(no subject)

[cisco_ramon]

I refuse to allow myself to get kidnapped today. Absolutely refuse. So I'll definitely see you at 6.

Cisco sends his last text and he hopes it makes him sound cooler than he feels because he's already sort of freaking out. Not in a bad way or anything, he's just always anxious about first dates, though he really shouldn't be with Hartley. It is their first date, yes, but it's not like Cisco needs to try to make a good first impression, considering how well they know each other already.

Still, even as amicable as things have been between them for the last year or so, Cisco hasn't forgotten (and likely will never forget) the way he'd felt when he met Hartley for the first time. It was a lifetime ago now, and as much as Cisco knows that Hartley's attitude back then had been strongly influenced by the situation with his parents (and growing up as a rich only child), remembering some of Hartley's words back then still stings.

But Hartley's ire has mellowed significantly since then, and Cisco has, for all intents and purposes, forgiven Hartley for being so unnecessarily jerktastic at the beginning. Over the last few months in particular Cisco's found himself looking forward to the opportunities they have to work together, and eventually he'd started to realize it wasn't just because he enjoyed Hartley's scientific perspective and intellect.

And now, thanks to the inhibition lowering power of tequila, Cisco and Hartley are going to go out on a real, actual facts date. Of course plans being finalized before ten AM means Cisco has eight hours to agonize over everything he could say or do wrong to screw things up. Rather than spend too much time in his own head he makes the not quite so brilliant decision to go for a run (despite the fact that he hasn't participated in any prolonged cardio in a reasonably long time). By the time he gets home he's a sweaty, exhausted disaster, but his hangover is effectively gone too, so he's going to call it a win (even if it means he won't be able to walk tomorrow).

He spends the rest of the afternoon trying (and failing) to distract himself from overthinking the date. He gives himself several pep talks (which really only make him more anxious), and tries to remind himself that Kendra actually did like him, he only got trumped by 4000 years of reincarnation, so he is totally worthy of being someone's boyfriend. Not that he expects to walk away from dinner as part of a couple (though he doesn't think he'd mind if he did); he just really, really wants things to go well.

Finally around five he lets himself shower and shave and get dressed. He decides to wear a well cut, short sleeved button up shirt rather than any of his t-shirts because he's honestly not sure if Hartley hates them and thinks they're juvenile or if that was all part of his past general, unfounded dislike of Cisco. The Thai place isn't fancy at all and there's no reason to get dressed up, but Cisco still finds himself dithering about whether or not to wear a blazer. Finally he opts not to; it's warm enough he doesn't need the layers and, as much as he feels like he needs to do something to make himself more attractive, he knows it's better if he goes into this just being himself.

Cisco doesn't live that far away and the weather is really nice so he walks to the restaurant, forcing himself to take it slow and breathe so he's as calm as possible when he finally gets there. It turns out he takes it a little too slow and he arrives a few minutes late, spotting Hartley waiting near the doors. He hopes Hartley won't be irritated with his tardiness, but he can't say he hates the few seconds he gets to spend admiring Hartley before he knows Cisco's there, noting the way the afternoon sunlight turns Hartley's eyes a striking, crystalline blue, the attraction Cisco's felt for months reaffirming itself as Cisco takes in each of Hartley's handsome features.

"Hey," he says when he's a few steps away to get Hartley's attention. "I'm sorry I'm late. Barry must be rubbing off on me a little," he adds with an apologetic smile.

Comments

[timetopaythepiper]

Hartley gives him an amused grin, surprised but pleased that Cisco would make an insinuation like that before they even begin their date. It's a side of him Hartley's never seen before, but he thinks he likes it so far. It's confirmation that he won't be the only flirty one in this relationship (if it does become a relationship), and that none of this is going to be one sided. Perhaps he should already have known it wouldn't be, since Cisco has been making all the first moves since that very first text, but still. He's really enjoying seeing this side of him. Who would have guessed Cisco could be fun?

"That's mighty ambitious of you. But keep playing your cards right and it might happen," he says, smirking. Hartley certainly doesn't mind if things do eventually take a turn in that direction. But he should probably wait until if he knows if the dating thing is actually going to work out before thinking about the (potential) sexual side of things. So far he has a pretty good feeling about their chances. It's only been a minute, and there's still time for things to go pear-shaped, but for some reason he doesn't think they will. Maybe it's because Cisco looks just as excited and nervous as Hartley's feeling right now, or maybe it's because he knows they both want this enough to at least try. Either way, he's feeling... hopeful.

"Yeah, let's go in," Hartley agrees, pulling his gaze away from him long enough to head for the door and hold it open for Cisco before following him inside. "It's been a while since the last time I had a chance to come here, but this place was practically my second home back when I was working at STAR Labs." Back when he still considered STAR Labs his first home.

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco's immensely, pleasantly surprised by Hartley's response to Cisco's overt admission of what he hopes might come of this first date, and he can't help the way he smiles, the warmth bleeding into his face. It's not a blush this time, it's happiness; they've only just started this date and they're already clicking, they're flirting and getting along and, sure, it could still go off the rails, but Cisco doesn't think it will. He'd already been planning to do everything he could to make this the best first date ever, but now he has even more incentive, a mental image of him and Hartley in bed together, kissing, Hartley pinning him down to the bed and grinding into him. No matter what happens tonight, Cisco's going to keep that picture in his head, save it for later.

