Have you done a first time someone appreciated/made Snart feel good about his squishyness? If not, you should.
I actually have done this a few times in a few Coldatom fics, recently: For the Mission and Heart-Over-Heels (e2-Leonard). and there are a few in my tumblr prompt fics. but, i’m always down for doing more of it!
partially under a cut because it got...long....whoops
crossposted to ao3
Ray is snuggled up with Leonard, his head on Leonard’s shoulder and his hand running up and down the other man’s torso. They’re lying down in Leonard’s bed, watching Star Trek projected on the wall at the end of the bed.
Leonard twitches, suddenly, as Ray’s hand shifts down across his soft stomach.
“You okay?” Ray asks softly, twisting to look up at Leonard’s expression.
Leonard’s face is twisted up in something that Ray thinks might be discomfort, and Ray instantly starts to worry. He and Leonard have only just started this--whatever this thing is that involves lots of kissing, a good amount of sex, and a growing amount of cuddles. Ray definitely doesn’t want to screw it up.
“Just feels weird,” Leonard says, grimacing.
“Which part?” Ray asks.
“You, uh, touching, uh--” He gestures at his stomach.
“Why?”
If Ray didn’t know better, he’d think Leonard was insecure.
“Not used to it. Can we just--can we move on?”
Ray shakes his head. “If I’m doing something that upsets you, I wanna know exactly what it is and why, so we can work through it.”
Leonard snorts. “You’re a goddamn saint.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Ray responds, his hand resting at the base of Leonard’s rib cage.
“Yeah, well. It’s just...” Leonard trails off, collecting his thoughts. “You don’t need to fix me, Raymond.”
“I’m not trying to fix you,” Ray insists. “I just, I want us to communicate. This isn’t gonna work if we don’t.”
Leonard sighs. “Shit,” he mutters. “Fine.” He lifts a hand from Ray’s waist and starts running his fingers through Ray’s hair absently, as he speaks. “I haven’t, well, haven’t been with anyone for a while. Been too busy, too caught up in my own shit. And, well, aging and all that--I’ve put on some weight. You’re the first person I’ve been with since that.”
Ray looks up, to judge Leonard’s expression again. It’s severe, and a little awkward, like Leonard feels strange about the words coming out of his mouth. Like the admission pains him. But, he said it. He said it, so he must want this to work.
It makes Ray’s heart soar.
“I like it,” Ray says, after a second to consider the weight of Leonard’s words.
Leonard looks at him, startled. “What?”
“I like it,” Ray repeats. “You’re--you’re soft. That’s nice. You’re comfortable. I like touching you.”
Leonard’s mouth opens slightly as he continues to look at Ray in confusion.
“Hey,” Ray says, lifting himself off Leonard and propping himself up on his arms so he can look down at the other man, “you have a fantastic body, Leonard. I like--I like the feel of it, I like the softness of some of it. You’ve got some great muscles too--like your arms, I love those--but I like that your stomach is soft, I like that you’re a little chubby.”
Leonard lifts a hand, caresses the side of Ray’s face. “Yeah?” he asks, a smile blooming on his lips, crinkling up his cheeks beautifully.
“Yeah,” Ray agrees, leaning down to brush a light kiss against the tip of Leonard’s nose.
“Dork,” Leonard mutters, and pulls Ray’s lips down against his own. Ray feels the smile linger through the kiss, and he smiles back, grinning against Leonard’s lips.
So Ray and Len are at the beach and while everyone is looking at Ray's toned body Ray is admiring his boyfriend's softer one.
i started writing this and then it got Out Of Hand so it’s going to be my poly fic for coldatom week but i’ll give you a little snippet of the beginning of it so you can enjoy and then sadly you’ll have to wait until coldatom week for the rest
Leonard hates the fucking beach.
The team finally makes it to Aruba, and Leonard only leaves the ship because Raymond promises to do anything he wants after. Leonard can think of a few things. It’s not like Raymond wouldn’t want to do those things anyway, it’s just nice to have an excuse.
