend to see the world in confines Leonard and even Rip don't. Still, Rip would like to see the gap mended, if it were possible.]

So just what box could he not see beyond when it came to you?

I think my entire being is an irritation to him, honestly.

[Nothing that worries him overly much, especially while he has Mick to deal with. Mick's issues with him just overshadow whatever problem Ray is having.]

We were alone here for a while. A good five months, before Mick arrived. When Mick posted to the network, we were in my room together. He was going to respond right away and I told him to go slow with what to tell Mick.

Long story short, I knocked him out. Then I handled Mick. Meaning Mick got to beat me up and get rid of some of that anger before dealing with Raymond and everyone else.

[A shrug.]

Far as I can tell, Raymond's upset over what partnerships are valued how.

Edited 2017-02-02 01:14 (UTC)

It's likely he's gotten the same impression of you from time to time.

[And also equally likely that Raymond has found a way to look past it; the man is nothing if not an eternal optimist.

Rip reads through the rest of the text carefully. He can't say he's surprised that the fallout between Ray and Leonard had been sparked--no pun intended--by the arrival of Mick.]

Well, it is hardly the easiest thing, is it? To come to rely on someone only for them to remind you that you aren't their highest priority.

[He won't blame Snart for that entirely; Rip knows well that Mick comes first in his book, and Raymond should as well. The problem with wanting to be friends with absolutely everyone is that it opens up a person to a great deal of potential pain.

Especially when it might feel like they're cut out.]

Or to see someone you consider a friend take a beating like the one you endured--and not for the first time, either.

He wouldn't be wrong.

[A lot of things annoy him about Raymond Palmer. Not least of all his sanctimony.]

I'm not saying it's easy on him. I apologised and explained myself. Not much else I can do.

And you'll have to excuse that Raymond's ego ranks below what's going on with Mick right now.

No, I suppose there isn't.

I didn't say I disagreed with your actions, Mr. Snart. Whatever your intentions, offering yourself up to Mick first likely spared Raymond such a beating--and perhaps even me.

[Although Rip won't discount Mick's desire to kick his ass for any given offense, including everything related to the incident with the time pirates. Still, so far no bruises.]

I merely want to understand the situation in full.

My priority is Mick and it's my place to deal with him. Besides, it's me he's got the right to be angry at.

[Although, admittedly.]

And you.

Anyway, that's all I can tell you. Maybe there's something else I'm not getting. I'm better with children than manchildren.

If that is your summary of the situation, then you have indeed missed a rather large point, Mr. Snart. To twist a cliche, those who think in narrow boxes probably shouldn't throw stones.

[Okay, so that was a bit tortured. Still.]

Whether you want to admit it or not, neither you nor Mr. Rory is on your own, either as individuals or a pair. It may seem the simple course to shoulder Mr. Rory's anger on your own, but for someone like Raymond? That is literally asking him to watch the needless suffering of another.

I'll admit, even I attempted to take Mr. Rory's target off of you. Back on the ship, I mean. [When he'd claimed responsibility for having Snart dispatch Mick. It hadn't worked of course, and in the time Rip remained focused on Per Degaton, Leonard had found a resolution quite similar to the one they'd arrived at in Wonderland.]

And that was before you opted to be the one who set off the Oculus at that.

Mick is my partner.

I have no idea how often I have to say this before anyone grasps it.

Also, Mick opted first. I just opted for Mick to live. I opted not to live without him.

Perhaps as often as I have to point out that I'm your Captain--or Raymond, to convince you that he is your friend.

And I'm aware. You had your reasons, Mick had his, and Raymond his. The end result of anyone making that sacrifice would have been the same for those who survived: a comrade died, and because of that, the rest of us got to live.

It's a rather heavy burden. I'd almost say it was selfish of you to avoid it.

This isn't about you or about Raymond. What's between you and Mick, that's between you and Mick. Whatever the hell kinda partnership Raymond has with Mick, that's between them too. But Mick came here angry at me. Mick came here wanting to hurt, because he was hurting, because of me. I kept him from lashing out against the world. That was on me.

I knew I wasn't going to make it the moment Chronos revealed himself. I don't need any Time Master or Oculus to predict my fate when I know my actions and myself. The only way I'd not have come back for Mick before they got their hands on him was that I wasn't going to make it.

Selfish, maybe. But I don't need to explain to you why I couldn't stand by and let my partner die.

[Seeing as Rip broke all rules and then some to try and avoid that fate for his partner and their son.]

[It's almost painful to realize that with a few different names and different circumstances, Rip could be reading these words about himself.]

I don't disagree with you, Leonard. I just don't think you're entirely right.

[But Rip also knows when he won't be able to win an argument. It's done for now; moreover, he's gotten the information he needs. Antagonizing Leonard further won't benefit either of them.

Particularly with all that comes after. It's a strong argument in favor of destiny, even with the Oculus no longer in play.]

No, you don't. If I'd had the opportunity I would've made the same selfish choice in a heartbeat.

[His life for theirs. Unfortunately for Rip, the Time Masters hadn't granted him that freedom anymore than they had given his family their lives.]

Pretty rare that anyone's entirely right. Especially about feelings.

[Part of why Leonard doesn't like dealing with them, at least openly.]

Then we understand.

It would seem that we do.

[And in turn? Rip now has a better idea of what to address when he ultimately approaches Raymond. As said, Rip still considers himself their Captain, even without the presence of his ship. He’d much rather have his crew on speaking terms with each other.]

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