Chapter Text
Staring at the Sun
Chapter 53
They travelled in silence and quiet determination spread through the group as they made a silent agreement that this was a recon mission. They weren’t going to start a fight their priority was to find out what Lex was up to and what his connection to Cadmus was and Sydney’s disappearance. The team also made sure that the other main priority was to keep Ray safe and protected at all costs. Ray was looking determined but Mick could tell a storm was brewing under that still expression. Mick would have done anything to avoid this confrontation, part of him wanted to just storm into Lex’s place and beat the truth out of him but he knew that this could put Sydney in danger and the last thing he wanted was for Ray to add anymore suffering to his list of awful life events. No Mick had to be strong and in control, he couldn’t let the ragging fire out and consume any chance of getting Ray the answers he needed and save his brother. Truthfully Mick didn’t give a damn about Sydney, he’d never met the guy and secretly he hated him already for the simple fact he’d got to have a happy childhood and pretty easy life.
Mick knew it wasn’t Sydney’s fault or choice to have been the lucky brother, he had nothing to do with what his monstrous parents did but Mick just couldn’t forgive him for getting to grow up safe and loved when Ray hadn’t. Mick let out a sigh, he was truly in love with that dork if he already hated his brother just because he got the love Mick thought Ray deserved more. Well emotions were complicated and so was Ray’s family so Mick would just have to try not to be a dick to Sydney just for existing. Mick felt he was going to be a long period of time trying to reel in his temper but if that meant keeping Ray safe and happy it would be worth it. Yep he was a fool in love that was certain. And while he was admitting things to himself he may as well add that fact that bitter disappointment was also threatening to poison his already rather bad mood.
He was prepared for this next phase in their relationship, they were supposed to arrive back to the Wave rider, eat and drink to celebrate their return and Rays ability to control his powers better and finding out about his true family. It was going to be parties and drinking for a bit. But its wasn’t the lack of booze he was disappointed about it was the fact that for the first time they would be going back to their room, he felt like an idiot a loved up stupid fool for letting it annoy him so much. But at this point they were supposed to be moving their stuff around so that it felt more like their bedroom and private space, it was meant to be them making it official and it was certainly going to be about christening their new permanent living arrangement. Yeah Mick was pissed that he was not going to be getting in Ray’s pants any time soon but he also was just disappointed that he wasn’t now living with his boyfriend. There was a sense of security of true belonging settling into him and he knew Ray must be feeling it too and Mick had no idea how addictive, how good and right it would feel knowing he had someone to share everything with.
Well he’d just have to put his thoughts of domestic bliss to one side for now because the Wave rider was arriving at its destination. Mick could hear Sara confirm with Gideon that there was no signs of weapons or imminent danger and he thought ‘well at least they weren’t about to get shoot out the sky’. He heard Sara ask to get connected so she could contact Lex and Mick saw Ray stiffen. Mick took Rays hand in his and squeezed it, offering his boyfriend his full support in that simple gesture. Before Ray could turn to smile at Mick the screen of the Wave rider was filled with the view of a very relaxed looking Lex Luthor.
“Oh what a lovely surprise, never thought you’d guys would drop by like this, Miss Tesmacher would you put some tea on it looks like we have guests” Lex said smugly a confident smile on his lips that made Mick want to punch him more than ever.
“Don’t play dumb Lex, you know why we’re here and we are showing you a curtesy by not just taking you out. We’re here to talk.” Sara said gaze steely but trying to keep the threat out of her voice.
“Yes of course the Legends are so known for their diplomatic skills. I have to admit I didn’t know if our tech was compatible enough to make this call but at least your visit has helped me out with that so the least I can do is listen to you. How many shall I be expecting for tea” Lex asked innocently and Mick felt his blood boil. Though it wasn’t him that lost his temper and patience first as Nate snapped back at Lex.
“Enough games Luthor you have answers and I think it’s better for all if you just give them to us” Nate finished looking angry and determined.