And then Hartley opens the door for Cisco, and maybe Cisco's just been single for too long, but even that makes butterflies burst to life in his belly. As they walk to the hostess stand Hartley starts a conversation, and it sounds like idle chitchat, but Cisco knows it's more than that. Even with everything Hartley had done, the way he'd treated Cisco before the particle accelerator explosion, his stint as a criminal, Cisco knows it came from a place of hurt and repeated rejection. Hartley's sharing something with him now, a very small glimpse into his life from before, and Cisco feels grateful, and all that much more hopeful.

"Well, next time you're around the lab we should do lunch," Cisco offers, and he's thinking it could be when Hartley comes to consult, because he does do that, time to time, or maybe, if Cisco's lucky, eventually Hartley will come just to see him. He smiles at the hostess when she makes eye contact with him, and he hopes she can tell that he and Hartley aren't just here as friends or colleagues (even though they are both of those things, sort of). She smiles back and nods, not even asking any questions before she takes the two of them back to a very nice table near the windows, just a little farther away from the other diners who are already there, and Cisco is already planning an extra big tip to repay her kindness.

Once they're seated with menus in hand, Cisco tries to choose something to eat, but he can't stop looking up at Hartley. He looks so good (he always does), and he's here with Cisco, and maybe he's even a little happy about it, too. "Thank you. For being so cool about all those texts last night, for being up for giving this thing with me a shot," Cisco says, because he has to let Hartley know how thankful he is for this chance.

[timetopaythepiper]

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."

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco understands Hartley's reluctance where it relates to coming to S.T.A.R. Labs, even though they've never explicitly discussed it. For all their animosity when they worked together, Hartley and Cisco had a few fundamental things in common, including that they considered Harrison Wells (or the man they though was Wells) something of a father figure. Hartley's parents (with their closed minds and old fashioned mentalities) had disowned their son when they learned of his sexuality, and while Cisco's weren't nearly as awful, Cisco's relationship with his parents had been strained for a long time as well. Fake Wells had mentored both young men, had treated them both (at least for a time) like his own children. At the end of the day they'd both been betrayed by a man they cared for and trusted, had both had their lives irrevocably changed by the particle accelerator explosion Wells had perpetrated.

The day Harry showed up, Cisco had barely been able to hold himself together. It's gotten easier with time, but there's still a part of Cisco that feels sick when he meets Harry's eyes, still a level of irrational fear Cisco can't completely swallow. Hartley had been back to S.T.A.R. Labs a few times after he'd finally been released from the Pipeline (when they'd discovered that Wells was really Thawne), but Cisco still remembers the day he'd come in after Harry had turned up, the way all the color had drained from Hartley's face, and he'd watched the disbelief and anger flash through Hartley's eyes as Caitlin explained how Wells could still be alive. Since then nearly all of Hartley's consultations had come via phone calls or offsite meetings. Cisco gets it, he really does, and as much as he trusts Harry now, he can understand why Hartley wouldn't. Maybe this will help bridge that gap, bring Hartley further back into the fold. They could use his expertise, and Cisco would not at all mind getting to see more of him, even in a work related capacity.

He's glad, after the digression into work related talk, that Hartley is still smiling. He never really noticed before, but Hartley hardly ever smiled when they first worked together, and when he did it was often a smirk or something closer to a scowl. But the expression on Hartley's face tonight is bright and sparkling and genuine, and it makes Cisco's heart flutter in his chest. Hartley has a beautiful, contagious smile, and Cisco feels more than a little proud that he's put one on Hartley's face more than once.

"Well make our first toast to Jose Cuervo," Cisco says, grinning. "And probably also Caitlin, since she's the one who was buying me the shots," he adds with a laugh, imaging a theoretical future where Cisco offers a toast directly to her for unwittingly bringing them together. He's thinking way too far ahead of himself, he knows, but he can't help it. He's already completely smitten. He clears his throat.

"I'm glad we're doing this, too. I want to get to know you, Hartley. Like, really get to know you," he admits. "I want to know what your childhood was like, what you do on the weekends, what your favorite movies are. I want to know the little things, like how you take your coffee and what food you like when you're having a bad day, and the big things too, like what your hopes and dreams are for the future." He pauses for a moment to take a breath, watching Hartley's eyes. "And I want to know what it's like to kiss you, or hold your hand, to just be with you without an agenda. I know this is new and it's early and I'm not at all in a rush. I guess I just want you to know, as of right now? I'm all in."

[timetopaythepiper]

Hartley's relieved that Cisco seems to understand why he's been so hesitant to spend time at STAR Labs as of late. While the place holds many good memories (mostly starring Harrison), it also holds a lot of bad memories as well (also starring Harrison), and knowing there's someone there that looks and sounds just like the man who ruined his life. He's aware that they're not the same person, but meeting him had still been jarring and stressful, and Harry hadn't exactly made their first meeting pleasant. Eobard Thawne may have been a sociopath and a serial killer, but at least he was capable of pretending to be civil. And granted, Hartley wasn't exactly a ray of sunshine himself most days, but still. He doesn't understand how team Flash can stand to be around the guy.

But he supposes he's going to have to learn to put up with him if he's going to drop by STAR Labs more often. Perhaps he can find a way to avoid him, like he did the last time he'd been there to offer his assistance. Or he could always ignore his existence entirely. Neither were particularly mature options, but maturity has never really been Hartley's strong suit when dealing with people he dislikes. And it's impossible not to dislike the man who looks so much like the man who had once been the closest thing Hartley had to family.

