“Alright, so I guess I know exactly what I want for Christmas……Heat retardant clothing…I swear, if I burn through one more shirt, I’m just gonna start wearing nothing but ugly Christmas sweaters….”
“Dude.” Cisco smiled. “I could totally hook you up.”
Steph laughed, nodding. “I’m sure you could’ve. But the simple tree is classic.” Smiling at Cisco, she nodded towards the other side of the crowd. “Over that way. Come on.”
“Tradition, shmadition.” He laughed. “I would’ve kept the classic tree, just made some really cool light thingy. Hmmm. Next year, maybe” Cisco grinned. “Lead the way, Steph. How’s your side, by the way?”
Just after the sugar-comas of Halloween and before the Yuletide cheer of Christmas comes a lazy, tryptophan-laced holiday filled with parades, football, and food. What could be better? I mean, what other holiday actually encourages naptime in the middle of all the festivities? But for real, Thanksgiving is a welcome respite to stop, check yourself, and really hone in on the good things in your life. So, pardon the cheese, but I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy and want to give a shout-out to those things in my life for which I’m grateful.
• Kendra. How the hell did I land that tall drink of water? Meta-human or not, I’m one lucky guy to have such a smart and beautiful hunny on my speed dial.
• “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.” As a hard-core fan who has mastered the Princess Leia buns (hey, these locks are great for some cross-dressing cosplay!), I’m already getting goosebumps about the big screen return to a galaxy far, far away. I waited in line for twelve hours to get my tickets to the midnight premiere… and tickets to every showing for the following two weeks!
• Family. After that whole kidnapping fiasco last year, Dante and I have finally realized how great brotherhood can be – just as long as he doesn’t try to put any moves on Kendra! He always has been a ladies man…
• Adele’s new hit single, “Hello.” Tears every time, man. Every time.
• Working as a liaison with CCPD! Partnering with Joe makes me feel like a total badass (have you seen my badge?). Central City would be in ruins without the Meta-Human Task Force and having the chance to protect my home makes all the late nights and stress-eating totally worth it.
• Crunchy leaves and sweater weather. Central City’s picture-perfect fall has me ditching Netflix and running free like the carefree kid I once was (you’re never too old to jump in a big pile of leaves!). Field trip to the pumpkin patch, anybody?
• Big Belly Burger. Double-stuffed Oreos. Joe’s homemade soup. Orange soda. Sour Patch Kids. Bacon nachos. Basically, all the food.
• Team Flash. I saved the best for last. Seriously, it’s been straight-up awesome working with my best friends again. Sure, things are hella crazy right now between Zoom, E2, and coming to terms with my “vibing” powers, but no matter what the world (or worlds) throws at us, I know that together, we can solve anything!
Cisco raised his eyebrows as he craned his head to look at the massive tree. “I could have made something way cooler. Jus’ saying. Now where is this free hot chocolate I’ve been hearing about?” He said, looking over at the other with a smile.
“So, I understand they’re handing out free hot chocolate…..But who do I talk to about getting some bourbon to….. perk it up a bit?”
“Dude, this is a family event, but if you’d like, we could totally get drinks later.” Cisco said with a smile. “I’m always down for a good drink to warm me up. I’m Cisco, by the way.”
“Are you really telling me that you won’t even go ice skating! It’s the holidays!” Iris had a little annoyed expression on her face as she tried to coax the person into enjoying the festivities. This was her favorite time of year hands down and she was not about to let it be spoiled by the Grinch she found herself with right now. “At least come get some hot chocolate with me?” giving a little smile and jump as her excitement shone through
“Ice skating? Yeaaaaah, really not my thing.” He smiled. “Hot chocolate, however, I can do. I have a concoction that will blow. your. mind.” Cisco thought of his favorite holiday drink – peppermint hot chocolate, and how it tasted like christmas to him. He just had to have Iris try it.
Starfire walked down the streets of the foreign plant, everything was so new to her. There were the towering buildings, how busy the streets were and most of all the road system. Starfire stumbled out onto the road, as she heard the honking noise of a horn she jumped round to see a bus heading straight for her. Too stunned to move, she watched as the bus was racing in her direction, going to fast to stop.
Cisco was walking down the street, coffee in hand, when he heard honking that drew him out of his daze. Not 5 feet from him, a girl stood before a moving bus like a deer in headlights. At the rate the bus was moving, it didn’t look like she sould make it. He began running to her, dropping his coffee in the process, and throwing his hand out and sending a few vibrations out toward the bus to hopefully slow it down. He grabbed the girl and spun, so he wouldn’t land on top of her as they fell to the curb. “Woah.” Cisco gasped. “You alright?”
“Lab, huh?” Lewis asked with a smile. “What kind of work do you do, where you get to set your own hours? Must be pretty important, to be able to do that.”
Lewis picked up his coffee and his treat. “You have a few minutes? Been gone a long time. Things in Central City are pretty different. Need someone young and in the know to explain what’s going on.”
“I’m a mechanical engineer. I don’t really have a boss right now, so my hours are pretty flexible,” he shrugged as they walked to a table. “I’m not that important. I essentially make fun little toys and gadgets, rarely weapons.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted saying them. He couldn’t just tell people that he essentially made custom weapons. “What about central do you want to know about? I’ve lived here my whole life, so I could give you the run down.”
Cisco backup