“My what poor manners but I’m afraid if you want to talk than I will be more comfortable doing it face to face. I will put out tea for 4 as I know my dear Ray and his overbearing boyfriend are with you. The rest of your team seem to be busy after all. I promise no funny business, I have no intention of causing anyone any harm, I also just want to talk” Lex replied that confident purr never leaving his voice as the screen went dark and the four Legends made their next move.
“Ray I know this is tough and you don’t need to come, me and Nate can question Lex.” Sara said turning to Ray.
“No I have to go, I have to know what’s happened to Sydney. I won’t forgive myself if I didn’t do everything I could to save him” Ray said voice a little fractured with conflicting emotions.
“I’m against it, who knows that that mad man will do the moment we walk into his place” Mick said not hiding the anger in his voice but then looking at Rays pleading face, “But yeah I get it Haircut, it’s you brother and you have to do this, doesn’t mean I like it”.
“I have a feeling that Lex will be more forth coming with me in his presence and maybe seeing me in person again will remind him of how good a team we made, how were friends not enemies” Ray said that hopeful look in his eyes.
“Ray buddy even at time like his you want to see the good in people, I don’t think I could have that kind of optimism in your situation” Nate said smiling at his friend.
“Yeah well that big heart is what gets Haircut into so much trouble and dicks like baldy think they can just take pieces of it” Mick said moodily not liking this plan.
“Well I don’t intend to let Lex have any piece of my heart Mick” Ray said matter of factly and Mick felt his resolve weaken a little under the loving gaze being directed at him.
“Fine, let’s do this and I make no promise not to burn down baldies apartment” Mick said as they headed off the Wave rider.
There was that sense of familiarity as Ray walked the corridor to Lex’s penthouse apartment. It felt a lifetime ago he was here working on projects together before it all went so wrong. He and Lex really could have been friends and deep down he still blamed himself, wished there had been another way, and wished he could have turned Lex down more gently. He felt Micks very solid presence next to him, his boyfriend was shoulder to shoulder to him, silent, strong and determined. Ray felt secure and loved but still underneath it was a pang of disappointment. This was meant to be their triumphant return to the team, he was feeling whole and content and excited to tell his friends that he and Mick were going to move in together. He had wanted to be organising his new shared living space, planning where their stuff was going to go and finally getting a bit of domestic bliss.
Going to see Lex was the complete opposite of domesticity with Mick and he felt bad for disappointing Mick. That his problems meant he still couldn’t give Mick the home and attention he had wanted to. As if sense he was starting to wallow in guilt Mick moved in closer making sure his presence was felt and Ray new that he was with him a 100%. Ray wanted to say something, to apologise, to thank Mick, to reassure him but they were at Lex’s door and being welcomed in by Miss Tesmacher.
“Please do come in, take a seat and make yourself at home” Miss Tesmacher said gesturing at the table made up with 5 places for tea and then disappearing to get said tea.
“Oh come now don’t just stand around, please sit this is supposed to be a friendly chat right” Lex said with superiority as he entered the room all smiles as if they were all old dear friends.
Lex took a spot at the head of the table sitting in his chair comfortably and smiling at the group. His eyes then met Rays and a glint of mischief passed through them as well as a clear appraising look. Ray felt uncomfortable under the intense gaze as Lex looked at him approvingly.
“You look very well Ray, here come and take a seat next to me. We have so much to catch up on” Lex said and there was definitely a flirtatious tone to his voice that made Ray feel uncomfortable.
Lex patted the placement next to him staring at Ray like he was the only person in the room and Ray knew Mick was about to either punch the man or whip out his heat gun. Sensing Mick’s animosity it was Nate that intervened stating “don’t mind if I do” and taking the offered seat while Sara put herself in the seat to Lex’s other side. Lex’s disappointment was evident for a second before his confident look was back on his face. Ray swallowed and sat next to Nate with Mick following suit and taking the remaining seat. To make sure Lex knew that Mick was not in the mood for his games he pulled his seat right next to Rays. The metal chair made a scrapping noise as it was very intentionally and loudly dragged across the oak wood flooring and once Mick was seated impossibly close to Ray he slung and arm around his boyfriend giving Lex his best death glare and daring the man to flirt with his boyfriend. Ray could feel the silent threat, the ‘if you keeping looking at my man like that you are going to lose those eyes’ that came off Mick and Lex finally blinked and adopted a more casual gaze.