But he pushes those thoughts aside for now. He has no desire to linger in the past when the present (and perhaps even the future) holds so much promise. Right here, in this moment, he's happy. And he wants to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible. He wants to hold onto the quick pounding of his heart, the butterflies fluttering in his stomach and he wants to hold onto the way Cisco has been looking at him since their date began. He wants to hold onto the reason he's able to smile and mean it.

"Well then, Jose Cuervo has my most sincerest gratitude," he says with an amused grin. "So I have to ask: How much does Caitlin know exactly about what you were texting me last night?" Because she really should have confiscated Cisco's phone last night, though Hartley's glad that she didn't. He wonders if she would have done exactly that if she had known Cisco was going to make a sappy (but endearing) confession about Hartley's eyes.

Hartley watches Cisco intently and silently as he speaks, a little overwhelmed (in a good way) by everything he's saying. No one's ever really said anything like this to him before. Sure, men have wanted to get to know him before, but this feels different somehow. Cisco is really putting himself out there right now, and in a way Hartley hadn't been expecting at all. Has Cisco always been this brave? "I think you already know some of those things, but I wouldn't you knowing more. Especially if it also gives me the chance to get to know you," he says, giving him a warm smile as he comes to a decision. He's still awful at letting people in and he might be doomed to failure, but he still wants to try. "I'm all in too."

[cisco_ramon]

"All Caitlin knows is that I was whining about being lonely," Cisco replies with a self-deprecating chuckle. "It was a lot of that 'no one will ever love me' sort of self pity type stuff," he goes on, blushing a bit with embarrassment. "Which, believe me, after everything Caitlin's been through, she should have smacked me upside the head. I probably owe her an apology," he admits with a soft smile. "But I didn't tell her I was texting you. If you're worried about her finding out we're, uh..." He trails off, not sure what to say. He wanted to say dating, but this is only one date, and it's only 15 minutes in and Cisco's never been the type to count his chickens.

"Anyway," he says, offering Hartley a smile. "I'm glad. That you're into this too," he goes on. He's still nervous, but more excited now than anything else, and all he really wants to do now is reach across the table and hold Hartley's hand, but it's probably way too soon for that. He opens his mouth to say something else, but the waiter arrives then, and he and Hartley have to pause to give her their dinner order. She grins at both of them, her smile lingering on Cisco, and he can't tell if she's checking him out or if she can tell he's here on a first date and is giving him an encouraging look.

When she finally heads to the kitchen to put their order in, Cisco turns his attention back to Hartley. "Tell me something about yourself that I don't know," he says, meeting Hartley's eyes (and feeling his breath taken away again by how gorgeous they are). "I mean, if you want to," he adds, his nerves still lingering just a bit.

[timetopaythepiper]

"I guess that explains why you decided to turn to Jose Cuervo last night," he chuckles. He's had a few nights like that himself, though usually he turns to Jack Daniel's when he's in a self-pitying mood. "I don't care if she knows about this. You can tell her if you want," he says before quickly adding, "Or not. I'm okay with whatever you decide." He has no idea how she'd react to something like this. He doubts she'd care that Cisco's dating a guy, but maybe she'd care that Hartley's the guy he's chosen to date. Either way, Cisco's closer to her than Hartley's ever been, so he'll leave it up to him to decide whether or not Caitlin or anyone else on team Flash learn of this.

He waits until the waitress (and he thinks she can tell they're on a date, but it's just as possible that she's checking Cisco out) leaves after taking their orders before turning to Cisco again. He takes a moment to think about what he can tell him that he doesn't already know. There are certain subjects (Harrison) that they should probably steer clear of for now, since they're a bit too heavy for a first date. But now that he thinks of it, perhaps there are a few interesting things he could tell him about.

"I play the flute," he settles on after a moment of thought. "Well, sort of. I played a little when I was younger, but I picked the hobby back up when I decided to call myself Pied Piper. I thought it fit nicely with the theme," he says with a grin. "I don't get the chance to play as often as I'd like though, because my awful neighbors keep complaining." Which is as close as he's going to get to admitting his playing kind of sucks.

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco's glad Hartley's so understanding of his sort of sad, downward spiral from the night before. He doesn't usually get that way, more than happy to focus his life on his work and his friendships and not be too worried about finding love. He's in his late twenties, sure, but he's not in a rush to get married and settle down or anything, especially not with as exciting as his life has become as part of Team Flash. He thinks about it then, about going in to work on Monday and telling Caitlin about his date with Hartley, and he imagines she'd be nice about it (because she's nice about everything), but more than a little perplexed. Though he has a feeling that would mostly be to do with the fact that he hasn't told anyone he works with that he's bisexual, and only a little because the date was with Hartley. If anything she'd probably be more shocked that Hartley agreed to it, considering his and Cisco's past.

He's also pleasantly surprised with how receptive Hartley is to his query, not hesitating to come up with something he can share with Cisco. And it's a good something too, the sort of thing that Cisco loves, a super villain who commits to a theme. Hartley hadn't seemed like the type to Cisco despite the hood (and the boots, which Cisco still thinks about, time and again) he'd worn when he'd fought with Barry. It makes Cisco wonder if Hartley's thought about taking Pied Piper to the light side, playing a role as a superhero instead, completely with secret identity. Cisco hasn't done it either (at least out side of a support capacity), but it isn't because he hasn't thought about it.

