Ray sat on the floor of the kitchen for several minutes after Mick stormed off, completely baffled. What the hell did he do this time?

Ray knew Mick was a complicated man. That he hated subjects that involved feelings, and that he would much rather punch people for pissing him off than talk it out. But sometimes Ray wished he would just say what he was thinking. It wasn't like he needed a long hearty speech or anything. Though that would be nice...

All he really needed was a definite answer. Which was hard to get, when Mick punched him everytime he tried to confess his feelings. Ray wasn't exactly gay. Bisexual, really. Granted he hadn't had very much experience dating other men...actually Mick would be his first male crush. But it was the biggest crush Ray had had on anyone since his ex fiance, Anna, had died.

When they had first met on the roof, Ray thought he was nothing more than a mindless oaf following Snart's every camand. A brute who wasn't good for anything but setting stuff on fire. At some point on their mission to destroy Savage, however, Ray started to feel the familiar tug in his gut. The feeling that could only be associated with having a crush. Though, it seemed pretty obvious that Mick didn't feel the same way.

Sometimes Ray thought he saw something in his eyes, but the look always went away quickly ; Mick would punch him again. It was often like that. He'd be perfectly fine one minute, and the next he'd be flying off the rails, leaving Ray confused as to what he'd done to piss him off.

Tonight was a good example. When Mick had offered to stay behind with him, Ray was dumb enough to let himself believe it was because he wanted to be alone with him. So, when his injury from the last mission had healed up, Ray went to find him. When they'd been drinking, Ray was very aware of how close they were. It'd been tempting to just lean over and kiss him, but he wasn't sure if Mick would like that or not.

Apparently, even the closeness had bothered him, because the next thing he knew he was on the floor and Mick was storming out of the room.
Ray sighed. He wished he understood Mick Rory better. The man had such a short fuse it was hard to believe anyone could get close enough to him to completely understand him. In fact the only one who could say they even remotely knew him was....

"Snart," Ray muttered to himself. He got up and walked to the main room, where they time jumped. As soon as the others got back, he'd talk to the to cold hearted theif. Captain Cold. Who was more likely to break his face than he was to help him. But no pressure....

-

An hour later, Ray was standing outside Snart's door uncertainly. He had come over confident, but now he was feeling an overwhelming amount of nervousness.

What if Snart refused to help? Or worse, what if he told him Mick wasn't even gay? Or even more worse, he was gay but he just didn't like Ray.
In all honesty, it was probably that last one. He was too annoying. Too optimistic. There was no chance in hell that Mick would ever like him back.

They were complete opposites. A relationship would never work. Ray was stupid to even think there was a possibility of he and Mick getting together.
He was about to leave, when Snart's door opened. Ray froze in his tracks. Too late to change his mind now.

"Snart," Ray said. He glanced around nervously. Maybe he could make something up. Something that didn't make him sound like a stupid, lovesick school boy. "Uh..."

Snart gave him an annoyed look. "What do you want, Raymond?"
"I...Uh..." Ray tried to think. Any excuse. Anything at all. Butter. Milk. It didn't matter if it didn't make sense. Just something to spare him the embarrassment of Mick's rejection.

Snart leaned in the doorway, looking bored. Ray just stared at him. He couldn't make himself say anything. Not even an excuse to get him out of this terribly awkward moment.
"Fine," Snart said, rolling his eyes. "I'll guess. You're here about Mick."

Ray blinked. "How did you -"
"I'm not stupid, Raymond." Snart rolled his eyes again. "Mick came to me three days ago with that same look."
"So...he does like me?" Ray asked, sounding a little too hopeful even to himself.
Snart shrugged. "Probably. But you'll never get him to admit it."

"Which...is kind of why I'm here," Ray admitted. He couldn't help feeling relieved. Mick did have some kind of feelings for him after all. Which meant there was a chance. Even if it was a small chance.

"Have you tried setting a building on fire?" Snart asked. Ray gave him an exasperated look.
"I'm being serious, Snart."
"So am I. Mick likes setting things on fire."
"You are not helping!"
"Of course not," Snart said. "Who do I look like? Aphrodite?"

Ray sighed. He knew this was a bad idea. Snart was just as stubborn as Mick was. He wasn't going to help him. Ray would never be able to win over the big pyromaniac of a man.
The fact that he now knew Mick felt the same way made it worse. What was Ray doing wrong that made him not want to admit it?

Was he too emotional? Did he scare Mick away, talking about feelings and relationships all the time? When he had been with Kendra, it wasn't really a secret that he had been a little overbearing. He'd even asked her to marry him. Maybe he was afraid the same would happen if he got in a relationship with Ray. Maybe he wasn't ready for a big commitment yet. Or maybe Snart was lying....

"You're his best friend," Ray said. "You have to know how I can -"
"If you really want to win Mick over, you'll have to wait," Snart interupted. "He doesn't do feelings. He needs time to figure it out."
"But how much time?" Ray asked. "What if I wait too long? Or don't wait long enough? Or -"
"And don't do that," Snart added. "That's annoying. He'll punch you if you do that."
"But -"
"You asked for my advice. There it is."

Ray was quiet for a moment. "So...just wait? That's all?"
"Yes," Snart nodded. "Now, if you don't mind, I have somewhere to be." He held up a deck of cards, indicating he was off to play poker or some other gambling game with Sara.
"Right....okay." Ray said. He started back down the halls to his own room.

"Oh, and Raymond," Snart called, making him turn around again. "If you hurt him I won't hesitate to freeze your ass to death." He reached an arm back into his room and held up his cold gun to emphasize his point.
"....Got it." Ray nodded and hurried down the corridors.