IC CONTACT.

[atms]

Comments

[atms]

[ well. there it is, plain as day. leonard's voice loses some of the terseness and put-on drawl it's had since he answered the phone. ]

I guessed as much. [ it's--not exactly nice to have it confirmed. but good that he doesn't have to wonder. ] I'm not looking to take advantage, if that's what you're worried about.

[advena]

I didn't — I didn't think you were trying to take advantage.

( because it implies something impure on his part, something kara still doesn't think him quite capable of. at least not the version of him she'd gotten to know. )

I'm worried that he's going to get hurt. That he's going to expect... something. ( a beat, and then: ) Just don't hurt him, okay?

[atms]

Not planning on it. [ he's not that cruel. ] Not gonna let him hurt himself too bad either. He'd be no fun then.

[ and, as kara can likely guess, leonard has a soft spot for barry. he'll deny it if asked point blank, much like he denies everything having to do with feelings, but it's there. the fact that, in another world, that turned into something more is... intriguing. ]

[advena]

I mean it, Leonard. ( that edge creeps back into her voice, the sound of his name a snap between her teeth. ) I'm serious.

He's lonely and hurt and — and if anything happens to him, I'd probably have to kill the person responsible.

( it's... a lot to say, but there's nothing but sincerity in it. possibly not murder but maiming is not out of the question. )

[atms]

So am I. [ he snaps right back at her, letting the defensive glibness disappear entirely. ] I'm not a nice guy, but I wouldn't fuck someone over like that. Especially not someone like Barry. It starts looking like he's in over his head, I'm out.

[advena]

He's already in over his head, that's the whole point! He's still in love with a different you, why do you think he wants to —

( spend time with you. be with you. convince you to love him back. )

He asked you, didn't he.

[atms]

No. He contacted me, but he didn't ask me. I asked him, after I asked if he was sure he wanted to spend time with me.

[ a quiet, frustrated noise gets caught in the back of his throats as he scrubs a hand down his face. ]

Look, I get why you're worried. He's gotta grieve, and me being around ain't gonna help him do that. But if I avoid everybody who's got some kinda history with me that I don't remember [ because that's easier to swallow than it being another him with an identical history ] then nobody from home's gonna be able to be around me. That's not gonna work.

[advena]

Oh, because he's so obviously going to say, "No, Leonard, I don't want to pretend like my boyfriend is still here with me in this new place, let's not hang out." This is Barry we're talking about.

( king of excellent decisions, the one and only barry allen. she loves him, but... questionable choices are sort of his calling card. )

He's not going to tell you no, even if it means he gets hurt in the process. You know that.

[atms]

What do you want me to do? You want me to cancel and stop responding to his text messages? How the hell is that going to help?

[advena]

I want you to not hurt him, I already told you that!

( obviously! )

[atms]

There's no way for me not to hurt him.

[advena]

Then maybe you should stay away. For his sake.

[atms]

You really think that's not gonna hurt him too?

[advena]

It's easier to heal in absence than confronted with what causes you pain every day.

[atms]

That's not your decision to make.

[ and he hangs up. ]