Hartley sat on the curb outside of the S.T.A.R. Labs for the first time in a long time. He heard the footsteps of someone walking up down the road a couple blocks away but couldn’t be bothered to care who it was. Thoughts and memories floated around in his head, his hands moving in his lap, his thoughts immediately flowing through his fingers in ASL. His sign-name for Harrison Wells frequenting the internal monologue. ‘H’ for Harrison tapped against a balled fist. Betrayal.
The footsteps got louder and finally he couldn’t ignore the thundering steps any longer. “Is there a reason why you’re coming anywhere near me?” Hartley spit out without looking up.
“Not purposely coming near you, Hartley. I would never want to intensionally be in the same vicinity as you ever . I’m here because this is where I work.” Cisco said in a cynical tone. “May I ask why you’re here?”
With no clear trigger present, this seemed like a more powerful vision than usual. Cisco’s reaction was also apparently extreme. Eobard wondered if he was onto something when he mentioned the wristbands; it was possible that dampening one aspect of Cisco’s power magnified the other. “Different doesn’t have to be bad,” he said. “We’ll find a way to cope with this, as well. In the meanwhile, you should check with Caitlin about those physical symptoms.”
“Different sure feels bad,” Cisco sighed, hanging his head in his hands. “I never see Cait anymore, so I guess I’ll try. But no promises. I can always check stuff out online. I know more than you think.” As his let his head hang, he took his right hand and rubbed his forehead, ad if he could massage away the energy he could feel being help back by the wristbands. It was giving him a headache little by little. Cisco was beginning to have a not so good feeling about what might come to be.
The small voice that usually dictated his actions fell silent, the sweet sounds of Felicity’s voice called to him. Telling him to release the boy because he was innocent, another by product of someone’s negligence. Oliver released his collar, stepping back for some comfortable space, if he were any closer it would result in the strangling of the poor boy. His eyes fell to the silver bracelets that dangled around his wrists. “These are going to to ensure you don’t do such damage the next time you loose control. Do you understand the people you could have harmed? Hundreds of thousands?” He said with a hushed and abrasive undertone. “If you want to train, I will help. Not here, not in the vicinity of the city.”
“Yes, Oliver.” He paused as the man continued. “Wait, do you think that the number don’t constantly run through my head? I think of every life lost and every person injured every minute of every day. I have to live with that for the rest of my life, Oliver.” Cisco said, raising his voice. “If you’re going to shoot at me, then no thanks. Maybe once I’m in control, I can help you train. I already have a trainer, someone who really knows what I’m capable of.”
“Well I don’t care!” Cisco yelled back, his friend towering over him. “I can protect myself, Barry. I don’t need you always protecting me!” Cisco could feel the wristbands really begin to affect him. He felt the engery build up inside him, but it had nowhere to go. He just pushed it back, allowing it to add to the other bottled up energy and other feelings he had been repressing for the past 6 months. “If you don’t want me here, then I’ll just leave! I’ll be stopping by the lab tomorrow to pick up some things I forgot.” He said with a stern tone as he pushed past Barry to make it to the door.
Barry opened his mouth to argue, but closed it as Cisco’s anger grew. He understood the frustration, understood how upset he was making the ones he loved, but he knew it was necessary. “Cisco, it’s just..it’s for the best. I can’t see you get hurt or killed.” Barry didn’t move to chase him, just looking at his feet and trying not to feel miserable. This was for the best.
“I’ve been killed before, I highly doubt it’s any different.” With his hand on the doorknob, Cisco paused. “Maybe the would would be better off without me.” He mumbled, opening the door and walking out.
Vi: Nope. Not gonna happen. I’m going to find you. And I’m going to figure out what you’re up to. I’ve been looking for a proper project.
Vi: You may be a fancy new superhero with earthquakes and shit but I’m a psychotic girl with boredom issues.
Cisco: You won’t find me.
Cisco: If you do though, make your presence known because I might hurt you otherwise. I don’t want to hurt you.
Cisco: I may or may not have taken off my wristbands.
Cisco backup 