"I played piano when I was a kid," he finds himself saying, not sure why he's telling Hartley this particular story. "My brother and I both took lessons. Of course Dante ended up being the second coming of Mozart and my feeble attempts were mostly just annoying, so I didn't end up doing it for long." He sighs; apparently the memory still makes him feel a little bitter, and this is a date with someone he really likes, so he's not letting his crappy family ruin it for him.

"Have you thought about adapting your flute to work as a supersonic device? Like your gauntlets?" he asks instead. "I mean, you probably have thought of it, but have you done any prototyping?"

[timetopaythepiper]

Hartley's trying not to think too much about what Cisco will or won't tell people about them. This is still their first date and he doesn't want to get ahead of himself or risk Cisco feeling pressured to come out as bi to his friends. He doesn't mind if anyone knows, but he also doesn't want to risk making things awkward or weird at STAR Labs, so as far as all of that is concerned, he's content to follow Cisco's lead. Which is something he never would have done in the past, but whatever. To his surprise, it's working out pretty well for him so far.

It's surprisingly nice being able to talk to someone about these things, even if what they're discussing seems inconsequential. Not only does Cisco actually seem interested, but he's also sharing things about himself as well. They're actually having a pleasant conversation without any sniping, dirty looks or passive-aggression, and it's actually quite refreshing. "Did you enjoy it, playing piano?" he asks, because really, that's all that matters. Hartley wouldn't mind hearing him play one of these days if piano is something Cisco's still interested. He'd obviously have to make some adjustments to his hearing aids first, but it would be worth it. Hartley has always had a great fondness for music.

"I have, actually. Once we vanquished that wanna-be dementor, I started focusing the majority of my attention and resources on my flute. Unfortunately, I've run into some... ethical roadblocks," he says, shrugging. It's actually quite complicated, and while he's certain that he can do a lot of good with the progress he's made so far, he's also aware that he's considering is both controversial and morally gray. It's a slippery slope, basically. "It kind of fits a little too well with the whole Pied Piper shtick," he hints.

But realizing how alarming that might sound, he decides a quick reassurance is in order. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on drowning city's rats." Oh wait, was that not the sketchy part of the legend? "...Or children."

[cisco_ramon]

It's not the question Cisco expects Hartley to ask, and he actually has to stop and think for a moment. He hadn't played piano for long, a year, eighteen months tops, and while he'd been as good as most seven year olds, the fact that his brother had been a musical genius had over shone anything Cisco had done, musically or otherwise. He doesn't remember much from back then beyond how it had felt to be perpetually in Dante's shadow. "I think I did," he finally answers. "I still like to sing, and I'm not half bad. I own a guitar, but I mostly just mess around with it." It's odd that he's never thought about it much himself, but music must be something he considers somewhat important, as much of it as he's kept around him without really realizing.

As far as Hartley's flute is concerned, Cisco's having a difficult time reconciling the tale with the rats with the sorts of things Hartley has done in the past with his gauntlets. All Cisco knows is that it's about frequency and vibration, and while that's good for destroying matter, cracking it or shattering it entirely, he doesn't know nearly as much about how modulations might work for other applications.

One thing Cisco does know (or feels, even though he should know better than to trust anyone without proof at this point) is that Hartley isn't making plans to return to a life of crime. And, if for some reason he is, telling Cisco about it now is probably not his smartest move.

"Are you aiming for something with more precision?" Cisco asks, lowering his voice a fraction considering their current topic of conversation. He thinks about Reverb, about a threat he'd made that makes Cisco believe his own powers could be more precise, if he ever learns how to control them. Hartley has a lot more control, partially because he's building his weapons by hand, putting in the components and deciding exactly how they'll preform, but more so because of his sensitivity to sound. It's a lot easier to fine tune an instrument when you can hear fractions of variations that blur together to the average human ear.

Cisco has thoughts: mind control seems farfetched, but he has no idea what exact vibrations could do to a person's neurological system, pinpointing certain things could be possible since different tissues would be affected at different intensities. But he's not a bioengineer, and though he's learned a lot from working with Caitlin, his expertise is definitely not with the human machine.

[timetopaythepiper]

You sing?" he asks, pleased. "I do too, on occasion." And his singing is much better than his skills, or lack thereof, with the flute. "Maybe we can sing together one of these days." At the very least, he'd like to hear Cisco sing. It feels like he probably should have already known this about Cisco after the years they'd worked together, but for some dumb reason he never cared about his former rival's hobbies in the past. Probably because it wasn't something he could have used against him or thrown in his face. But he's glad he knows now. Hartley's finding that he quite likes learning all these new things about Cisco, and he's grateful that he is so willing to share this side of himself with him.

He's just about to suggest a future karaoke date when the waitress returns with their drinks. He gives her a smile and a quiet thanks before turning his attention to Cisco's next question. Usually when they discuss his work, it almost always has something to do with the gauntlets, he hearing aids, or whatever Cisco might happen to be working on at the time. He's never discussed the flute with anyone, and until now, he hadn't been sure he ever would. He's still not sure what, if anything, will come of it. But it's refreshing having the option to talk about it with someone.

"I'm thinking about something entirely different, actually. Well, not entirely. It's still sound manipulation... but taken in new direction. People really underestimate how much can be done with sound..." He leans forward a little and lowers his voice before continuing. "Whether it's emitting the kind of sonic vibrations that can bring down buildings or using music as a form of hypnosis." Because hypnosis sounds so much better than mind-control.

