“I get it,” she said with a nod as she ordered a drink. “I’ve done that a couple times. I know the feeling. It’s been an interesting month for me as well.”
“It sucks.” He sighed, sipping his cider that the bartender set in front of him. “It’s frustrating, really.”
“I understand.” Lian said with a nod, “I understand that to, so no worries you deserve it and I’m happy to help.” The girl couldn’t help but blush, “You think? Thank you…”
“Of course! The beautiful women always have beautiful name.” Cisco flirted leaning his head on his hand.
“Fine, then it was your electric presence that grabbed ahold of me. Like a gnat to a light bulb. I’m the gnat, obviously.” Hartley shrugged and went back to preparing the pie, throwing some fruit into the shell and preheating the oven. “You were certainly a feeler before,” Hartley quipped. “All about feeling me. You played with my hair and you definitely cuddled the crap out of me.”
Cisco giggled again. “If you burn down my apartment complex, I don’t think I’ll ever forgive you for destroying my comic book and DVD collection.” He teased, jumping down from the counter and grabbing a cider from the fridge. “You want one?”
“It hasn’t started yet because you grabbed ahold of me and haven’t allowed me to go back to doing what I was doing because you started feeling feelings.”
“I did not grab ahold of you. I jumped on the counter and you came to me.” He teased, pushing the man away playfully. “What can I say? I’m a feeler. I may not always show it, but it’s in there somewhere.”
“Drinking is only going to make you forget more, but I’m not opposed to it. The drinking I mean. How have you been? Aside from…all this. I should really come visit you guys more.”
“It’s been good for the most part. Lots of, um. Self discovery lately. For all of us.” Cisco shrugged. “I just want to enjoy alcohol, and forget about my problems, ya know? It’s been one of those months.”
“Lord of the Rings it is.” He grinned, then took Cisco’s arm and ran them both to Cisco’s place. “Ta-Da! Here we are. Figured running would just be better than the leisurely walk.”
Cisco opened and closed his mouth a few times as he searched his pockets for his apartment keys. “Everytime I speed with you somewhere I get cotton mouth. Every. Freaking. Time.” He said, opening the door and beelining it to the fridge for a cold cider. He popped it open and took a long draw from the bottle. “Can I get you anything? I realize you can’t get drunk, but I have some pop in the drawers, and you know where the food is. Help yourself to some snacks, but for my sake, please don’t eat all my food. I just went grocery shopping.”
Hartley rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “I like you up here. I’ve always been attracted to taller men. I suppose you were an outlier before.” Hartley tucked the other man’s hair behind his ear. He cocked his head, his eyes sharply taking in the other’s face and expressions completely seriously. “I loved Harrison Wells. I think you know that.” Hartley traced his index finger along Cisco’s jawline. “Perhaps I was foolish. But I have a habit of falling in love easily to those who are good enough,” His drawl was deliberately slow and concise. “My feelings for you have always been complex, Cisco. Mostly those of jealousy and hatred. But feelings have a funny way of morphing once the key catalyst is removed from the equation, don’t they?” Hartley cocked his head to the other side, carefully considering his words. “I can definitively say that I love you. Please don’t feel the need to reciprocate. But I thought you should know.”
“I’m always the outlier,” Cisco laughed, playing with Hartley’s free hand as he held the man’s gaze. As he took in all Hartley was saying, Cisco felt his face blush. The redness started at the tips on his ears and slowly overtook his cheeks, eventually covering his face. The smile on his face widened, and Cisco leaned forward and let his head fall into Hartley’s shoulder. He let out a little giggle as his face was buried in the man’s shirt. Cisco was speechless, and all he could do was smile and laugh. It had been a long time since he felt something quite like this.
Hartley smirked and moved over to where Cisco was sitting, leaning in so that he was leaning against the counter between Cisco’s legs. “Depends on what ingredients you have, Mr. Baker’s Wife.”
“Well, for starters, there’s fruit in the drawer under the booze in the fridge. I think there’s apples, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. There might be some stuff for a savory pie in the freezer if you’re down for that. Wait, did you just call me-?” Cisco smiled, looking at Hartley. Cisco was just a little taller than the other man now that he was up on the counter. “Wow, so this is what the world looks like from up here? I feel like a giant!” He teased.
Hartley chuckled. “Because people do stupid things for the people they love, Ciscquito.” Hartley brushed his lips against Cisco’s once more, this time only barely making contact before smoothly exiting, moving towards the kitchen and rummaging through, looking for ingredients. “I’ve never made a pie before. It should be simple, however, for someone like me.” He called out from the kitchen. Quite pleased when he found a frozen pie shell in the freezer.
As Hartley’s back was turned, Cisco fell dramatically back on the couch, covering his face that had a distinct blush covering it. Love. He just said he loved me. Well, not in those in words, but STILL. Cisco thought to himself frantically. He rolled swiftly off the couch and waltzed into the kitchen, jumping up onto an empty counter space. “So what kind of pie are you making for me, Mr. Baker?”
Cisco backup