Here With You
In the cramped bottom bunk, Mick rolls unceremoniously off Len, scooting as far from him as he can. He wriggles a bit, settling squished between Len on one side and the sickly gray wall on the other. “Nice,” he gets out between pants. He reaches over to pat Len on the shoulder. “Good to know you ain’t lost the knack, Snart.”
Len stares straight upwards into the sharp, broken springs of the bunk above them. The idea of ‘could put your eye out on that’ is less amusing when you’ve seen it happen to a past cellmate.
Reaching over him, Mick fumbles for his pants, eventually retrieving a cigarette and lighter from a pocket. Len wrinkles his nose as he lights up. “Thought you quit.”
“Not much else to do in here, is there?” Mick takes a drag and turns to grin at Len. “Except you.”
It’s been over four years since Mick last slept with him. Len could probably count months and days, if he cared to. The memorial date would coincide with the last time they were in this hellhole. Just days into their stay in Iron Heights, he remembers a bored Mick grabbing him, shoving him up against the wall and ploughing him right there. Len, greedy with long need, was ready to take anything he could get.
He remembers being almost pleased then, too. A secret flare of happiness he could never share with Mick. It felt like shame.
And now Len’s trying not to be grateful that the pair of them screwed up on a bank job, got dragged into Iron Heights, and haven’t set up their escape yet. God, he’s really willing to put up with anything from the guy next to him, isn’t he? Just as long as Mick looks at him the way he did a few minutes ago. Len thinks he’d do anything for that, even if it only ever happens years apart.
Clearly noticing Len’s silence, Mick scoots a bit tighter against his side. Len breathes, trying not to feel lucky. “Aww, come on, Lenny,” Mick says into Len’s shoulder. “Don’t get sulky. That was good.” He takes another long drag and laughs. “Almost romantic.” He bumps Len’s shoulder. “I can’t imagine being anywhere but here with you, Snart,” he says, tone fond but mocking.
For once, Len's got no snarky reply to offer. Mick’s right. Nowhere but here.
