As much as Hartley had been hoping things would go well, he's still surprised by how pleasant being around Cisco is turning out to be. He probably shouldn't be. They've already proven they're capable of not only working together, but enjoying working together, so this probably shouldn't be shocking. But this isn't just two colleagues learning to appreciate and respect each other's work and input. This is two men who are attracted to each other, and to his surprise, genuinely like each other, going on their first date together. It's scary and a little weird, but it's getting easier by the second to push those feelings aside and embrace the fuzzy warmth he's been feeling since this began. He'd forgotten how good that feeling of just being with someone can be, and he's grateful to Cisco for giving him a reason to remember.
He follows Cisco inside, giving the hostess a polite smile as he talks. He knows it probably sounds like he's just making small talk, but the truth is, he doesn't talk about that time in his life very often. It almost seems like a lifetime ago. It's weird that Cisco had been part of his life back then (as a rival and, in his own mind, an enemy), but at the same time hadn't really been part of his life at all. They saw each other everyday, knew certain things about each other that very few others knew, but still missed certain details of each others' lives. Maybe that can change now.
"I'd like that," he say. "I'd come around to help more often, but..." But he's always worried he'll run into Earth 2 Harrison Wells, and since he's still not sure how he feels about that whole situation, he has a feeling it would just bring out his antagonistic side. Especially if everything he's heard about the guy is true. "I'll make more of an effort," he finally offers, because he would like to help more often. And the fact that it'll give him an excuse to see Cisco more often is a bonus.
He gives the hostess a surprised smile, immediately deciding to give her a generous tip when she leads them to a slightly more secluded part of the restaurant. He wonders if it's that obvious they're on a date. He decides as they're taking their seats that he doesn't mind if it is. This isn't something he needs to hide. There some parts of his life he doesn't mind being open about and this is one of them.
He looks up from his menu to give Cisco a surprised smile. He hadn't expected Cisco to thank him for something as simple as agreeing to go on a date and being decent about Cisco confessing his interest. "You don't have to thank me. I'm glad we're doing this. It might not have happened if you hadn't texted me last night, so really, we should both be thanking whatever it was you were drinking."
no subject
He follows Cisco inside, giving the hostess a polite smile as he talks. He knows it probably sounds like he's just making small talk, but the truth is, he doesn't talk about that time in his life very often. It almost seems like a lifetime ago. It's weird that Cisco had been part of his life back then (as a rival and, in his own mind, an enemy), but at the same time hadn't really been part of his life at all. They saw each other everyday, knew certain things about each other that very few others knew, but still missed certain details of each others' lives. Maybe that can change now.
"I'd like that," he say. "I'd come around to help more often, but..." But he's always worried he'll run into Earth 2 Harrison Wells, and since he's still not sure how he feels about that whole situation, he has a feeling it would just bring out his antagonistic side. Especially if everything he's heard about the guy is true. "I'll make more of an effort," he finally offers, because he would like to help more often. And the fact that it'll give him an excuse to see Cisco more often is a bonus.
He gives the hostess a surprised smile, immediately deciding to give her a generous tip when she leads them to a slightly more secluded part of the restaurant. He wonders if it's that obvious they're on a date. He decides as they're taking their seats that he doesn't mind if it is. This isn't something he needs to hide. There some parts of his life he doesn't mind being open about and this is one of them.
He looks up from his menu to give Cisco a surprised smile. He hadn't expected Cisco to thank him for something as simple as agreeing to go on a date and being decent about Cisco confessing his interest. "You don't have to thank me. I'm glad we're doing this. It might not have happened if you hadn't texted me last night, so really, we should both be thanking whatever it was you were drinking."