"But just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done, hence my concerns regarding the ethics of this project."

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco nods, and he doesn't miss the way Hartley's eyes light up, like learning that Cisco can sing is the best new thing he's discovered so far. Karaoke is something that Cisco is always trying to get Team flash to do, but they almost never get the time to do it, and Barry, for some reason, doesn't like doing it (despite having an amazing voice of his own). Of course he didn't know Hartley could sing either, and it sounds like he might be down for a karaoke night or two, and Cisco is already starting to get an idea of what their second date might be like. Assuming this one continues to go well, of course, but Cisco isn't honestly even pretending he's not already thinking ahead to what's next, to their second date and their third one, to what their first kiss will be like, the kisses after that, what might come after kisses.

The waitress, unfortunately, comes back before they can make any actual plans, but they've got the rest of the night to do that, and Cisco can't deny he's extremely interested in discussing Hartley's flute and what it can do. Hartley is Cisco's go-to for anything sonic, and Hartley's proved to be invaluable where that sort of thing is concerned. Cisco's good with electricity, and he has some idea about how to manipulate the human brain with electrical impulses (after all he frequently uses low level electromagnetic pulses to manipulate his own brain in order to more reliably control his powers).

"Is it sort of a sonic wavelength trigger mechanism?" Cisco wonders, because he doesn't have the biology background to fill in the gaps. "Does it induce a trance-like state? Like, sleepwalking?" Cisco's mind is moving from idea to idea, comparing what he knows to work, what he experiences himself, like a wakeful, lucid dream, able to achieve stage-four sleep while remaining simultaneously completely conscious. "Have you tested it on anyone?" he asks then, lowering his voice further. He doesn't want to know because he thinks Hartley's doing something he shouldn't, something nefarious. It's that he's intensely curious about how it works, what Hartley thinks he could use something like that for, and, if Hartley hasn't tried it, Cisco's very tempted to offer to be Hartley's guinea pig. Maybe that's stupid or shortsighted, but he trusts Hartley, and he has some experience in this arena, is a scientist himself, isn't afraid of what it might be like to be controlled that way.

[timetopaythepiper]

Hartley has several ideas for future dates floating around in the back of his head, but karaoke is the most prominent right now. There's something exciting about discovering they have another thing in common, yet another shared interest. And this time, it has nothing to do with their careers, vigilantism, or their intelligence. And while Hartley wouldn't normally be comfortable singing in front of a colleague, former or otherwise, Cisco appears to be becoming much more than that. He's beginning to think that this dating thing might actually work out, that they might work out.

Assuming, of course, that he doesn't scare Cisco away with all of this flute talk. Perhaps sketchy instruments capable of hypnotism should have been saved for a future date. The last thing he wants is for Cisco to think he's inching towards the dark side again, especially with how well their date has been going so far. And the more he talks about this, the sketchier it all sounds even to his own ears. But the truth is, it feels good to talk about it, to run the idea by someone else and get their feedback. Oddly enough, Cisco seems more curious right now than horrified.

"It's a bit more complicated than that, but you could say that, yes. I'd be using sonic frequencies to alter brainwave activity and induce a state of consciousness that would make the subject or subjects more susceptible to suggestion." While musical hypnosis is hardly anything new, Hartley's... disability gives him a bit of an edge in that area. Being able to hear frequencies others can't and distinguish between them has been an enormous help. He's not sure he ever would have considered any of this, the flute or the gloves if it hadn't been for the particle accelerator accident. "No, I haven't, and I'm not sure I will. But if I do decide to test it on someone, I'll make sure I have their consent. This is too important to mess up." Unfortunately, he has a hard time imagining anyone volunteering to be his test subject.

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco nods, and strangely the first thing that comes to mind is how he'd played Lady Gaga for Barry when he was in a coma. He didn't even know Barry back then, had gotten the idea from Barry's Facebook, and maybe the song hadn't actually had anything to do with Barry waking up, but even if the exact science that Hartley's talking about is still a little over Cisco's head, he can't deny that music has power. The next thing is wonders if Hartley ever had the thought to use his sonic hypnosis back when he'd come after Barry, if it had been the next step in his plan, if he'd ever thought about using it on the rest of them, on Cisco or Caitlin or Dr. Wells.

When they'd first worked together, Cisco wouldn't have trusted Hartley half as far as he could throw him. Now, even before their date, Cisco believed that Hartley was completely reformed, that he only wanted to help people, not hurt them. There's a level of honesty and trust inherent in the candid way Hartley is telling Cisco about his work, about what it has the potential to do. Cisco isn't afraid of Hartley, he isn't worried that Hartley's going to turn on them or use Cisco's feelings for him as a way to get away with doing something terrible or illegal. Maybe Cisco's a little blinded by how much he likes Hartley now, enough that he wants to be Hartley's boyfriend (he's ahead of himself there, he knows, but it's a hope he can't deny), but Cisco has the ability to gain insight if he needs it, reassurance in the form of being able to see the actual future. But, right now, he doesn't see any reason to do something like that. Hartley's telling him the truth, telling him everything, he knows that without needing to vibe it.