So here he is, in swim trunks and a t-shirt. The only nice thing he can find is that he gets to admire his boyfriend, all shiny and muscled and playing beach volleyball with Sara, Nate, Jax, and Amaya against a team of what look to be frat boys on spring break.
It’s very lovely to admire his shirtless boyfriend doing strenuous (fun) exercise. Leonard also very much enjoys seeing a bunch of pretty girls (and a few pretty guys) ogling Raymond from afar. He takes pleasure in knowing that Raymond is his, and that his boyfriend’s eyes don’t stray. Well, they stray from the game, over to Leonard.
Raymond gets hit in the head a few times with the volleyball before Sara yells at him to pay attention. And even on the beach, Boy Scout has to listen to his captain.
Mick comes back from the bar with a beer for him and a frozen margarita for Leonard. He hands it over and then plops down in the next chair over; in the sun, as opposed to Leonard’s shade.
“You gonna stop being a whiny baby and enjoy the beach?” Mick asks, after a long drink from his bottle of beer.
“I am enjoying the beach,” Leonard says. “There,” he continues, pointing at Raymond, “that’s my enjoyment.”
Mick snorts. “Nah, you see that all the time. I mean get in the sun, in the water, have fun.”
Leonard shakes his head. “This is enough of my body on display. It’s bad enough the team can see the scars on my arms—I would’ve worn a long-sleeved shirt if I wouldn’t get weird looks for doing it—I don’t need them seeing the rest of my scars.”
Also he’d hate for the team, most of whom are rocking some pretty intense abs, to see his stomach on display. He’s in shape, it’s just that he’s in his mid-40s, and your body kind of gives up on being toned after that amount of years. Raymond loves it, so it’s not like Leonard is all that embarrassed by it, he just doesn’t like to compare it up against the rest of the team.
“Suit yourself,” Mick says, shrugging and turning his attention to the volleyball game.
Mick, on the other hand, actually likes showing off his scarred arms and torso, and is comfortably shirtless, resting his beer on his, well, beer gut. Leonard half-wishes he was as comfortable in his skin as Mick is, scars and all. Well, Mick’s scars are more recent, and self-inflicted. He’s made his peace with them. Leonard...hasn’t.
“Ah, to be young again,” the professor sighs from Leonard’s other side, a dollop of sunscreen on his nose, staring wistfully at the volleyball game.
“Hey, professor,” Mick says, “how about you go merge with Jax and really show those frat boys what you can do.”
Stein glares at Mick. “I think that’s the worst idea you’ve had today, Mr. Rory.”
“I completely agree with you, Professor,” Rip says, glowing like a beacon in his small patch of sunlight, sunscreen glistening on his scrawny torso.
Leonard and Mick cackle, and go back to watching the rest of the Legends kick some frat boy ass.
It’s definitely not a fair game, Leonard notes, as he sees Nate briefly turn to steel to hit the ball, and shift back before anyone thinks it was anything more than a trick of the light. Sara may not be super-powered, and Jax may not be Firestorm at the moment, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an edge on these obnoxious frat boys. And Leonard isn’t sure that Amaya hasn’t activated one of her animal powers, even though he didn’t catch it.
To be fair, he’d been eyeing Raymond for most of the game, so he’s surprised he even caught Nate turning to steel. Although the flash of light glinting off his skin had been enough to draw Leonard’s eye for the split second the other man was metal. It’s just that Raymond is distracting, sunscreen mixing with sweat and causing his entire gorgeously-muscled torso to shine in the sunlight. Leonard can’t wait to get his mouth on that skin later, preferably after a shower, but he’s not picky.
Leonard joins Ray for a workout session and he gets distracted by Ray's toned body and Ray gets distracted by Leonard's fluffy body.
Ray throws his body in the air, the pole clicking into place on the next hook. His muscles flex as he prepares to do it again, his legs hanging down as he moves his way up the salmon ladder.
