Hartley shifted in his seat awkwardly. “So what, you’re attracted to men? And why would you choose me to show your /real/ self to? And I don’t drink. Never have. Too scared of what I might be.”
“Both, actually. I’ve always been attracted to women, mostly because that’s the stigma of society and my family, really. But when I first met you, I really realized that there was so much more.” Cisco leaned on the counter, ignore the other man’s question. “Oh come on Hart. It will be fine. Just try some? I can make you a fruity foofoo and it will have essentially no alcohol in it. Don’e be such a wuss. You can’t be any worse than when we first met.” He laughed, taking a sip from his bottle.
Hartley shivered involuntarily and bit the inside of his cheek, thoroughly confused. “Come out of the shadows? What does that mean? I understand that you’re teasing me because I’ve been horrid to you in the past but I assure you; no matter how entertaining this is now, it won’t be if I fall for you. You watched what happened when Wells teased me. I’d hate for it to be you I’m getting revenge on, Cisquito.” His voice was low and his expression was completely serious, though still resembling a puppy.
“Oh, I’m not trying to tease you. If this is coming off as that, I gravely apologize. I’ve let the darkness roam free. I’m not holding back any more. You are one of the few people I’ve shown my real self to.” Cisco said, standing up and crossing to the kitchen for a beer. Opening it, he looked at Hartley. “You want one? I have a selection of liquor, pick your poison.”
Cisco heard the string of the bow snap milliseconds before he felt the arrow plunge into his shoulder. “You just shot an unarmed man. That’s low, even for you.” He laughed, feeling the tranquilzer quickly taking effect. “Wowie, a tranq. Smart.” He said just before his consciousness slipped away and the net was the only thing left holding him up.
Oliver cut the binds of the net with the arrow he’d pulled from the wound. With a labored sigh, he heaved the man over his shoulder. It didn’t know when this was becoming his problem but he had to do something. Cisco was a friend–or at least to some degree a friend to him.
Cisco was in and out along the journey to wherever Oliver was taking him. Consciousness came and went, only because his body was fighting to vibrate the sedative out of his system. He groaned at the searing pain in his shoulder as he was jostled about along the way, probably Oliver readjusting the dead weight of his body.
Hartley looked incredibly confused. “Why would you flirt with me, Cisco? You have no incentive to.” Hartley ignored the earthquake confession, it was obvious to him that Cisco was the source as soon as Cisco first sent the ground rumbling. He looked around the room, looking remarkably like a lost puppy, completely out of his element. Everything felt suspended and in slow motion. “You’ve never flirted with me before. You’re a scientist. You should know that outliers are never counted.”
“There is no need for an incentive, Hartley. You see, I’m merely being friendlier than I was earlier. What a terrible host I’ve been.” Cisco paused, tilting his head from side to side. “Sure, I’m a scientist. Outliers are rarely counted. That’s why I’ve come out of the shadows when I did. Nobody expected this. Not even my closest allies. Especially not you.” He said, leaning in close to Hartley’s ear. “That’s the best part.” He whispered with a wicked grin. Hartley’s expression said it all. Such confusion for the way Cisco was acting, and it brought the man joy, even just for a minute or two.
Oliver couldn’t fight the urge to shut the little shit up but he had to remember he was once the rambled nerd who had such valor. “You don’t have to be this person, Cisco. This diluted version is just going to chip away at whatever good you could do for your city.” His fingers caught the tail of the tranquilizing arrow tip, the liquid bobbed in the vial looking tip. He fired it off close range, watching as it dug into his left shoulder. Hopefully it would calm him to the point, Oliver could get him back one of the cells in S.T.A.R Labs.
Cisco heard the string of the bow snap milliseconds before he felt the arrow plunge into his shoulder. “You just shot an unarmed man. That’s low, even for you.” He laughed, feeling the tranquilzer quickly taking effect. “Wowie, a tranq. Smart.” He said just before his consciousness slipped away and the net was the only thing left holding him up.
Cisco backup 