Six months had past, since Ray and Mick had been alone together in the kitchen. Both men had long since forgotten about the incident, but neither forgot their feelings for the other.

But admitting those feelings out loud was a struggle, especially with Snart being dead, now. There were times, like when Mick had given him the Cold Gun, that Ray thought the arsonist was going to say something about it....but then he didn't.

Ray didn't mind waiting, especially when Mick was still trying to mourn the loss of his best friend. It was the not knowing that was a little agrivating. Sometimes, he wished he didn't feel so much, that he couldn't fall in love so easily. Maybe it was stupid. Maybe Mick didn't like him, the way Ray liked him. Maybe they'd make a horrible couple, being polar opposites...But maybe not. And that's why he so desperately wanted to tell the arsonist how he felt. Just to see...

Albeit, he couldn't exactly do any of that, if Mick didn't want the same things. Of course, if he didn't Ray would have to respect that....But still. He couldn't help hoping against all hope that Mick Rory felt the same way.

Sara's voice came on over the coms, "Mick, Ray, I need you to take care of an aberration in 3056, New York."

Ray gulped nervously. Lately he and Mick had been going on a lot of missions together. Alone. He didn't really mind, but every time he went anywhere near the other man his brain went all fuzzy, and he couldn't think straight. (Especially since Mick had given him that pep talk, before Ray stopped that bomb from exploding in 1987. "You're Ray Palmer. You can science your way out of anything." Like...seriously. How was he not suppose to be lead on by that??)

At any rate, Ray got up and dug the Atom suit from where he had tucked its case, in teenie tiny form, inside the dresser drawer. Then, he left, heading for the bridge to find out what this mission was about. (Saving the time line, now. Relationship problems, later.)

Mick wasn't very enthused, when Sara told him he was going to 3056 with Haircut. It was hard enough to ignore his feelings about Snart, never mind his feelings about Ray freaking Palmer. But naturally, he agreed to go anyway. It was better than sitting around the ship doing nothing all day.

So, he and Ray went to 3056, New York to fix a stupid abberation - something about aliens taking over, when they weren't even supposed to be in that time line. Mick hadn't really been paying attention during the briefing.

Mick and Ray ran down around the corner, alien cyborgs from the future quickly approaching. The cyborgs were gaining on them. It didn't take a genius to realize the two Legends would soon be caught.

As the men ran down the hallway, the loud tramping of the cyborgs' metal feet coming closer and closer, and they neared a door. Without much thought and more out of instinct, Mick opened the door and pulled Ray inside. The men tumbled through, and the door closed with a soft click. The room was dark, and they gulped for breath and strained their ears as they listened for the cyborgs. Mick tried to step away from Ray to give him as much space as possible, but he bumped into a shelf, the metal digging into his back. He could only stand a foot apart from Ray despite his efforts to put more distance between them.

The cyborgs loudly clomped passed, and Ray let out a sigh of relief. He reached for the door and turned the handle. It was locked.

"Uh, Mick," he said nervously.

"What is it, Haircut?" he replied impatiently. Being stuck in a closet with Ray was setting him on edge. Weird feelings always stirred up whenever he was with Ray, and lately they've been growing stronger. He told himself it was probably just the fabricated food getting to him, but deep down, he knew that wasn't true.

"The door's locked," Ray explained.

Frustration and panic flared in Mick's chest. He had to get out of here before he did something stupid. Standing this close to Ray was making his heart pound.

"Well, then unlock it."

"I don't know how," Ray said. "This door isn't like the ones from our time."

"You can figure it out."

Ray blushed and was grateful for the darkness. He didn't know why Mick had such strong faith in him.

"I think it's locked from the outside," he guessed after running his hand along the metallic door. "It's too bad the cyborgs jammed our coms."

Mick frowned. There had to be a way to get out of here.

Ray felt Mick tense behind him. "I'm sure the team will notice we've been gone," he said hopefully, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm not waiting that long," Mick growled impatiently.