“So what is it I can do for you today?” Lex asked tilting his head towards Sara acknowledging her position as team leader.
“We have reason to believe you are in contact with a group named Cadmus and therefore behind the current attacks on Star Labs and Palmer Tech. This belief also means that you may have information on the whereabouts of Sydney Palmer” Sara said her voice deliberate, not too accusatory but stating the facts.
“Ah yes well about that, I did purchase some new business acquisitions but some of these new directions are mostly down to a new business partner” Lex said staying vague with his information and still looking overly confident.
“Lex please if you know where my brother is you have to tell me, I know we didn’t part on the best of terms but please don’t bring Sydney into this. I still think we can work things out, you and me” Ray said kindness in his voice and trying to still see the good person inside Lex.
Lex turned his gaze to Ray, there was a fondness there, not just the hungry look of someone that wanted to possesses something.
“Ray this is why I like you so much, you see all the good in the world, you care so much and you still want to help others even if it hurts you” Lex said and that possessive hungry look started to creep back into his features.
Ray felt Mick stiffening getting himself ready for a fight but Ray just put a gentle hand on his boyfriend’s knee to reassure him.
“Ray my dear, I don’t know exactly what you and your friends think I’ve done but I assure you if you stay here we can chat some more and work this out together just like you said” Lex said smile warm.
“Like hell Haircut is staying here with you” Mick growled out and Lex shot him a disapproving look.
“You are such a vile blemish on Ray” He spat Lex’s composure dropping and looking at Mick with true hatred.
“Lex please let’s talk now, where is Sydney, why are Cadmus attacking, what is it you want?” Ray said a little pleading in his voice.
Mick and Lex were engaged in a mutual staring match both glaring venom at each other when Ray reached over and placed his hand on Lex’s. He had to get his attention, give him enough acknowledgment so that he could get his answers, Sydney’s life could be riding on this and Ray had to try. It was evident that the move shocked everyone in the room, Mick stiffened and looked at Ray with worried eyes as he squeezed Ray’s shoulders, Sara and Nate were just holding a breath and Lex looked confused, then delighted at the little contact. For a moment a genuine look of happiness crossed Lex’s face before the mask of superiority and pride came back.
“For you Ray I’ll admit it, Cadmus may be my company now and my god I never dreamed of such tech and such amazing material. Materials from another world that are now mine to use and yes I may have been testing them a little. I can call off the attack at Star Labs, as you may have guessed it was mostly to get your attention and keep your friends busy. Do you know how much I wanted to see you, do you know how much we could achieve together now I own Cadmus. Maybe I went about it the wrong way but that’s because I didn’t have you to show me the right way, can’t you see the possibilities, you and me, your alien tech and our brilliant minds. Of course there was the little problems of the weapons division of Cadmus but that’s where my new partner comes in” Lex said sounding happy and relaxed but most of all so sure of himself.
“Lex what are you talking about, you want me to join you and Cadmus. This doesn’t answer my question on Sydney” Ray said a little desperation in his voice as he started to notice Lex’s taking a tighter grip on the hand Ray had offered in friendship.
“Cadmus had been Sydney’s company, so where is he and why are you going after Palmer Tech” Ray asked his heart beating fast as things started forming a worrying picture.
“I think I can answer that” came a voice from the doorway, a voice Ray knew and so would his team as it had similar intonations as Ray.
Ray looked at the figure standing in the doorway, he’d hid himself half in the shadows of an unlit room so Ray couldn’t quite make out all his feature. But he recognised that profile as it was one he saw often in his own reflection. In a shaky voice Ray asked “Sydney?”
“Hello little brother it’s been a while” Sydney said voice neutral not giving away whether he was glad or not to see Ray. Ray himself got up and took a few paces towards his brother but something didn’t feel right and he stopped.