"I, uh," Cisco starts to say, then he grins. "I volunteer as tribute?" he offers, still smiling. "If you decide you want to test it, I mean. My brain isn't exactly normal, but it's probably close enough for your purposes. And I trust you to not make me do anything crazy when I'm under your spell," he finishes with a soft laugh. "Not that I'm not already a little spellbound," he adds after a beat, turning his eyes down, the line coming out a little more cheesy than he'd intended.

[timetopaythepiper]

Truth be told, weaponizing his flute and using it on team Flash hadn't even been a blip in his mind back then. If it had occurred to him, he would have put off confronting them until he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it would work. Then yes, he absolutely would have used it on them, and he would have been much less concerned about the morality of it all than he is now. But none of that had occurred to him, and he honestly thought his gloves, scheming and brilliant mind would be enough to take on Harrison and the Flash. In fact, even a year later he still sometimes thinks it's a little strange that absolutely nothing went as planned. Not that it really matters now. He's happy with how things turned out and he's not sure that would still be true if his plans had come to fruition.

So much has changed for him. He's managed to become an ally to team Flash, he's begun reconciling with his parents, and his rage and bitterness has faded into something more healthy. And now he finds himself growing feelings for the last person he ever would have expected. If someone had told him a couple years ago that he'd not only end up liking Cisco Ramon, but dating him too, he would have laughed in their face and written them off as crazy. Especially if they told him that Cisco would make the offer he's making right now. Does Cisco really trust him that much?

Hartley's so stunned that it takes him a few moments to get his thoughts together enough to respond. He thought for sure that Cisco would talk him about the whole hypnotism thing, not volunteer himself as a test subject. "This... isn't the direction I thought this conversation would go," he confesses. Cisco always finds a way to surprise him. "Why?" he asks after a moment, because why would anyone agree to something like this? "You have my word that I would never make you do anything crazy, embarrassing or dangerous, but why would you want to do this? Would you really trust me with something like that?" he asks quietly, reaching out to rest his hand on Cisco's without really thinking about it.

[cisco_ramon]

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."

[timetopaythepiper]

Hartley touching Cisco's hand isn't about ensuring his agreement, especially since he's still not sure any of this is a good idea. But he got caught in the moment, and right now all he wants to do is feel Cisco's hand beneath his own. And maybe to kiss him (though that should probably at least wait until after their meal). He's unaccustomed to anyone having this much trust and faith in him and the way Cisco is making him feel right now is indescribable.

"It was partially self-preservation," he said.
But helping team Flash hadn't just been about self-preservation. If that had been his top priority, he would have simply found a way to escape during the chaos caused by the time wraith or, once that had passed, withheld the information on Ronnie until one of them (probably Cisco, let's be real) let him out. Both of which had been tempting at the time, but he had gone after team Flash for a reason. Something needed to be done about Harrison, and he knew if he helped them, eventually one of them would start listening to him. And after a while, it became more than that. He began to enjoy helping them. "But it wasn't just that. After a while I accepted that you, Barry and Caitlin weren't as bad as I thought you were, and I couldn't justify letting any of you get hurt after that."

He gives Cisco's hand a light squeeze, once again barely resisting the temptation to lean in and kiss him as he holds his gaze. "The last thing I want is to hurt you." He's still not sure if he should agree to this, but Cisco is surprisingly convincing. Hartley would probably say no if Cisco hadn't reminded him that he too is a scientist and assured him of his trust. Perhaps now it's time to return that trust. "I'll make you a deal. Later, if you want, you can watch me test it out on something else, something non-human." Rats might work. Not his rats, of course, but there are plenty of other rodents in the alley behind his apartment. "And if you still want to give this a try after that, we can. But I want you to have time to think about it."

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco's not surprised that there was a measure of self-preservation involved in Hartley's helping them, because Hartley, being a prisoner, was entirely reliant on Team Flash for his survival. What had shocked Cisco the most at the time was that Hartley hadn't put much effort into trying to escape. Barry had correctly guessed that Hartley had weaponized his first set of hearing aids, and forcing him to remove them had taken breaking out off the table. But there had been any number of opportunities for Hartley to manipulate them (and Cisco in particular) to letting him out of his cell. The more times Cisco had gone to Hartley asking for his assistance, the more lax Cisco had become about opening the door and allowing Hartley to work on things himself (in exchange for favors from Cisco in the form of bringing Hartley special meals, books, changes of clothes, etc.). Cisco had even campaigned repeatedly to have Hartley released, only to be shot down every time by Wells.

It had been an awful time for Hartley, Cisco's sure, even with the comforts that Cisco had started providing. It was unsurprising that Hartley had made himself scarce once they'd discovered that Wells wasn't really who he said he was and finally let Hartley go. But he hadn't disconnected from them, and over the following months his consultation was something they'd come to rely on.

And now they're here, holding hands, and they way Hartley's looking at him makes Cisco think that Hartley might be thinking about kissing him. He licks his lips reflexively, and he has to press his teeth into his lower lip to not lean across the table and initiate a kiss himself when Hartley very sincerely tells Cisco he doesn't want to hurt him. Cisco had been talking about being hurt physically before, but the way Hartley says it makes Cisco think he means emotionally as well, and that means more to Cisco than he can articulate.

"Deal," Cisco replies, giving Hartley a firm nod. "We'll follow the scientific method to the letter. If things don't go well with the non-human test subjects, we won't do any trials with me." It's smart, and it makes Cisco feel good that Hartley's worried about his well being in this in addition to any moral objections. Cisco knows they're walking on thin ice with this, that using hypnosis as a weapon is in the same category as that cold gun he built, too dangerous for a group of people who only want to help others. Which is why Cisco won't be telling Barry or Caitlin or Harry about Hartley's flute, even if they test it and find it does what it's supposed to. Someday there might be an application that makes sense, but there's no way they'll get there if they're not allowed to see it through.

