Cisco's ready to say yes before Hartley reaches out and touches him, but the feeling of Hartley's hand covering his own takes his breath away, Cisco's heart skipping a beat and making him pause to fill his lungs before he can speak. Hartley's more vulnerable in this moment than Cisco's ever seen him before, putting himself out there and leaving himself open. Cisco has reasons to not trust him, starting with their antagonistic history and ending with Hartley's attempt to kill Barry. But that Hartley is gone now, has been gone for a while, and Cisco has forgiven him everything from before.

"Yes," Cisco finally says, turning his hand beneath Hartley's so he can squeeze Hartley's fingers in his own. "I trust you completely, Hartley," he clarifies, his eyes fixed on Hartley's across the table. "Maybe I'm being naïve or stupid, maybe I'm letting my feelings for you cloud my judgement, but I don't think I am," he goes on. "You've helped save Barry's life. More than once. You've helped save all our lives, even when you were still stuck in the pipeline. Evil Wells said it was self preservation, but I know that's not all it was."

Looking down at their joined hands for a moment, Cisco takes a deep breath, then looks back up at Hartley. "I'm a scientist too, and I'm interested in your work, I want to know more about how it works, I want to understand it," he admits, his voice low but strong and passionate. "I want to help you, Hart, the way you help me all the time. Because I'm a scientist and because I'm your friend, and because I really, really like you." He pauses then, squeezing Hartley's fingers again, looking into Hartley's eyes. "I trust you, Hartley," he assures. "And I know you won't hurt me."