“I suppose I should fill in some gaps. Firstly I did sell Cadmus to Lex, he came to me with a very good offer and I couldn’t refuse. After all you’ve been AWOL for so long I didn’t think you would care what happened to Palmer Tech.” Sydney said and Ray looked between his brother and Lex with confusion.
“You see Ray while you were away Palmer Tech removed your friend Felicity from the board. I thought to myself that I should buy your company, at the time I was still mad at you and figured taking it from you, gaining access to all your research and products would be the solution. But then I thought, what would Ray do, and well I thought about what I could do to make it up to you instead, to win you back so to speak. I thought about how loyal you are and how much you must long for family. That’s when I remembered Sydney here and thought that truly Palmer Tech should stay in the family. I offered to buy Cadmus and it gave Sydney the capital to take a majority share in Palmer Tech and sit at the head of the board.” Lex explained and Ray gaped at the two men, something just wasn’t adding up.
As good as this story sounded as much as Ray wanted this to have been for his sake and to mend bridges and keep his company in the family, it just didn’t feel right.
“So why are Cadmus going after Palmer Tech, I don’t see why you are making trouble in Star City” Ray said still confused and conflicted.
“Well I agreed to let Lex hold a little rouse to keep team Arrow busy, he needed you to fill in the blanks and come find him. He needed to keep those others busy just like at Star labs. I know it wasn’t the best idea but then Lex has done so much for me and well I wanted to return the favour. So if it meant staging a little siege, that’s what we did.” Sydney finished a smile curling up on his lips but there was something cold in his vioce.
“All this just to get me to come and see you Lex, what to win me over?” Ray asked Lex who was looking at him intently.
“Did it work?” Lex practically purred out.
“That’s it, something doesn’t smell right.” Mick said standing and glaring at Lex taking a step to approach him.
Nate stood as well to try and block Mick, looking at Mick like he was trying to convey that hitting Lex now wasn’t worth it.
“Ok this seems all a bit much. I get Lex that you’re trying to win back Ray’s affections but staring fights isn’t exactly the way. I don’t know you Sydney but helping Lex manipulate Ray into coming here doesn’t feel right to me either” Sara said getting up slowly and sizing up the room.
“Something is wrong here, Ray I know he’s your brother but there is something more to this whole situation and until I know more I’m ordering a tactical withdrawal” Sara said with authority.
Ray was glad, he was too confused not able to see the truth from the suspicious feeling in his gut. He wanted it so much to be the truth, to patch things up with Lex to go and hug his brother but his team all felt like something was wrong. He knew his big heart got him in trouble and his instinct to find the good to make everything right was going to start taking over if he didn’t listen to his friends.
“Ray you don’t have to leave, stay and talk. The three of us could achieve greatness, we could make this a proper family enterprise” Lex said looking at Ray with determination.
Was this what Lex had tried to achieve by getting Sydney involved, manufacture a sense of family and belonging. Lex was trying to make a place for Ray but he was going about it in a way that just didn’t feel right. It didn’t matter though because Ray had Mick, he had a boyfriend and a partner that he was about to move in with. Mick was his family and it had been organic and mutual. The Legends were his family and so were Kara and Clark, no amount of good will and manipulation on Lex’s part would change Ray’s mind.
“Lex I can’t stay. I told you once that we can be friends and we can work together but I can’t be your family you have to understand that. My place is with the Legends and my heart belongs to Mick. Please you have to let me go and move on” Ray said before taking a step closer to his team.
“I’m sorry you got caught up in this Sydney, I’m so sorry but I’m glad you’re safe” Ray said looking at his brother earnestly. Sydney had not moved, he hadn’t even turned his head to look at Ray and it was starting to break Ray’s heart a little.
“Sydney please I didn’t mean for any of this, why don’t you come with us, why don’t you come and meet my friends, my boyfriend, my...” Ray began to say when Sydney finally turned to look at him.
“You never change do you brother, still selfish and self-important.” Sydney said voice low and unkind.
Ray took a step back a horrified expression on his face as he saw the glow of red light where one of Sydney’s eyes used to be. Lex was sitting at the table looking down at his hands disappointment and resentment emanating from him as he said in a cold dark tone.