The break in their conversation is good timing, because it's just then when their food arrives. Cisco is reluctant to let go of Hartley's hand, and he waits until the waitress sees their fingers tangled together before he lets go, in the highly unlikely case she had been checking him out earlier.

"I like this," he says when they're once again alone. "Talking about this project with you, getting to know things other people don't. Getting to know you."

[timetopaythepiper]

Hartley's time in the Pipeline hadn't been pleasant. His cell had been too small for a bed or toilet, and he was pretty sure he developed mild claustrophobia by the time he was finally free again. But sticking around, even imprisoned as he had been, had been worth it. It gave him the opportunity to plant seeds of doubt in team Flash and prepare them (as much as anyone could be prepared) for Harrison's inevitable betrayal. It also meant he was around when that betrayal finally happened and hadn't been left in the dark about sociopath Harrison turned out to be. There were many reasons Hartley can't regret sticking around as long as he did, he thinks his number one reason is sitting right in front of him right now. They never would have gotten to this point if it hadn't been for all the time they spent together while he was in the Pipeline. Somewhere along the line, they began to respect each other and now that was turning into something new.

It's getting harder by the second not to lean in and kiss Cisco, and he has to remind himself that he wants their first kiss to be somewhere more private, where they can focus on each other without worrying about an audience. Hartley gives him another warm smile, ignoring the way his heart is pounding in his chest for a moment and allowing himself to just be grateful that Cisco seems to trust that he doesn't want to hurt him. Because he doesn't. Maybe there was a time when he would have jumped at the chance to hurt Cisco in some way, but that isn't who he is anyone. Cisco isn't his rival or his enemy. He's someone Hartley might actually have a future with.

Hartley nods his head, pleased that Cisco agrees with his suggestion. It puts his mind at ease knowing that the first time he puts the flute to the test, Cisco will be there as an observer and not as a test subject. "Good, we're agreed, then," he says with a sigh of relief. There are so many ways this could go wrong, but at least now they won't be putting Cisco's safety in jeopardy with an untested hypothesis. "You can tell Barry and Caitlin if you want, but I'd rather it just be them." He'd rather if Cisco didn't tell anyone, at least not yet. He has his own concerns about his work ending up in the wrong hands, but he supposes if there's anyone he can trust, it's team Flash.

He doesn't have the chance to say any of that, however, because waitress comes back with their food. He's a little disappointment that the hand holding has to come to an end, but there's plenty of time for more of that later. He waits until the waitress leaves again before meeting Cisco's eyes again.

"I like this too," he murmurs. "I don't get the chance to do this sort of thing often. There aren't many people I trust. But I'm glad this is something I can share with you, and I like that we're getting to know each other better."

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco's heart (which has been making itself known repeatedly since the date started) leaps in his chest when Hartley frowns softly at the disconnect of their hands. Cisco's always been a late bloomer, and he's often worried in his adult life if the way he behaves in romantic situations comes across as occasionally juvenile. But the fact that Hartley not only initiated the handholding but also seems sad to see it end makes Cisco feel like he's doing things right. If it wasn't for their food being here he'd hold on to Hartley's hand all night, and he has a heady thought of them walking along the street after their meal is over, hand in hand, looking for all the world to see like a couple. It's still early, but the idea of being like that with Hartley makes his heart soar.

Unwrapping his chopsticks, Cisco smiles across the table at Hartley, full to the brim with happiness. "We can talk more about your flute when you show it to me later," Cisco says, using his chopsticks to give his noodles a stir. "In the meantime, tell me more about you," he suggests, eager to learn everything he can about Hartley. "Like, what kind of music to you listen to? What kinds of movies do you like? What do you do for fun?"

[timetopaythepiper]

Hartley takes a sip of his drink before unwrapping his own chopsticks, his mind on the warm hand that had been beneath his only a few moments ago. He's sure that won't be the last time they hold hands, especially since he's pretty sure he just invited Cisco over to his place. Truth be told, he initially thought if he invited Cisco over, it would be because they've had a successful date that they weren't ready to end yet. And they are having a successful date. There's no reason it'll have to end just because Cisco's coming over to help him test out his hypothesis.

"I listen to almost everything. Classical, pop, rock... I've always had a thing music, but my appreciation for it has grown considerably since the accident," he says, shrugging. Because a lot of work went into making sure he could actually listen to music without his tinnitus making it an awful experience. "I don't really have as much time for movies as I do for music." Since it's easier to multitask listening to music. "But when I do, I usually watch documentaries. I also like sci-fi and occasionally fantasy and adventure, like Harry Potter or Star Wars." But he's pretty sure everyone likes those movies.

"As for what I do for fun," he continues. "I work on my tech. I... enjoy working," he says, shrugging. He knows not everyone would consider that fun, but he does. "And I play with my pet rats," he murmurs, sounding fond. If Cisco's coming over, he might as well know now that Hartley's rats will be there. He wonders if he should let him know he actually... borrowed a couple of them from STAR Labs when he was freed (yes, let's go with borrowed, even if he has no intention of returning them). Nah, he'll let it be a surprise.