He flings his body up just as the door opens, luckily catching himself on the next rung before he looks down to see Leonard Snart walking in, wearing only a thin black t-shirt and black sweatpants.
“Boy Scout, sorry to interrupt,” Snart drawls, his eyes lingering for a second on Ray’s sweaty, bare chest. “I’d assumed everyone was asleep. I can leave you alone if you–”
Ray jumps down. “No, that’s okay. I don’t mind the company.”
Snart raises an eyebrow at him. “Do you promise not to chatter?”
“I promise! I’m just gonna be going again on the salmon ladder a few more times before I’m tired enough to go to sleep.” True to his word, Ray jumps up, knocking off the bar and attempting to catch it before it hits the ground. He fails, and sighs as he picks it up.
“Okay, well, I’m gonna–” Snart walks over to the punching bag hanging directly in Ray’s sight-line, “use this.”
Ray nods, and hooks the bar up on the first rung. Then he throws his body up the air yet again, trying not to watch Snart stretch out his muscles before he starts on the bag.
It’s distracting, though. This is the least amount of clothing he’s ever seen Snart in–usually the other man is wearing a ton of layers. He tells himself it’s scientific curiosity as he examines Snart’s body type, as he notes the curve of a soft stomach, as his eyes focus on Snart’s arm muscles.
Snart is certainly strong, Ray has no doubt. He’s impressed at the speed and strength behind the man’s punches as Snart starts on the bag, and the agility behind them. Leonard moves like water, all flowing waves and deadly accuracy.
Ray remembers being on the receiving end of one of those punches, remembers the blood he’d wiped away, and the fact that his answering punch had only knocked the other man off balance and not left a mark or broken skin.
Still, his eyes linger of the soft curve of Snart’s stomach. Ray hadn’t expected that; he had expected Snart to be completely toned. It piques his interest more than he’d like to admit–Ray likes it when people are a little softer, especially if they’re tough on the outside.
Lost in thought, Ray loses focus, and misses the next rung. He hits the ground with a loud, “Oof!” The pole clatters down after him, whacking his shins. He’s got enough padding on his ass that he’s pretty sure he didn’t break anything, but he’s gonna be sore in the morning.
Ray hears the steady thump on the punching bag stop, and hears footsteps as Snart makes his way over.
“You okay, Raymond?” he asks, and Ray thinks he hears concern seeping through the drawl. “Did you hit your head?”
Ray’s about to respond when he sees Snart looming over him, reaching a hand down to prod at the back of his skull.
“Don’t want any of my teammates to try to have my back while nursing a concussion,” Snart mutters, gently lifting Ray to a seated position and continuing to dance his fingertips over the back of his head.
Ray winces at a soft prod, and Snart shakes his head.
“Med-bay for you, come on.” He easily lifts Ray up off the floor, and Ray, dazed, clings onto the other man, not keeping track of where his hands are. “Really, Boy Scout?”
Ray looks down, notes that one arm is draped across Snart’s shoulders and the other–the other hand is resting on Snart’s stomach.
“Sorry,” Ray says, pulling his hand back quickly. “I didn’t–uh, sorry.”
Snart snorts. “’s fine. I’m a little flattered, Raymond–don’t think I didn’t notice why you fell.”
Ray feels himself blushing as they head to the med-bay. “Sorry.”
“Will you stop apologizing?” Leonard asks, annoyance seeping through his tone. “I just told you that I’m flattered that I was distracting you enough to cause you to fall on your ass. Don’t be an idiot about it.”
They get to the med-bay as Ray is still trying to process Snart’s words. His head is foggy, but he thinks Snart is flirting with him? Or at least saying that he’s okay with Ray checking him out? It’s all very confusing.
It only gets more confusing, when Leonard brushes a stray piece of hair back from his forehead as Gideon analyzes his injuries.
“Mr. Snart was right to bring you here, Dr. Palmer–you do indeed have a concussion. I’ll get to work on that right away, you should be healed up in no time at all,” Gideon says, and Ray feels her working, soothing and brushing away the fuzz in his head.