“I knew this would be your answer, Sydney it’s time to hold up the other end of our deal” Lex announced and he sat up in his chair looking every bit the maniacal dictator.
“With pleasure” Sydney said before stepping fully into the room.
Ray couldn’t help the sharp intact of breath as heard the others do the same around him. He felt their shook and their confusion looking at the man, well half man in front of them. Mick himself couldn’t believe the resemblance to Ray, he knew logically they would look the same but seeing it was one thing. Though seeing it was exactly the right word nor was resemblance. Sure half of Sydney’s face looked like Ray, plus they had the same height and build but half of Sydney’s face was clearly cybernetic with an eerily glowing mechanical red eye. From his heavy tread and metallic sound it was clear that more of Sydney’s body had been cybernetically enhanced and for a moment he reminded Mick of Metallo. Though something seemed different about the man standing before him.
“What did he do to you, Lex what did you do to my brother” Ray asked fear and panic in his voice.
“Nothing I didn’t ask for, I was tired of playing second fiddle that’s all so I asked for a few upgrades and Lex was kind enough to help” Sydney said holding up and flexing what sounded like a cybernetic arm.
“No that can’t be, Why, why would you want this, I don’t understand” Ray said feeling his heart breaking at the sight of his transformed brother.
“it’s simple, you disappeared and yet your company your very bloody name was still on everyone’s lips, you continued to impress and inspire while everything I worked on still came in second. I find out from Lex that you’re off being a superhero and of course my perfect overachieving brother would be playing hero. How was I supposed to rival that? Then I talked to Lex and he made me a deal so I could get my hands on Palmer tech. Of course I jumped at it and well Lex and I got talking, how you broke his heart, how you abandoned your family and left me in the dust to wither in obscurity.” Sydney continued.
“It wasn’t like that Sydney, I got a chance to be part of the Legends to do even greater things. I thought the world forgot about me and needed to feel like my life had meaning and purpose. I then found a family and I fell in love, none of it was to spite you, none of it was a completion” Ray said desperately trying to see how their relationship and gone so wrong, how they had ended up so far apart.
“Lex this is your fault, what did you tell him, and what did you do to change Sydney” Ray pleaded.
“I assure you Sydney has full free will, his thoughts and feeling are his own. I only helped his physically and with his complete consent. It was amazing the technology I has access to after gaining Cadmus, particularly what I could achieve with the material and tech from the pod you arrived on earth with, I discovered a very interesting matrix I must say” Lex added looking smug as Ray could feel tears sting his eyes.
“Oh look Raymond is crying, just like when you were a child and yet somehow you still got all our parents attention. Can you imagine my surprise when Lex told me you were in fact an alien, that we are not even related? Of course lucky golden child Ray also get to have super powers, could you get anymore entitled. Well Lex offered to level the playing field and as you can see I am now just like you, well a cyborg you. Good old super Ray gets to have all his dreams and ambitions come true well for once you’re not going to outshine me cause I to get to be super, I’m just a cyborg super Ray” Sydney said taking a step towards Ray malice gleaming in his one human eye.
“It’s not like that Sydney, your missing parts of the story, your missing information about our parents. Please just come with us, we can help, we can find a way to turn you back” Ray said and he could feel his tears spilling down his cheeks.
“Will you stop being so presumptuous, I don’t want to be changed back. I want to show you which one of us is the superior Palmer. I don’t need saving you can stop your little hero act” Sydney growled out as he was a fingers breath away from Ray.
“You can stop right there tin man, you’re not the first evil robot we faced and if you take another step towards Haircut I will reduced you scrap metal” Mick said having finally had enough.
Sydney looked over as if only noticing for the first time the other members of the Legends and appraising them.
“I’m sorry but this is between me and my brother” Sydney sneered and in a blink of an eye he’d grabbed Ray by the collar of his jacket and had flown the two of them out of Lex’s apartment, leaving a stunned and shocked room behind them.
“Well I did promise I wasn’t going to cause any harm but unfortunately I also had a standing arrangement with Sydney that if I didn’t get my way he was more than welcome to get his!” Lex said voice dripping with ill intent and vengeance.