[cisco_ramon]

Cisco's learning so many things about Hartley, and they're not big things (well, the flute is a huge thing, but everything else is pretty basic stuff), but Cisco loves knowing all this stuff about Hartley. He loves that Hartley loves music, and that, even after Dr. Wells nearly took that away from him, Hartley not only fought to keep it, he started to love it more. And Cisco's very happy to hear that Hartley likes Star Wars and Harry Potter, even if he doesn't spend that much time watching movies. There are a few films that Cisco is dying to share with him (assuming Hartley hasn't seen them already), the quintessential ones that he quotes all the time, but he has hopes that they can watch them on a couch somewhere together so they can multitask if the feeling grabs them.

"You have rats!" Cisco says, landing on the last thing he says, and he honestly didn't think Hartley was much of a pet person, but it does sort of make sense with his whole Pied Piper persona. And Cisco loves it. "That's awesome! I always wanted a dog when I was a kid, but my brother is allergic, so I've never had a pet anything," he tells Hartley before he pauses to take a bite of his dinner. He hums in approval as he chews, then sets down his chopsticks and wipes his mouth before he continues speaking.

"Have you ever seen The Princess Bride?" he asks, because that is the movie he's going to have to show Hartley if he hasn't seen it yet.

[timetopaythepiper]

He knows he's not really saying anything earth shattering, but it still feels good being able to talk about these things. He'd forgotten how nice it could be to have friends. Not just colleagues collaborating, though that can be pretty exciting too. But this, this is different. Cisco actually seems interested in what he has to say, in learning about him. Until this date, Cisco was the last person he would have expected this from. He'd still been a little skeptical about whether this could work when he first got to the restaurant, but now he's confident that it can, that they can work. Agreeing to this date is turning out to be the best decision he's made in months.

"Yeah, I do. I've had rats off and on since I was a child. Most people think rats are disease ridden thieves, but I love them. They're so intelligent and affectionate. The thief thing is true, but my rats are healthy." This probably wouldn't seem like appropriate dinner conversation to most people, but luckily they're not most people. "You don't live with your brother now, right?" he asks. "You could always get a pet now." Unless Cisco's place isn't pet-friendly, which would be a shame. Cisco seems like a pet person. Maybe he can befriend his rats. Hartley thinks they'd like that. They love attention.

"Everyone has seen The Princess Bride. I loved that movie when I was younger." And he still loves it, so even though he's already seen it many, many times, he certainly wouldn't mind seeing it again with Cisco. He thinks a movie date would be fun.

[cisco_ramon]

Hartley talks about being a child and all Cisco wants in that moment is to know what Hartley looked like back then, if he had a happy childhood, if he had friends he ran around his neighborhood with, if he laughed and plotted schemes, if he had fun. Cisco had trailed after his brother for years when he was a kid, only to be pushed back and teased, a nerd from the very start. He had friends, though, played games and messed around, fell down and hurt himself, laughed the whole way. Cisco wishes they could have known each other back then, wonders what they'd each be like if they'd grown up together, having a friend who had the same drive, scientific minds and quirky personalities. Cisco would have loved to have a friend like Hartley when he was younger, someone who would have understood Cisco's mind, would have been nice and supportive instead of confused and critical.

"I don't live with Dante now, no," he says, thinking about Hartley's rats, about Hartley's kind soul, about what must have happened with Hartley to make him as unhappy and angry as he was when Cisco met him. Cisco knows about Hartley's parents, and that would be more than enough to break Hartley's spirit, but Cisco wonders if there was more on top of that, if Hartley had ever felt truly accepted and understood by anyone. "Do you like dogs or cats better?" Cisco asks, because he thinks he likes both, and, because he hopes he'll be spending much more time with Hartley in the future, he wants to know which Hartley would be most comfortable around.

"I'm relieved," Cisco says, offering Hartley a smile. "The Princess Bride is one of the most amazing films of all time. But, you know, if you ever want to see it again, I own it on Bluray," Cisco tells Hartley, tucking his lower lip beneath his teeth. "If you'd be interested in watching it with me, I mean."

[timetopaythepiper]

Despite his parents eventually disowning him, Hartley had had a very happy childhood. His parents loved him (though apparently not unconditionally as he later found out), and they encouraged his interest in science and, despite his unfortunate lack of talent, his interest in music. That said, his upbringing hadn't been like most kids. He had a nanny, went to the best schools, and played with kids with similar upbringings. There had been no running around the neighborhood, or sibling rivalries or plotting schemes. It hadn't been bad (far from it, really), but it had been different. Still, there are enough similarities between them that might actually have been friends back then if they had known each other. Hartley certainly would have been more open to it as a child than he'd been as an adult.

"Good, then there's no reason you shouldn't have a pet," he says. "There are a lot of benefits to having a pet. They can be pretty good for your health." And Hartley can't imagine not having a pet at this point. His rats have gotten him through a lot over the years. They're his babies. "I don't really have a preference," he replies. Because rats are obviously more his thing. "Cats tend to be pretty independent, and don't require a lot of space, but dogs are much easier to train and they're more affectionate. But I like them both pretty equally," he says with a shrug. He'd be comfortable around either, really. But Cisco seems more like a dog person.

"Sure," he replies with a grin. "I'd like that. Maybe karaoke for our second date and a Princess Bride date for our third?" he suggests. "If there are more dates, I mean." But he's pretty optimistic that there will be.