Leonard stays by his side the entire time Gideon works, even with Ray’s protests that he should go back and finish his workout, that he doesn’t need to stay, that Ray is fine, really.
“You’re not fine, you have a concussion, and I’m not letting you out of my sight, because you’re a terrible patient and I don’t want Gideon coming after me for letting you wreck all her hard work.” Leonard sighs. “I can’t believe how much the team let you get away with while I was gone,” he murmurs. “I can’t believe I gotta be here to keep you in line.”
“What’d’you mean?” Ray asks, as Gideon gives him the go-ahead to sit up.
Leonard rolls his eyes, helping Ray up. “This,” he says, and pins Ray against the med-bay cot, their bodies pressed flush together. He stares into Ray’s eyes for a minute, his hand running gently through Ray’s hair. “You need someone to look after you, Raymond. Otherwise you’re gonna get yourself killed.”
“Like you did?” Ray asks, the words slipping out without his consent.
Leonard hums. “Only to stop you and Mick from making stupid decisions. But I’m back, and this time I’m gonna stay alive to do that.”
Ray gulps, and decides to be bold. The signs all seem to be there, that Leonard is coming on to him, that Leonard is making his intentions known, and Ray wants to make his known as well. He rests his hands gently on Leonard’s hips and leans forward, brushing his lips softly against Leonard’s. Briefly, lightly, he kisses Leonard.
Then he pulls back, resting his forehead against Leonard’s. “Thank you, for looking out for me. I–I wanna do the same for you.”
“You already look out for all of us, Raymond,” Leonard replies, his breath warm against Ray’s mouth. “You always have. I just want to make sure you feel appreciated. I want to make sure you know how much I appreciate you.” He surges forward at that, catching Ray’s mouth in a heated kiss.
Ray feels himself moaning into it, his fingers digging into Leonard’s hips, crushing their bodies together as their mouths move against each other.
It’s warm and soothing and it feels like coming home. Ray wants to curl up in this kiss, in this moment, and live in it forever. He tells Leonard as much when they break apart, both breathing hard.
“Well,” Leonard responds, “you should stay up to make sure the concussion doesn’t set back in. I’m sure we can find something to do to fill the time.” His eyes sparkle as he pulls Ray back to his room, and Ray follows willingly, looking forward to getting his hands all over Leonard’s soft, cozy body.
Ray uses Leonard's squishy tummy as a pillow and someone, maybe Lisa, takes a picture of them asleep together like that.
Leonard’s half-asleep on his couch. Raymond is curled up on top of him, head pillowed on Leonard’s soft stomach. Leonard’s eyes are half-shut as he lets the noise of Pacific Rim–they’re both suckers for giant robots fighting giant aliens–wash over him as he absentmindedly runs his fingers through his boyfriend’s hair.
His eyes flutter shut and his hand stills, and he can feel himself drifting off into sleep when he sees a camera flash. His eyes flick open to his sister, her phone out, snickering.
“Lisa,” he groans, “why?”
Raymond stirs, nuzzling his face into Leonard’s stomach, whining.
Lisa grins and takes another photo.
“What time is it?” Raymond asks in a sleep-rough voice, and Leonard throws a glare at Lisa for waking his boyfriend up.
“It’s like eleven at night,” Lisa answers, “and you two are adorable.”
“Go away, Lis’,” Leonard says, in an attempt at a commanding tone, but it just comes out in a mumble.
“Did you take a picture of us?” Raymond asks, his words slightly slurred from sleep.
“No,” Lisa responds. “I took two!”
“Can you send them to me?” Raymond asks, smiling against Leonard’s stomach.
Lisa nods and texts them over to Raymond. Leonard feels Raymond’s phone buzz against his leg and Raymond reaches into the pocket of his sweatpants to fish it out.
“Yeah,” Raymond says, opening the pictures. “We’re adorable, Leonard.”
Leonard rolls his eyes, but rubs his thumb along Raymond’s jawline. They are pretty adorable.