Ray paused thoughtfully. "This seems to be a closet of some kind. I'm sure there are supplies somewhere."

"There's a shelf behind me," Mick said.

"Good," Ray said.

An awkward pause filled the room. Mick's eyes were finally adjusting to the darkness, and he was able to see Ray's form in front of him. He hadn't realized how close they actually were. He was close enough to smell the cologne Ray used, and it only made his heart pound faster. They were too close. If they were any closer Mick might -

"Can you reach anything?" Ray interrupted.

"What?"

"On the shelf," he elaborated.

"Oh," Mick said, feeling like an idiot, which he supposed he was. "I'm facing away from it."

"I guess I'll have to try then," Ray replied. Before Mick could protest, Ray began to turn around. He must have misjudged the distance between them too, and his shoulder brushed across Mick's chest as he turned. Mick tried to back up again, but he just ended up pressing even harder into the metal shelf behind him.

Ray now stood facing Mick only a few inches away. He smiled at Mick, and Mick frowned in return. How could he be optimistic all the time? Mick would never admit it, but he admired that about Ray. But now, Mick was more concerned about getting out of this oddly small closet than anything else. If he paused to think about the situation anymore, his thoughts would began to wander to things like how close he was to Ray, how nice he smelled, and how frustrating it was to be so close to something so beautiful without being able to have it.

"I think there's something I can use on the top shelf," Ray said, his eyes scanning the shelf behind Mick.

Top shelf? "Can you reach it?" Mick asked.

Ray shrugged. "It'll be a stretch, but I think I can."

Ray leaned even closer to Mick, so they were only a hair's breadth away now. He reached up over Mick, and stood on his toes. Mick tried not to notice how his shirt went up, exposing a sliver of toned abs. He couldn't handle this for much longer.

"Hurry up, Haircut."

"I've almost got it," Ray assured. He reached up a little further, and finally grasped the object he'd been after, but it was a bit too far. He fell forward, and his face nearly hit Mick's. He could feel the other man's breath on his lips, and realized with a blush that Mick had his hands firmly on his hips to keep him from falling any further.

Mick was staring at him with the same expression that he stared at fire, but it seemed stronger somehow. It was as if Mick was watching the biggest, brightest fire he'd ever seen. It was then that Ray realized Mick's hands were still on his hips and that neither of them had moved.

Ray cleared his throat and backed up, adrenaline racing through his body. His mind was buzzing with thoughts, only being amplified by his adrenaline rush. His cheeks were burning, and he wondered if Mick had noticed he'd been staring too long.

Of course he'd noticed! Ray just had to make everything awkward. It didn't help that he had a crush on Mick. It had been going on for a while. At first, Ray had no idea what he was feeling, but once he realized what it was, he tried to stay as plutonic as possible with Mick. There was no way Mick was into guys, and there was no way Mick would ever like Ray. Especially romantically.

Ray spluttered, searching for the right words to stay, when Mick grabbed him by the shirt. For a split second, Ray thought Mick was going to punch him, but he suddenly felt Mick's lips pressing against his.

Mick was possessive and passionate, and it took Ray too long to process what was happening. Mick began to pull away, but Ray grabbed the back of his neck and finally kissed him back. All the unsaid feelings that had been festering between them were poured into this kiss, and it was heated and sloppy, but Ray didn't care. He didn't think Mick did either.

Ray finally pulled away, completely breathless.

"Dammit, Haircut!" Mick exclaimed.

Ray frowned. That wasn't the reaction he was expecting. Had he done something wrong?

"We could have been doing this sooner," Mick finished.

Ray laughed, and his contagious smile spread to Mick. There seemed to be a release in the air between them, as if the tension of all the bubbling feelings had finally been cut and was replaced by something warm and energized - much like fire. Ray wouldn't trade this feeling for the world, and by the look on Mick's face, he knew he was feeling the same.

A/N: my friend MagicalLandofFoo wrote a majority of this chapter so go love her. Or else. 🏹